PORTLAND TO PARKERSBURG

Tuesday, July 20, 2010

I am in Muscatine, Iowa. Tomorrow morning I will cross the river into Illinois. Unless something goes wrong, I will be home on July 31 or Aug 1. Today was very hot but a fairly easy 74 miles over gently rolling hills. Got hot about 2. The pics may be hard to see, but what I saw most of the day. Corn fields and bean fields. Thanks for the encouragement from home. I am holed up in a hotel this evening enjoying the air conditioning. Nearest campground was 6 miles off my route. I told a lady today that if they pay road taxes in !owa , they are getting cheated. Worst roads I have ever seen. Today ! Went through road construction where the blacktop had been stripped away. When I got to the end, I told the flagger it was the smoothest road I had been on since I entered Iowa! All the berms are gravel , which made me ride in the road. Please take care and I hope to see you soon!

4 comments:

Jackson Starkey21 July, 2010
Sorry I havnt posted in a long time. Be careful and have fun. Hey please dont cut your harir until I see I want to be able to reconize someone who has been on a bike trip across America by looking at their hair:}I just hope that I cant smell that they have been on a bike trip across America. I will hope to be at your house when you get there!Have Fun and Be Safe. One of the Mod Missers
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Brad, Margaret, & Alec21 July, 2010
Brad and I were glad to hear from you last nite! I can't believe you may be home so soon! We are so proud of you!! Keep your head up. We all miss and love you. :)
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Anonymous21 July, 2010
Randy,

Keep up the unbelievable perseverence. You are getting closer to home upon each and every circle of your wheels.
By now, not only can you see the complete steeple of your new church, but you can begin to see the top of the roof. Before you know it, the entire church will be in full view.
Indeed, you have been blessed in body, mind, and spirit. It takes 100% participation from all three components to complete such a monumental goal. Your Gold Medal is waiting at the Finish Line.
Did you realize that you got to wear THE YELLOW JERSEY on your Tour each and every day?
I hope you had a terrific day and Keep your eyes on the STEEPLE and ROOF!

Bill Fletcher
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Kaylain West21 July, 2010
Good Luck And Be SAFE
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PERSPECTIVE

When I think of the men, women, and children who suffer from disease and hunger throughout the world I realize the smallness of my endeavor. When I think of the men and women who serve in our military defending our freedom and spending months in foreign lands, I realize a 4000 mile bike journey is fairly insignificant. When I think of the elderly who spend the brief time they have left being lonely, and the animals who suffer at the hands of humans I am reminded that my journey is not very important.

My top 10 cycling pet peeves.

10. Any bicycle sold by Wal Mart. There isn't enough good metal in one to make a pie pan!
9. People who throw glass bottles out of car windows.
8. Any cyclist who feels the type of riding they do is the only type of cycling. I think it's great to see anyone on a bike.
7. Bicycle shops that charge to put air in your tires.
6. People throwing things from cars at cyclists. Really stupid!
5. People who yell out the window when passing a cyclist. They must not realize that all we hear is a squeal. Kinda funny actually!
4. Kids and young adults who ride through yards, weave wrecklessly through traffic and stop signs, and in front of cars, causing people to view cycling in a negative way.
3. Cyclists who ride in the road to prove a point. A little common sense goes a long way! I'm not going to argue with a red neck driving a 6000 pound truck with a dog in the back bigger than my bike! The goal is to ride, have fun, and get home alive! I do think we live in an area that needs to be more aware of cycling and hopefully people who ride often and correctly can have an impact on the way we are viewed by automobile drivers.
2. People who know they have dogs that chase bicycles and do nothing. Wonder if they would like them to be pepper sprayed. Of course not!! If its your dog or my legs, I'm choosing my legs!
1. People who don't turn on headlights when it isn't daylight. Maybe they think they are saving gas, too lazy to turn, push, or pull the switch, or maybe they think they are hiding in the dark.. Dumb and dangerous habit!!

PORTLAND TO PARKERSBURG

Tuesday, July 20, 2010

4 comments:

PERSPECTIVE

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