Happy B-Day Chuck

As I write this Leah and Chuck are in Muscatine Iowa.  They rode 76 miles from Fairfield partially because of detours and washed out bridges. Fairfield is an alternative university town (Maharishiville) with a lot of  hippies walking around in tie-died shirts. They stayed in the old hotel there, the Landmark Inn. Leah said that road conditions were very bad and it has been raining much of the time due to resididuals from hurricane Ivan. In Muscatine, they camped in the back yard of the bike shop because the next campsite was a ways from town, and had dinner at Happy Joe's restaurant where they met a nice guy there with whom they talked politics. Chuck is having a spoke replaced and Leah has a problem with her chain. The bike mechanic had just arrived at 1 pm today when I spoke to them. His name is Charlie Harper (picture enclosed). It looks like they might not put in many miles today because they are getting a late start. 

Anyway It's Chuck's birthday today (Happy B-day Chuck!) and it looks like the wheather is about to improve, an apt birthday present from God or Momma Earth, or the cosmos or whoever.  They celebrated at the Good Earth this AM and I'm sure the festivities will continue throughout the day. 

Chuck announced that he is increasing his dose of Terazaciene (reduces frequency of peeing). This may appear like too much information on this blog but I'm sure crawling out of a warm sleeping bag on a cold, damp night ain't no picnic, and therefore quite relevant to the conversation. At 63 years old one may not be over the hill but ones bladder is considering its retirement options.

Chuck and Leah are driving on with 1600 miles to go in mas o menos 32 days on their fabulous adventure. Chuck said he is elated by the serendipitous nature of the trip. All one can do is adapt to the current circumstance whether it means taking a detour around a washed out bridge or holeing up in a hotel during a fierce rain. Well, Chuck and Leah, enjoy this beautiful day as the sun breaks through the clouds, as you turn 63 years old. You're close to the Mississippi river, only a few miles from the Illinois border and the road looks sunny ahead.

BTW, check out my my political blog, Stevie Roman Rants for insights and babble about the election and other stuff.

SR