Posted on

Day 45: A steamy ride into Iowa

I left the hotel around 08:00 and continued south along the Mississippi River Trail (MRT). It was still and warm and humid when I started riding and within 15 minutes I had a good sweat going. There are several wildlife refuges on the river where I was riding and the scenery was really nice. About 15 miles into the ride I noticed that it seemed harder to pedal and discovered a nearly flat rear tire. At that point I was on a busy connector so I walked my bike about a mile to an exit where I could unload my gear, upend my bike and fix the flat. It wasn’t hard to find the problem- there was a piece of heavy wire sticking out of the rear tire… So, I quickly (because I was getting mauled by mosquitos) took the wheel off, took the bad tube out and replaced it with a new tube and put the wheel back on the bike. FYI, putting 85 psi in a tire using a small bike pump is some work, too. I threw everything back on the bike and got back on the road and away from those pesky mosquitos. I was feeling pretty good about my quick repair job and then the Bee Gees came on my music! I quickly pulled over to see if I could figure out how to delete the song from my playlist but the darn mosquitos attacked again! I had to turn the volume down and just get past the song..I don’t know how it got into my playlist- either it was mistakenly copied when I downloaded all the Sakhalin music or, more likely, someone hacked my iPod…It was quite hilly, hot & humid all day and I had a  pretty stiff headwind for the last 35 miles. A moderately tough day. I am not complaining however, Minnesota has been very very good to me. I crossed into Iowa (my 7th state!) with 15 miles to go and Janet has arranged a fabulous B&B in Lansing, IA. Frank  (one of the proprietors) is even doing my laundry for me! As soon as I am done with this  blog I am walking to the local Saloon for a cold one! Daily mileage: 65, trip miles: 2,265.

Some pretty scenery along the river:


Here is the cause of my flat tire. It has been over 2,000 miles since my last flat tire so I am not complaining:


The valley is getting wider and sometimes the margins of the river are very swampy: 



Some trumpeter swans close to the road:


The obligatory Welcome to Iowa sign:


The Upper Iowa River just upstream of where it empties into to Mississippi:


15 thoughts on “Day 45: A steamy ride into Iowa”

  3. Although I’m waking up in KL, I enjoy starting my day reading your post. I love that you’re going to a saloon. Can’t find one of those around here. How nice you are revisiting your honeymoon digs.
    Julia B,

    Liked by 1 person

    Reply

      1. Ah, ah, ah, ah Stayin’ Alive!!! That BeeGee’s music was most likely Bridget’s. Must have been passed on during unprotected gigajewel iPod relations in Sakhalin😜

        Liked by 1 person

      3. This continues to be an eye opening and enlightening journey you are on. I am so glad that you are now open with your Bee Gees music taste. I used to hear them playing inside your office along with you faintly singing along, but I never did want to say anything. Stay alert and keep staying alive…

        Like

  4. Brother Dave,
    So glad to see you are having fun – even with the mosquitos and a flat tire. I loved the picture of you and Janet on your rest stop. It would have been very hard for me to get back on the bike but instead fly home with my lovely wife.
    Being an older and wiser brother, I have the Bee Gees on my playlist – I will take responsibility for them on your playlist. They are one of the greatest bands – ever. Just Google them and see what I am talking about 1958 to present (except for a couple of dead ones). Anyway, “staying alive” and “night fever” will pick up your pace – I love Disco. It made the sound track to “The Martian” really cool.
    Everyone loves your BLOG and pictures. I am very proud of my younger (not little) brother.
    Long Live Disco!

    Liked by 1 person

    Reply

  5. I don’t thing the Bee Gees was me, however I would not complain as that is good pump tempo! Unless it was a slow song… Next adventure idea: float the Mississippi from headwaters to the gulf 🙂 Hope you have a tasty bev and relaxing evening! Love ya.

    Liked by 1 person

    Reply

Leave a reply to djlofquist Cancel reply