I'm sitting on a warm club chair in a trendy wi-fi cafe, Oasis of small town USA, in Iowa. For those of you who have not been before, go to Iowa. I know, it sounds like strange advice, for it certainly doesn't sound like a hopping place to be. But when you've been biking through Illinois and...ugh...Indiana, Iowa is really the raddest state ever. At first we just liked it because it's not windy: eastern Iowa has rolling hills and for some reason the bad headwind just disappeared when we crossed the state line. There are a plethora of other reasons why Iowa is cool though, which I will list.
1. RAGBRAI, one of the biggest cross state group bike rides in the country, with around twelve thousand participants anually. We've met a couple of cyclists who've been training for the weeklong ride that happens at the end of the July. They've been really cool, especially about giving us road advice and making good conversation until their spokes break right next to you. Yeah, there's a story there, but not for here.
2. Adorable small towns with a lot of life and generosity. We've gotten a lot of freebies in the state, and a lot of food.
3. SKUNK RIVER CYCLES SHOP. THEY GAVE US HUGE DISCOUNTS AND FREE LABOR FOR OUR BIKES THIS IS HUGE THUS ALL CAPS!!! AND LOTS OF EXCLAMATION POINTS!!!!
Now, there's also one thing really lame about Iowa. That's US 30... just awful.
Goodbye everyone, until the next time I can find a trendy internet cafe and a computer.
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mark, my name is terra. i did p2s last year. i've been following the blogs a bit sporadically this summer. i had to comment on this one because (a) i'm pretty sure all of us were amazed at the non-flatness, non-windyness, and amazingness of Iowa and (b) there are 7 of us who are re-grouping this summer to participate in RAGBRAI! you all should think about it for next year. we can't wait to get back on our bikes in the middle of nowhere.
enjoy the rest of your summer. i look forward to all the stories to come.
-terra
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