I Didn't Make It Up!!

So I do have proof!! Here are the pics showing Iowa really does put signage in really strange places!!


The top pic shows, as you are approaching the intersection, the stop sign appropriately on the right and near side of the crossing. You are now looking for where you are, especially since you have never been in this part of the world before. Are you on the correct road?? Should you turn right?? Or left??

After you cross the road, voila!! There is the sign you were seeking indicating where you are heading!!

The close-up does show, however, despite their inadequacies in placement, they are really quite attractive in appearance.



Yes, there is the proof!!

The Ride Goes On

No new pics today.

We just rode and transitioned off to one another on back roads from Storm Lake to Marshalltown, Iowa. The scenery has not changed one-iota (old expression from the late 50's) since yesterday. One time, while riding as I passed Mark and Ken in the van, I asked, "When did 'Boring' replace 'Fun'?" (It's these multiple personalities I live with......). The wind wasn't up to the 50 mph gusts, however, steady between 25-40. Still from the North/NorthEast as we travel West and South.

Ken has gained so much experience during this ride. He now realizes, the most un-safe direction of riding during significant winds, is when the wind is coming directly from your left. See, the traffic traveling in the same direction as you then 'breaks' the wind. Now that probably seems to be what one would want. However, with the wind directly blowing from your left while riding, you then have to lean into the wind in order not to fall over off of those 2" bike wheels. A vehicle, be it car or semi or anything in between, then whisks by. That causes a void in the wind, which means you waver in order to stand upright. Now, that vehicle then 'sucks' you into their draft. If that vehicle is large enough, you then can be pulled into their back tires (if it's a semi), which means you now have to veer and lean to the right. Then they have passed you, the wind again beats you to the right and you have to lean to the left. All of this in less than 1-2 seconds. A bit technical, some might say. And coordinated. And balanced. And my girls would say, crazy.

We have chosen 'off routes' to travel today through Iowa with hopes of avoiding those that "hate bicyclists". These routes were wonderful!! People waved, moved away as they passed us ... couldn't be better. The asphalt for many miles, was actually concrete roads. These are really nice to cycle on!! A definite bonus. On the down side, as you ride for miles on concrete, you start thinking, "This is like a run-way. Am I on a run-way? Am I ready for take-off...? Is there a large jet coming up behind me...?".

In such periods of endured cycling, it is amusing how the city directional signs can make one smile. The other day it pointed to the East "Spain". Wow, I thought. I knew I had been riding a long time. i just don't remmeber the "water" portion of it. Then there was "Swan Lake". Should I put on my point shoes and piroutte across stage down?? Of course, "Burbank" made me want to go shopping. The last sign directed a right turn to "the original site of Twister". Does that mean the game ... a tornedo? Mark assures me we are not yet in Hurricane Alley.

It is also interesting, and possibly a cultural variance, as to how Iowa marks the directionas of intersections. In 'our area' of the country, as you approach the intersection, it is posted E-W such-and-such; and N-S such-and-such. Makes sense, in my simple way of thinking. Approaching the intersection - give directional warning. Call me simple.
Not so here. One approaches the intersection and there are no directional signs what-so-ever. You then cross the intersection, and about 200 yards later is the Freeway sign. No, I am not losing my mind more-so than I ever have been. This is exactly how it happens. So now, once you have crossed the intersection and are traveling in the incorrect direction, you need to either (1) continue forward in the incorrect direction, or (2) U-turn backwards in order to correct you direction. Every intersection was marked this way.

Riding did become 'Boring' today; perhaps due our general fatigue physically. Still lovely, and green, and interesting farming homes. Oh, Dee - I passed one farm house directly on my left on the Highway (most are several hundred yards down their private roads). It had no particular garden; just a basic lawn....with 20+ pink plastic flamingo's anchored in it. Made me smile.

