Good Morning Normal People

This particular morning was filled the brim with awkwardcy; the time was 10 a.m. when my face met a gusting ocean breeze and the inquiring stares of passing motorists. I sprung from the tent and, in my best impression of 12 time Olympic medalist Carl Lewis, bounded up the hill to check out our glorious ocean view. To my great chagrin I discovered an impressive lack of ocean staring back at me from the grassy slopes below.

With shattered hopes, I turned to my right and noticed a ribbon-like flag adorning the slope before me. The clever use of flags has always amazed me, especially when I reflect upon colonial times. Conquistadores like Cortez, Columbus, and Ponce de Leon pioneered these tactics, claiming foreign soil for the motherland by the clever use of flags. Indigenous populations often had qualms about those jokers arriving and claiming everything; however, without a flag flown proudly it was obvious that native occupation of land did not constitute legitimate ownership...I digress. Anyhow, I think it is only appropriate for us to lay claim to some land during the course of our journey; unfortunately, this hill was already spoken for.

Although misery loves company, I tried to shake off my disappointment as I returned to the roadside where my companions were already packing the car. Despite the disapproving stares of passing cyclists and commuters as we brushed our teeth on the shoulder, we pulled up our enthusiasm like a pair of socks and made our way into the city.