Oct 4 Day 19

We rode a total of 52 miles today to end in Muscatine IA.  As we are out of breakfasts, dinners and gas to cook we decided to stop in an Econo Lodge.  Given how cold it is sleeping out, this may have influenced the decision.

Both Dave and I were slow leaving our warm sleeping bags this morning and therefore after cooking breakfast it was after 9:30 before we started out. Both of us wore coats during the early part of the ride but I took my coat off before lunch and Dave (the Wimp) wore his coat all day, not even opening his vents all day. 

The start of the day we had paths along the river that was very flat and well marked.  This seem to lift my spirit.  Then we found the river had flooded some  of the trail.  It looks like we could bike though so I lead the way, no problems were encountered except some splashing of water.  Dave's bike is lower and slower and his feet were completely underwater.  He was complaining the rest of the day about having cold wet feet.  This also improved my mood during the rest of the morning. 

Here is a building with smoke stack top like the old time steamboats had.

We stopped at Rock Island for lunch, right were the paths ended.  This put back on the regular roads, and found some more hills.  Dave claims my mood swing from to good to horrible, grumpy and ticked off, was instant.  I am pretty sure it took at least 20 mirco-seconds after seeing the first hill.  (In all honesty the ride was flat and smooth really quick)

Yesterday we met a young women at lunch that was riding to Texas.  We provided some advise on the where the trail was and she was gone in no time.  But before starting out she reached down grabbed her toes  and lefted the foot over head from the back.  I knew right then that there was no chance that I could ride as fast she was going.  Dave tried the same streach this morning and almost had to go hospital for pulled muscles. 

Here is a fireman statue found in Illinois City IL.  Thanks for remembering how much these guys give us.

Thankful for Today
Kindness is a human trait that is undervalued in world.  Yesterday while we gather kindleing wood for the fire, one of the RV campers came over and gave us a newspaper to light the fire with.  Then we were cooking dinner and the same guy arrived and gave us a two pieces of apple pie and chocolate.  This might be reason for my good mood in the morning, but for sure it was part of the reason for being warm at night.  So thanks Mr. and Mrs. Nelson for all your kindness and hope we brought some sunshine into your life.

Love and Kisses to all and to all good night
Allan and David