Every time I join the group of bicycle riders who decide to ride across Iowa; I find myself surrounded by people full of joy, hope, fun, kindness and goodwill that I start to think: “It’s not so high a bar to reach for.” So why not lift up that hand and think: “I’ll be better…” Everyone have a good day… thank you for being…
People have rode bicycles across the state of Iowa yearly for 50 times now. This year 20,000 signed up (add another 9,000 who only signed on for a day instead of weeklong). More showed up (some say 60,000 the first day). It was 500 miles in 7 days. Lots of hills… along the way you could eat that sweet Iowa corn. You could even have a picture taken with a Camel (I did not, he was on break at the time). I rode the 25th ride and thought how could I miss the 50th.
There are moments, I just look around and see all I let past. Once and a while I will be able to capture the moment. I then recall all the moments that only exist in memory… I smile!!
A decade ago I scanned an image I thought I have captured everything of importance. Then I took another look at the hard copy and flipped it over and my view of what was important changed
800 training miles and I made it across the state of Iowa on my Bicycle. Approx. 440 miles in 7 days of perfect weather and wonderful people. On the forth day I caught up to the 92 year old rider (it felt great to get a head of him). However not much time had passed when I heard applause and music… a man playing the violin passed me. In one town people danced to a jazz band (some danced with their bikes).
The temps stayed in the 70’s or low 80’s which was perfect for being on a long ride. At one point we even rode on a expressway (the cops asked we keep it under 65 (people along the road commented “You could go faster…”.
I keep walking past this 1903 Underwood #4… today I took it off the shelf and was amazed at how well it works. Then after typing a page… I did a little work on it and now want to type another page. For some reason the memory of how it didn’t work at all when I first got it stays with me… even when it types better at 115 than many other machines I use more often.
When I travel I like to look for interesting things near my primary objective…
Took a trip that brought into focus how beautiful a gift was given to all of us.
You can search the internet, read all about trails and be told how short and easy some trails can be. Then you get there and find the short easy trek described as moderate to steep and equal to going up 8 flights of stairs…
Everyone wins… you get on a bike any bike and ride… short or long… fast or slow. You win just by doing…