We are now predicting and calculating toward Thee End. We are speculating how many days riding, how many days of rest, and how many days left over at the end to visit with our daughter Alcyone in Atlantic City. Ken is now planning when his wife can fly out to meet him, also in Atlantic City. Hopefully we'll spend a few days there together, then they'll drive back to Spokane. Mark and I need to soon get the flight tickets back home. Amazing how quickly this vacation is disappearing.

I continue to urge Ken to enter his own writings on this Blog ... let's see if that occurs over the next few days!! Go Ken!!!!!

Winds of Change

Today we "blew", big time, into Iowa. This scenario requires flexibility, reassessment, adjustment of the previous plan, then trying again. A lot like medicine by my perspective.

I was the first on the road. I started with the "wind at my back", which was most lovely. After 10-12 miles, we continued to follow our planned route and the wind were from the NE with me traveling East. Brutal as the wind stayed between 35-50 mph with gusts. Sincerely. As I've said several times, I couldn't possibly make this stuff up.

After probably another 10-12 miles of being thrashed (thank the goddess of the Wind - Alcyone, she wasn't directly beating into my face!!!), Mark wisely changed all plans. He and Ken looked and re-looked at the map, and had me change direction toward the South for the next portion of the ride. I cruised for awhile, then called it quits. For me, for no particular reason, I woke up in a "bad day". Everything hurt; just never loosened and lessened in discomfort; so I pulled a card from the deck and called it an early day. Frustrating, but that is what Thee Van is for.

Mark was the next rider due, and was just fine to jump on board early. It was about 20 miles early, as we had planned on each of us doing about 50 miles. Ken (bless him) continued to drive as I started icing myself. Again, we continued to adapt and change our route due to the unrelenting wind. Pretty darn intense.

The corn fields now are stretching from "acres" into the "miles" category; and as I stood next to one stalk, they are about 4 feet high. They were literally laying near flat on the earth due to the wind.

Mark continued to ride and weave positions and directions. I drove Ken forward over the greatest deeply rolling hills to his start point. This would be Thee Greatest route to ride (IF the wind wasn't blowing). Deep straight down with rapid straight up, over and over rolling hills. Much like a roller-coaster (Yup, I would be one of those fools that ride one for 24 hours straight as a fund-raiser). These went on for miles. You can really crank going down with the goal of not shifting down, by much, by the time you reach the top of the next (Ben, I see you packing up your bike and equipment to ride these great routes I'm finding!!!).

Ken started off perpendicular to the wind. I returned and picked up Mark at the end of his ride. Due to our shortage of riding the miles (me quiting early), Mark had initially decided he would then ride again at the end of Ken's route in order to complete the full amount necessary to reach our motel.

Mark and I delightfully stopped @ LeMars, Iowa at the Blue Bunny Ice Cream Museum and Parlor while Ken was riding. How cute!! And, I decided, this was the time for a "REAL" banana split. How better to recover myself than by consumption of something cold?!? So that was my lunch. See, I really am NOT a purist with the food I eat.

We caught up with Ken and started the Freeway #3 from Hell. The entire shoulders were 4" deep in gravel. That's OK ... we can manage that. However, it seems most of Iowa HATE/DESPISE/AND REALLY DON'T CARE FOR BICYCLISTS. That would explain why the TransAmerica Bicycle Route totally avoids Iowa. Everything and everyone, from 18-wheelers through motorcyclists, not only DID NOT budge to the left what-so-ever (even if NO traffic coming the opposite direction), but they purposely veered toward the cyclist. Mark and I have experienced this before, and it just simply never gets easier. After 3 times of veering into the gravel, Ken stopped. He had enough.

We piled him and bike into the van, drove about the distance that I had aborted on, put Ken back onto the bike as there were now shoulders on the road, and off he went.

The first pic above shows the incredible changing scenery we are experiencing. The green is more a lighter emerald in varied patch-work designs due to the crop planing. The hills are moderately to sharply rolling, but short in duration. The houses and silos are sprinkled amongst all. The wind is from hell. The weather temp is perfect @ 77-80.

