Iowa is a beautiful state....but it is a state that is defined by its farms. Our first 2 days the landscape was quite picturesque with the farms on acres and acres of rolling hills. The corn and soy bean fields beautifully highlighted by their undulating surfaces. Old and new barns dot the landscape but they are miles apart with no apparent connection. These past two days the flat center of Iowa, away from the river edges is more monotonous but beautiful, nonetheless. Glenn and I are amazed at the amount of corn just this one state can grow. I am told that it is not sweet corn but corn used for feed and ethanol production. The very small towns that we have passed through have very simple centers if there is a town center at all. They certainly pull out the stops this week, providing food, water and entertainment. I imagine they prepare for months knowing that droves of people will ride by but that life goes back to a quiet slow pace once the last cyclist rides on through. In some of these small towns there is little more than a post office, small grocery store and a mom and pop restaurant. They each have their own charm.
Overcast and cool made for perfect riding weather. A 50 miler on mostly flat land got us home in a tad over 3 hours. So what could throw a monkey wrench into this almost perfect day? Knee pain. UGH! my right knee is the worst of the two and I may not be able to ride tomorrow...I will assess in the morning after today's regimen of ice, advil and massage. Keep me in your thoughts...at this point I will take just about anything. All in all it was not only a great day but probably the best day! The riders are getting to know each other so it is abit like 'adult camp'. I can't say enough about my tandem partner Glenn. With my bum knee it looks as if he will be dragging my butt across Iowa!
Signing off in Altoona...
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