We drive round to the front at 7.38, feeling mildly pleased with ourselves. Josh rides to Sturgis with Richard so I take the opportunity to tuck in to the Girl Scout Cookies Josh got suckered in to buying yesterday outside Wal-Mart.
The church is already filling up for the 8.30 service when we arrive. Josh and Richard speak to the Father who is happy to let us film. We set up quietly at the back as he makes an announcement to the congregation who, to their credit, seem friendly and welcoming. Not many people between the ages of 10 and 50 I’d say. Unfortunately our position is next to someone with a mechanical breathing apparatus so it all gets a bit Blue Velvet for the first 5 minutes until we move.
The service zips along, some praying some singing some sermon some more praying. Everyone offers each other a sign of the peace. We smile a little awkwardly. Richard takes communion. Then we’re back out into the cold for a little one-on-one time between Richard and the boss man.
Next up is a visit to D’s. He’s clearly lived many lives. He and Richard spend time talking about the upcoming journey. He’s got some wisdom from 28 years of sobriety and a spell of serious hell raising before that. He and Richard cover interesting ground together and we film the session.
Lunch Special at Papa John’s in Wal-Mart then we get in some supplies for the trip we’ve got planned to meet Richard’s sister a “three hour” drive away up north.
We hit Highway 85 and the terrain opens out. Soon it’s just a straight road as far as the eye can see, and very little other traffic. It gets snowy on the road, then it starts to snow. It feels like we’re driving on clouds as the snow blows across the road like dry ice. Then visibility drops until we’re in a tunnel of white. That’s when we decide it’s probably wise to sit this one out.
We pull in to Bowman, North Dakota and find a place to stay. Dinner at Jabr’s Family restaurant, where Jenny the waitress has her brother and sister’s names tatooed on her wrists. She guesses we’re from New Zealand (?) and it’s not long until she has invited us for a “session” with her sister back at theirs. We explain we’re not musicians and politely decline for a night in with the beers at the Budget Host.
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