Iowa Days

Let me catch up on the last three days.

Monday night we were staying at Oasis Bible Camp. While the majority stayed in the main building, a number of us still used our tents. We watched the moon and enjoyed a calm evening. It was calm in the morning until 5:45, when the wind quickly picked up. A look out the tent revealed dark and brooding clouds. We quickly packed our tents. We were soon securing the whole grounds as the winds picked up. Those in the main building were surprised by the commotion, but soon helped out. Breakfast was inside. Because of the threatening weather we were not allowed to depart until after 8. By this time the wind eased. Overall, very little rain came out of the system.

So after 8, we were on the road. We received some drizzle over the next hour and a half, but nothing too serious. The winds also claimed down. After three hours, we were back in sunshine. Today we did a 115 kms. Towards the end, we crossed into Iowa, crossing the Missouri River. At that point, we visited a Lewis and Clark Visitor Center (they were explorers.) It was very interesting. That night we stayed at a State Park, with plenty of trees (haven't seen too many trees lately.) An outlook provided a great view of the plains below as well as a wonderful sunset.

Wednesday was a long, tiring day.It may have only been a 139 kms, but it was up and down the rolling hills of Iowa. We went up 4800 feet, as much as some days in the mountains, yet at the end of the day we were only ten feet higher than when we left. I was simply tired when I entered camp and just sat in my chair, until I had to help out for dinner.

We stayed in the town park of Diagional. The local church offered pie and ice cream for us, as a fundraiser for their church. The next morning they also served a hot breakfast, also for a cost. That evening, some of our small groups also put on skits in which we made fun of certain aspects of the tour. We all had a good laugh.

The rolling hills were less intense on Thursday. It was also only a 120 kms. Towards the end, when I was riding with two others, someone yelled from a side porch: are you from RAGBRAI (an annual bike ride across Iowa that went through the area the day before.) I turned around and went up to the gentlemen who asked the question. He had seen the riders going past and was wondering what was up. So I explained what we were up to.  He, Ron, donated some money and we mentioned about last night. At the mention of pie, he invited the three of us to have a piece of homemade wild raspberry pie he had just bought from an Amish woman just down the road. Of course, with my bike along the road, other cyclists stopped. Soon four others were eating pie as well. It was an amazing act of hospitality.

Our camp tonight in Chariton is very basic. Showers required a shuttle, as well as Internet. But tomorrow it is a short ride to Pella, where we are staying at the dorms of Central College.