The second pic is Mark's answer to the people who are determined to eliminate all cyclists from the face of the earth. He thought he could drive this vehicle ahead of whoever is on their bicycle. Granted, one might call the subsequent drafting "cheating" however, arriving at our destination alive rather than amongst the road-kill would be a more positive "Happily Ever After" ending to our journey.

That's it for today. The guys are planning our route for tomorrow. The place we are staying has a manger who is a cyclist - helpful as his primary comment is, "Don't go there - Don't take that freeway - Don't travel in that direction". Next to the motel is a really large bicycle shop. We stopped in there seeking Hammer products (they don't carry any!!!), and they recommended flying to New Jersey rather than bicycling across Iowa. Hmm.m..m

We've Got Rhythm!!

"We've Got Music....Who Could Ask For Anything More...?" Remember, in my previous first college life I was a music major, so whenever given the chance, I can link most anything to a song, or jingle, or musical, or just most anything. Ask my girls. They'll groan and roll their eyes.

Yes, the three of us really now do have rhythm!! Which is desperately needed when traveling so many miles, with 3 distinct personalities, with a great amount of equipment. Factor in the daily "unknown" ... where are we going? how far? who's going first? Sprinkle with fatigue plus all-of-those-other-physical factors, and you really need patience with a great amount of rhythm.

We've finally settled into a daily "routine" in order to move us forward. The guys start packing up the van (I, of all people, cannot stand the fact the "guys" carry the heavy stuff. I believe if I'm gonna "ride with the guys, then I pull my weight with the guys". However, I am [and I suspect my body parts are] very thankful they really do most of the heavy lifting and twisting); I gather the food and ice; I add ice and water to our numerous bottles and containers. We head to breakfast. The first rider takes off. If we didn't last night, then now we get gas. (My neurosis ... I DO NOT want to run out of gas in the middle of I-have-no-idea-where-the-nearest-gas-station-is-and-how-the-hell-do-we-get-there???) By the end of the rides, we find the motel we rented last night. We start the unloading: the bikes get carried in, as does all the other equipment, luggage, coolers, food, etc. I wash and clean all the bottles and empty containers. The unpacking starts. We quickly rotate through showers and individual laundry of our daily bike gear. We figure out where "the drying" area is and hang everything that is wet up for tomorrow's use.

Then off for dinner.

Returning to the room means we do the "technie" thing: Mark and Ken discuss and plan tomorrow's route - which requires a fair amount of time. That includes weather info, wind direction and estimated gusts there-of. Once the end-point is established and divided by 3, then Ken utilizes Skype to call and speak to the motel through his computer for our reservation. How cool is that?!?!?! The last several nights our cell phones didn't work as we were in the "No Zone". Very Very Cool!! I've got to learn that one.
I'm on my computer downloading the pics taken that day, catching up on Mark's and my e-mail. I am responsible for the finances (that is a scary thought!!) so I put who-paid-what into the computer, then file the receipts into my travel file system. Finally, I'm catching you up through blogging. Ken, meanwhile, catches up via Skype or phone with his wife; and through e-mail to his kids.

Mark, meanwhile, is our totally I-really-don't-want-want-any-techie-info-or-responsibility-at-all guy. So, he deals with the TV. Usually that means the channel that continually runs old MASH shows, or tonight, is the old StarTrek stuff. Yes, the world could collapse, and as long as it isn't along our bike route, we really wouldn't have a flippin' clue. So please, as you go down, add us to your automated e-mail list so we might get-a-clue.

This is all a very different computerized vacation than I've ever done. It has become a focus for Ken and me as to "how many plug in's" there are in each room, and which Internet Connection can we find.

A nightcap, then we are in bed collapsed. Next morning, it all starts again. Sounds pretty routine, but this is all pretty necessary to keep us moving forward in a sane manner.

