Leah and Chuck spent their first night in Iowa in a state park after a long slog in the rain. Next morning they headed East but to their consternation discovered that the Iowa highway system is not particularly welcoming to bicyclists as the roads have unridable gravel shoulders forcing them into the narrow two-lane thoroughfare with trucks speeding by at 90 MPH. "Drat!" they exclaimed (plus other expletives I'm sure) and made the decision to take unmarked country back roads. Chuck said these roads are wonderful, nobody on em except the very occasional farmer driving a tractor at 10 MPH. Only problem is that no one seems to know how to find these roads so they ask several folks directions, and everyone has a different opinion. But sooner or later they find themselves on the right track and every thing be cool.
It was raining when they hit Coin, Iowa and they were greeted at the gates of this fair berg by Rick, general caretaker and cool dude who practically runs the town (picture enclosed).
Rick directed them to the local campsite and the Coin Bar and Grill where the folks are friendly and the beer is cold. Mike the bar tender and the other patrons took a keen interest in their adventure and they spent the evening in the company of kindred spirits.
Next AM they awoke to Rick's strong coffee and cinnamon rolls. Wow! what service! Rick's a real mensch! He's got three kids and lives in this peaceful little town of 250 and does a lot to keep the town ship-shape.
They got a late start because they had to dry their tents and gear but made it 55 miles to Lenox-population a thousand or so. Leah said all the folks in Iowa are quite tall and Iowa is home to several billion crickets whose sound is a constant - day and night. Also she said a surprising number of a raccoons and possum has been converted to road-kill, Iowa's second biggest export (my comment) . The country-side is green and the rolling hills are beautiful if not challenging.
Chuck said that they are winging it right now and their route is an invention until they reach Eastern Iowa when they are back on the great northern Trans-American route again. Leah says that every day is exciting and different and she never knows what to expect.
-Stevie Roman
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