"It's like I'm inside an air freshener!"

This morning Priscilla said goodbye to Beth and Lexie, her hosts from last night (in the bottom picture yesterday), packed up Woodrow and hit the road. She stopped at Walmart and some other store early on and stocked up on fuel (granola bars, mostly), and then carried on. The ride was a bit better than yesterday. Still very hilly (and she's been told there are actual mountains ahead), but most of the time the road was lined thickly on either side by evergreens, which served as a natural windbreak and made everything smell all piney-fresh.

Remember how yesterday Priscilla said she's not an ax murderer as of yet? Well, that's still the case, and let's all hope it remains so. However, this trip does seem to be changing her, and not all for the good. A most sinister event this afternoon has caused me considerable unease. In one of the towns she was riding through, she saw a McDonalds and thought (are you ready for this?) "Hmm, McDonalds sounds kind of good..." Priscilla Driscoll actually thought that! But the worst is still to come: she actually stopped, deliberately locked up Woodrow, sauntered into the McDonalds, and ordered French fries. And ate them. With relish (as in gusto-- but really, I wouldn't be surprised if she buys pickle relish tomorrow... and then probably some corn syrup and an ax)!

Tonight Priscilla is staying at Pam's house, in the guest bedroom, somewhere between a town called Milo and another town called something else (which, lo and behold, I've forgotten). How did this come about? Well, if you'd stop asking questions, I could just tell you! OK, so late this afternoon Priscilla was riding through Lagrange when, unbeknownst to her, she was spied by Pam's eagle eye. Pedaling along obliviously, Priscilla was beginning to pray about a place to stay for the night, and beginning to think she didn't really want to pedal much farther today. Well, Pam drove back to the town where she lives, and before long spotted Priscilla biking along again on the other side of the street. She called out to her, and Priscilla stopped, and Pam asked her where she was headed and if she needed a place to stay. Priscilla said she was headed for Chicago eventually, and yes, and now she's sound asleep and all toasty warm in a house. Hooray!