The pics posted are the three of us after our birthday celebration dinner with my Aunt. No, Mark usually doesn't scowl ... just not a "best shot" of him; however, was the only shot, so it gets posted. This is to prove, after nearly two weeks of bike gear and no make-up, we can again "spit-shine fine".

Today we rode on Highway 44 East from White River to Freeman, S. Dakota.

Then, finally, a pic of me on the road today (just to prove I really do ride my equitable amount) as we continued to wind through South Dakota. Amazing ... this is our fourth state, however, our third time zone. Yup, the states out here really are very big in size. The "western culture" here takes me back to how I was raised. It still is legal to smoke cigs in restaurants ... isn't that an experience again!! The vastness of the lands are so dependent on the whimsy of nature; this still strikes me to the core. At times it just doesn't matter how hard one works, or if all is done right or wrong; if nature so desires all is for naught. As we start to ride through acres of corn (nothing like what we are due to see soon), there must have been a very late spring and/or really heavy rain storms in this area. Many fields were just fine. Others are still flooded with the corn only 2-3 feet high, bent over and dying; single stalks feet away from the other when you know they were planted closely like all the other fields. And these injured fields go on for acres. Heart breaking.

Ken, as I stated in previous blogs, finds this whole "country" quite entertaining and very very new to him. Today, while riding, he was so impressed with the Auction Stables he rode by. Couldn't see much, except for the massive stables set on huge acreage. He could, however, hear the melodious auctioneer doing his job with precision and clarity. Auctioneers have always been impressive to me, so it was fun to again, see what I've previously known, new "through his eyes".

Mark and Ken were dually impressed with the thickness of presentation of structured religion throughout this entire region. Remember, this is a "Red State". Everywhere are churches, religious schools (very new and large despite being in the middle of no where), billboards, signage along the roads, large newspaper ads, etc. While checking into our public motel tonight, there were many hand-outs and flyer's all over the front desk, selling their form of redemption. Really very different from our Washingtonian culture. Mark asks, "Why does God need a bill-board??" I have no answer for him.

The funny portion of my ride: in the middle of absolute nowhere I am climbing this rolling hill. There are blue spruces here and there in no particular pattern. All alone on the left side of the hill is a single spruce ... fully decorated for the holidays. I swear to you I really can't make this stuff up!!!! Silver sparkle garland ropes, ornaments ... right there ... in the middle of no where.

Made me smile.

Flat and Fast!!

We cruise across S.Dakota on Highway 44 heading mostly East. The terrain is low rolling hills with a continuous brisk wind. Colours are green to yellow with brown hills/rocks. Lots of cattle and horses. We each did 50 miles with Ken first, me next and rounding up the relay was Mark. Of course, Mark's average was 20.4; however, I was thrilled @ 18.4 mph average.

Still feeling tired and not at the top of my performance, however, this ride was a great "get back into the routine" ride. Had a wonderful "Day Off" yesterday, then dinner out for my aunt. Came home and watched Jeff Dunham's Christmas DVD. All of us laughed throughout it!! It was even more fun for me as Ken had never experienced him before. My favorite character, Peanut, Ken immediately said, "That's you, Cindy!!! That is just so you!!". Except, I don't mix Nyquil and Red Bull like he does.

Generally roads today were pretty darn well maintained. There certainly is a HUGE difference between asphalt types, that vehicles overall, don't notice. The "sparkly" asphalt should be outlawed. It looks like someone sprinkled ground glass over the full street. Makes one balancing on really skinny tires quite apprehensive and fearful due to its appearance of being broken glass. Then there are the roads that have been patched by filling in the transverse cracks with tar. These "bump" oh, about every 10-20 feet. In a car it is merely annoying. On a bike it feels like someone is hitting you and Thee bike with a baseball bat. It jars your whole body. Then every part of you starts hurting. Then you tense up, which only hurts more. Then continue on this nonsense another 5-10 miles, factor in heat/fatigue/minimal dehydration and one becomes a little bit irritable and much less than pleasantly pretty.

