I have finished Day 6 from North Liberty to Tipton! Today was really a pretty nice ride. The weather was perfect, and there were not a huge amount of hills. I was fighting a negative attitude, but sometimes those come. My body is tired, but actually getting stronger as the days go by. I bought new gloves yesterday, and hands didn't hurt nearly so much. I think the gloves I had were made before newer ways of riding came about, so the padding was misplaced. These were made with a cyclist in mind.
I had several things I wanted to write about today, so I memorized some keywords to remember. Here they are: father/son, kybo and corn. Hey, what else are you gonna do while you are zooming past corn & soy bean fields?
First the father and son. These two were riding and went past me. The son was obviously fairly young, probably under 10. As they went by, we were beginning to climb a hill. I looked over and the father had his right hand out on his son's back as they went up. He kept it there all the way up the hill. I think he was both steadying and helping his son up. It was a sweet moment, and made me tear up when I think of God doing that for us.
A funny thing about the corn. There's a slogan that says, "What's done in the cornfield, stays in the cornfield." It's even on t-shirts. What they really mean is that people routinely use the corn fields as a restroom. The corn is tall and thick, so it's perfect. Also, remember this. If you are ever riding your bike through Iowa and the urge to go strikes you, go in a cornfield, and not the forest. You can get ticks in the forest, but you won't in the corn, because they treat it. I'm sure I just saved multitudes from losing their blood to hungry ticks!
A funny thing about people. They come in all shapes and sizes. A testament to God's creativity. I hesitate to mention this, but it's funny. It was a day of big butt guy and little butt guy. Don't let little kids read this. "Butt" is not exactly acceptable language at our house. Little butt guy was simply that. He was normal sized from the crown of his head to his waist, then he looked like a little boy on down. Mind you, I'm not spending a lot of time dwelling on this. Big butt guy was funny. I saw him go by me, coasting down a hill. He was in tuck, in other words, he had his hands on the curved down portion of the handlebars, and was squatted down flat. But his hind quarters were wide, and he had them sticking up in the air. I would pass him going up the hills, and he would pass me going down. I laughed to myself everytime he went by. I heard him remark to someone on the upside, "oh, I just love coasting down the hills!" I think he was a big butt guy that thought he was a little butt guy. Okay, I've said the bad word enough.
Here's another new word:
Kybo or Caibo
No, it's not an obscure martial art. It actually refers to what I have always called a porta-potty. There was even a Team Kybo, with special jerseys that said, "Get in Line!" I asked one of them where the word came from, and he didn't know. I thought maybe it was a brand of potty, or else a combination of two words or something. Never found out. Maybe one of you can tell me.
I havea blister on my right index finger, and I couldn't for awhile understand why it was there. Then I realized that that is the point where I push the gear shift lever on my bike. I have changed gears so much that I have a blister that is quickly becoming a callous. Gee, that's gross!
I'm really tired of signs along the sides of the road. Some of them are cute, some of them informative, but some are just stupid. Oh, there I go with forbidden words again! Here was one series:
Always wear a helmet
I mean it
You like your head
Your brains are in it
Classic, eh? There is an art to sign making and placement. There were some signs that were so far apart that you would forget the message. There were others that seemed to be written with a fine point sharpie, so you could hardly make them out. The most effective followed an advertising standard; keep it simple.
Well, I should go. I'm a little light headed. I think I need some water. I've enjoyed eating just about anything I want this week, but I have to admit, I'm getting tired of roadstand food and wish I could have some home cookin'. Especially my wife's. She's a good cook.
Tomorrow is a short ride, only 53 miles. I should be tipping my tire in the Mississippi River before noon. I can't believe we are almost there! This has been a fantastic adventure! One you reading this should do it with me next year! You won't forget it, I promise. I'll miss it. I thought maybe I should just keep going across Illinois and home, but there wouldn't be anyone in the towns waiting for us and clapping and cheerleaders cheering and food stands begging you to buy something. It wouldn't be the same.
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