HERE IS THE LITTLE SIGN I SAW IN THE LITTLE RIVERSIDE CAFE IN PLEASANT VALLEY IOWA THE NIGHT BEFORE THE 2 DAY TOMROV BIKE RIDE. THIS WAS TO BE OUR MANTRA FOR THE THE TWO DAYS.
I SETTLED INTO THE 5 STAR VIP CONCIERGE ACCOMMODATION RESERVED FOR THOSE GREEDY STATE OF ILLINOIS RETIREES. I HAD A GREAT VIEW AND THE PORTA POT WAS CLOSE BY. THE ONLY THING MISSING WAS MY BELOVED DEBBIE AND SWEET ELLA.
THE EVENING TEMP WAS 89′ AND THE NAN MOBILE HAD ARRIVED IN IOWA MAKING A BIG NOISE IN THE PART CALLED $$. TIME TO SADDLE UP AND SEE SOME COUNTRY VIEWS.
EARLY IN THE RIDE WE PASSED THRU THE HOME OF THE AMERICAN PICKERS- MY FAVORITE TV SHOW. IT IS NOT ABOUT NOSE PICKING AS DEBBIE WOULD HAVE YOU BELIEVE ( I AM A CLOSET CASE). THE GUYS FIND AN INTERESTING BARN/PLACE AND FIND TREASURES FROM PEOPLE WHO SAVE STUFF. AND A BIG SHOUT OUT TO TOM G AND THIS COOL OLD BUS.
EARLY IN THE RIDE THE REST STOP STAFF WERE TELLING US TO GET AN EARLY START THE NEXT DAY BECAUSE OF WIND. EXCUSE ME WE HAVE A KABILLION MILES LEFT TODAY, IT IS 80′ PLUS AT 7 AM AND YOU ARE ADVISING US ON TOMORROW ? NAMASTE- LIVE IN THE MOMENT- ONE MILE AT A TIME, ETC ETC
THE VIEWS ON TOP OF CHESTNUT MOUNTAIN WERE GREAT. SO WE PEDALED ON AND IT WAS REALLY TOASTY. THE ROUTE GETS CRAZY HILLY AFTER MILE 75/106. I OPTED OUT OF THE “WALL” HILL AND TOOK THE EZ ROUTE AS THE MUSCLES WANTED SHADE AND GATORADE- WHERE WAS THAT REST STOP ? NOT DOWN THE ROAD I LED THE MERRY BAND OF FOOLS ON. MY INDIAN NAME IS GIRL WHO MISSES DIRECTIONAL ARROWS AND MY AMERICAN BIKE RIDING NAME IS DON’T FOLLOW ME I’M LOST. SMART PHONE TO THE RESCUE AND THE MIA REST STOP HAD PEPSI AND TWIZZLERS. LIFE WAS GOOD.
WE CROSSED THE MISSISSIPPI WHICH WAS TEAR INDUCING AS IT IS CLOSE TO NIRVANA I MEAN CLARKE COLLEGE (THE ENDING PT) AND IT IS SCARY DUE TO CARS AND LENGTH OF THE BRIDGE.
SHOWER=THE BEST. DINNER WAS DELISH WITH OLD PALS JILLY FISH AND KEN-BOB. NEW FRIENDS KAREN, ANDREW AND AMANDA. KAREN HAS RACE RECORDS SINCE THE DAWN OF TIME AND WAS ABLE TO LOCATE AN OBSCURE RESULT THAT WILL SAVE ME A RE-DO MARATHON IN CALIFORNIA. SHE IS MY NEW BEST FRIEND. ANDREW IS MY NEIGHBOR IN FLA AND AMANDA TOOK LIFE BY THE COLLAR AND SAID YES TO THIS RIDE AS A NEW RIDER. SHE IS OUR HERO AS WE ALL AGREED IT IS WAY HARDER THAN IRONMAN. WE MEAN JUST THIS BIKE IS HARDER THAN THE WHOLE IRON-DAY. I LOVE HER DECISION TO GET OFF THE COUCH AND BEGIN TO EXPERIENCE LIFE ONE MILE AT A TIME. AMANDA KEEP LIVING LARGE AND TAKE IT ALWAYS NEVER LEAVE IT.
THE 5 STAR VIP CONCIERGE ACCOMMODATIONS WERE DELIGHTFUL UNDER A BIG SHADE TREE. THE NEXT MORNING AT 4 AM THE BIG SHADE TREE WOKE ME UP THRASHING IN THE WIND. WAIT A MINUTE IT IS NEVER WINDY AT 4 AM. THAT DAY IT WAS JUST GETTING CRANKED UP.
MY ONLY REGRET OTHER THAN NOT BRINGING A MOPED ON THIS RIDE WAS THE BEAUTIFUL BLUE BARN I SAW AND DID NOT PHOTOGRAPH. I WAS CLINGING TO THE WHEEL OF A MAN WHO WAS PROVIDING A LITTLE DRAFT. I HAVE NEVER WHEEL SUCKED BUT TODAY WAS THE DAY TO BE SHAMELESS.
THE LAST 27 MILES TOOK 3 HRS AND A LADY WHO WAS BIG IN THE SUFFER ZONE SAID “I KEEP TELLING MYSELF I SIGNED UP FOR THIS WILLINGLY!!! I CAN’T CALL HOME FOR A RIDE BECAUSE IT IS LESS THAN 10 MILES AND THEY WON’T COME FOR ME AS I AM SO CLOSE. ”
I THOUGHT THERE WOULD BE 2 CARS LEFT AT THE START OUT OF 1400 AS NO ONE RIDES THAT SLOW FOR THAT LONG RIGHT ? OMG THE LOT WAS 98% FULL. ALL I KNOW IS THE WIND WAS STRONGER EVERY MINUTE AND TEMPS HOTTER TOO. I HAD A GREAT REUNION WITH MY BFF CHOCOLATE MILK.
ANOTHER NAN ADVENTURE IN THE BOOKS-
NEXT STOP IS THE WEEK LONG GRABAWR BIKE RIDE THAT WILL TRAVERSE THE WISCONSIN RIVER NORTH TO SOUTH.
THE MEANING OF LIFE IS TO LIVE IT
BE AWESOME TODAY
HAPPY TRAILS, NW
Nanadventure 
Love it!!!! Can't wait to check out pickers!!!!Take it or leave it, indeed!
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Your bike SUCKS, Nanc! I mean that in the kindest way on a such a blustery day!
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