One can now calculate into this asphalt equation the "Rumble Strips". These vary by a MASSIVE difference, primarily state by state. The Wise States place them near the white shoulder stripe. That allows a reasonable size on the distant side for a cyclist to ride on. Remember, however, when vehicles drive the rubbish on the road is picked up by the tires and thrown laterally - onto this area. So it can still be really trashy to try and ride on.
Then you get the states where "the cook wasn't consulted for the design of the kitchen". These states (sadly, WA state is included here) place the Rumble Strip exactly in the middle of the shoulder. With this position, a cyclist really can't ride to the far side of them as there is just too much garbage, road slant, and end-of-asphalt-start-of-dirt to safely ride there. However, the only other choice is to narrowly balance between the Rumble Strip and the shoulder's white stripe. Very small territory to navigate.
Finally, is the Rumble Strip that is only in pieces. A, perhaps, 5 foot in length strip that is not continuous. Strips repeat, oh, say every 20 feet. So you end up cycling in a weave fashion in-and-out of them, trying to stay as far as possible to the right.
None of you who read this will ever ride a Freeway/Highway again and look at it the same way.

The very few vehicles we encountered were really courteous so it was a GREAT DAY!!

Tomorrow we'll continue on this Highway until ... decision has not yet been made. The guys are still hammering out the final route (depends on the wind direction) and the stop point (call me soft....I want a motel). We are tentatively shooting at a longer day - each of us riding about 70 miles. My vote is then to have 2 of us riding at the same time. The first rider will start. A few hours later the van now drops the third rider off. Van then tags back and forth, at least once if not twice, between those two riders to sag them. Then the first rider completes his distance, gets out, and the driver (who is rider two) starts riding. Van then sags between Rider #3&2, again, hopefully twice. Then rider 3 is done. Finally, rider 2 is done. Sounds good on paper.
The risk is getting the riders too far apart to be able to sag in a reasonable time.
The last time we did this was on a Freeway. I ended up with a flat and found it easier to walk into town than just wait. The guys (especially my Handsome Husband) really don't want me out too far to get to in a reasonable time in case I need anything. In this vast land of minimal vehicles and people, that could be a concern.
The other concern (Ron...WHERE are you with the weather report?!?!????) the high tomorrow is predicted @ 93 degrees F. So "fresh water upon command" just ain't gonna happen.

Thanks again to all of you, and your family members for joining in, for posting comments. They all make us smile :) !!!

Into South Dakota

Yesterday, Friday, we rode from WY into South Dakota. Generally the ride was rolling hills with the wind from our right or from behind!! Mark had the first leg taking Highway 16. I started the second leg with some climbing into Custer State Park. Ken wanted to do the final leg as he rode past Crazy Horse and then climbing up to, and past, Mount Rushmore. After reaching the top, the ominous black clouds started opening up. Ken was concerned about the slicking of the roads for the descent, and wisely, returned to the van.
If you've ever been to South Dakota, they have the most amazing summer storms. I absolutely LOVE them (as long as I am safe, and warm, and dry inside). The most intense lightening you have probably seen, with bolts that go horizontally, and yes, bolts that go upward....not just downward.
The rain I pointed out was going horizontal. Yes, I was really fatigued.....no, I wasn't hallucinating. In today's paper the wind during that storm reached 83pmh and dumped 0.9 inches in 90 minutes.

We arrived at my uncle and aunts safely and had a great evening: real food, played with our computers and Google Earth maps with them, then into a real bed with probably the most luxurious sheets I have ever slept on. Awoke at our usual 0530; rolled over and went back to sleep. Sigh.

Today Ken and I each had a massage, then all 3 of us vacuumed out the van - wasn't that a mess; then cleaned and oiled our bikes!! Amazing how dirty they get hanging on the back of the van during a rainstorm like that.

