1999-11-18 This letter is to say that I'm basically still alive. I was told that even when I'm not doing anything exciting I should still write so people aren't wondering if I got hit by a truck or something. I spent all of Wednesday either cleaning my stuff or just sitting around reading. Editors note: The trip is now effectively over. I was detained in Houston for almost a month and then flew to LA where I spent some time before flying to Chicago. To this day I regret my decision to not keep bicycling.