I got cleaned up and had a good night's rest at the motel and at 6:05 AM, I'm back on the road. It's clouded up now and the cooler temperature is a nice change. There's a bit of wind is out of the northeast but I'm headed east and somewhat south so it's helping me. I have a quick breakfast at the Conoco station in Swan River and then roll on. I'm moving quickly now on familiar roads and headed for home.

Home is always more than just the place you grew up. I grew up and moved away and built my own life out in the western lands. The most important part of that life, my wife and kids, will be waiting for me when I get in. And the other parts of home are there as well, not just my parents and siblings, but the people and places that are always with me, no matter what particular road I happen to be rolling on. It's a beautiful day to be riding.

At 10:52 AM, I pull into Gordy's Hi-Hat Restaurant in Cloquet. My first real job was working at Gordy's and that was twenty-five years ago. I park Eddy and walk inside.

I can't say that nothing's changed but nothing important has changed. The restaurant is bigger now and burgers cost a bit more, but I can still order a double cheeseburger, onion rings and hot-fudge shake and they're just as good as I remember. And the amazing thing is Marilyn is still working the grill and Gordy is still bringing boxes of fries up from the basement. They're both grayer now but I would've figured they'd have retired years ago. They've been running this place for more than forty years.

"Hey Marilyn," I call out, "Remember me?"

She looks at me and says "Say something, else. I know your voice..."

"I worked here about twenty-five years ago..."

"Peterson!" She says "Your dad's the science teacher."

"Yep, that's me. What are you and Gordy still doing working here? I thought you would have retired long ago."

"We are retired. We just do this for fun now. We're here helping Dan out."

A fellow about my age pokes his head around the corner. "Hey Kent. Remember me?" It's Marilyn and Gordy's son Dan. He and I worked at the restaurant together all those years ago.

"Hey Dan, how have you been?"

"OK 'til I banged my knee up at the marathon." He points at his knee with one of his crutches. "But everything's going great. How have you been?"

We catch up on old times. It's getting busy now and and I finish up my burger. Gordy and Marilyn tell me to wish my parents a happy 50th and to stop back up if I get a chance. I roll on to my parents house, riding roads I've been on hundreds of times.

At 11:27 AM, I roll up to the house where I grew up and it's a beautiful sight but the most beautiful sight in the world comes out the front door to greet me. Christine and the boy's had gotten in less than an hour ahead of me. Even though I'm still grubby from the road, Christine snuggles up close. Peter and Eric are there as well and they've already been chowing down on their grandma's cooking. Peter takes my camera and takes a picture of the wanderer returned from the road.

All Done 48.09 KB

My Beautiful wife, Christine 38.65 KB

My dad congratulates me on what great time I made and my mom tries to feed me the instant I get in but I explain that I'd stopped at Gordy's. We talk and I hold Christine close. It's good to be home.

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