Mark and Ken tentatively mapped out our routes for the remainder of the trip. We are hoping for another day off in 1 week. No idea what we'll run into over the Fourth of July....we'll see. We still are shooting for arriving @ Atlantic City around 7/14-15th so we can spend one or two days with our youngest daughter who lives in NYCity.



Here are a few more pics. To prove I do ride, and to give you a "view from here", the top is me on my bike. Then Mark caught a pic of me right after exchanging water bottles with Ken as he rode by. Several miles later, Mark is waiting along the road to again give Ken fresh water. The bottom pic is when I yelled to Ken, "Stop. I mean it, Stop!!! Now look over your left shoulder!!" He was so focused on climbing the hill, he almost missed what was at the top. Then the cops came by and told us to move on!!

We are on our way out to dinner at a fancy restaurant to celebrate Zona's 80th birthday!! Tomorrow we head toward WhiteRiver, S. Dak along Highway 44.

Catch up with you then!!

Hot as Hell

Yes, that is precisely what it is. As Ken finished his ride this afternoon, the temp was 94F. It was his first time ever riding an extended period in heat like this. Not a surprise, he did great. We took the winding highway from Sheridan into Moorcraft. Really small town.

Tomorrow is our last ride then a DAY OFF!! We'll ride into Rapid City, S Dak to spend a full day with the bestest Aunt & Uncle ever!! And celebrate her 80th Birthday while we are there!! Since we are all getting a bit tired, and looking forward to doing laundry, and just not riding a day, this will be a double treat. Then back on the road Sunday.

Since this is a really little town, with little to no InterNet access, I'm sitting in the baking van with a million flys around/on me. So, I'll leave you with these thoughts:

While riding on your bike for many hours and many miles, you start to think odd things. Add to that equation heat, minimal dehydration, lowering blood glucose levels, and thoughts oft times become actually strange to weird.

Ponder This:

**On our 2009 Road Atlas (what a great purchase!!) each state has its own page. The page has the state map, state flag, and other trivial facts listed. Each State Motto is also included. Very interesting as most of the mottos are related to a geographical structure, plant, animal, etc. Wyoming is called the “Equality State”. Call me confused…isn’t this where, a few years ago, they roped a man to a fence in a field after beating him and left him to die. Because he was gay??

**When it is pouring rain, do you get less wet if you ride faster?

**A UPS truck pulled out directly in front of Mark. The driver was talking on the cell phone and didn’t look to the right. Mark yelled loudly, “#??#**@#” which caught the driver’s attention. He slammed on the brakes, Mark swerved, and life continues. They would have been deep pockets, had he struck Mark. However, I own stock in UPS. Would that be considered a “conflict of interest”???

**While riding up a steep pass with a minimal-if-any shoulder, a white van pulled up directly next to me, without slowing down, and the side extended mirror nearly brushing my shoulder. In the brief second it took to pass me, I noticed the writing on the side of the van: Save a Life – Donate Blood. Is that a new method they have of getting donations? And if I needed a transfusion due to multiple injuries, wouldn’t that auto-transfusion negate the donation they took from me??

**Mark and I are driving in the Van to catch up with Ken. We are on a typical flat stretch of freeway: 2 lanes each way with the standard meridian between the two. On each side is a Rest Area with the typical flag poles, each with the National and the State flag flying high. The left side rest area flags are extended out, flapping, at 90 degree angles from the flag pole. This side, however, the flags hang totally down along the pole, without a ruffle. Do they heavily starch some flags and not the others???? Does the wind skip over certain roadways and not others????

**Certain city roads have “Bicycle Lanes” that parallel the car lanes. Yes, you’ve probably all seen them. Why do they taper and suddenly just disappear?? When you are riding on one of these, how do you also taper and disapapear???

**If a large animal, say, an elk or buffalo, jumped out in front of me (yes, it is possible. We are in Yellowstone), would it be a higher or lower resistance of impact than, say, driving into the side of a moving SUV???