Wednesday, July 14, 2010

Need to mention: The bike rests in Iowa!

The tires rolled happily into Northwood, Iowa June 29th at 6pm.

Happy to be done.
Happy to say they rolled 1,200 miles in Texas, Oklahoma, Missouri and Iowa.
Happy to have made it without a dog taking a piece of rubber out of them.
Happy to have made it from Dallas, Texas to Northwood, Iowa WITHOUT a flat tire.

A trip of a lifetime.  The Central America one too, just different being on a bike for 17 days during the summer, humidity and heat of the South up to the Midwest.

Since being home.  My taste-buds have reunited with every possible flavor that'd been missed since last July.  Sweet corn.  Roma pizza's.  Dried beef pickle rolls.  And home cooked meals from almost everyone in Northwood. (the towns a small, quaint, love-able community that'll grab your heart faster than cupid....not to mention they've been sitting on the best recipes for centuries)

A big thank you to my support crew.  Those who helped encourage at the beginning, set up my bike for success, rode next to me, lent me your tent (it's still destroyed but I'll replace) or rented me your backyard.  Thanks to those of you who answered your phones when I was at my weakest, who took photos with me at our strongest.  To those who gave me fruit or grilled steaks.  To those who ran up to hug me.  EVERY moment has been touching.  Lasting.  And is forever ingrained in memory.

Biking may or may not continue to RAGBRAI.  Time will tell.  However, the journey's will.  Next up.  Mountains.  Goal:  To hike 3 14,000 ft peaks in Colorado this summer.  Anyone up for the challenge?