Checking my weather app on my phone last night, there might be a possibility of rain today. It is amazing how little rain I have ridden in since leaving Everett.

Around 4 AM, I awoke to a roaring sound. Hmm, what is it? It could be a ton of traffic on the highway, but that seems unlikely. Could it be rain? Likely. Willing myself out of bed, I opened the door, and it was raining hard. No wonder it was so loud.

It is hard to get back to sleep, then hard to get going once I got up. Another look outside, and it was a steady rain. I hate starting the day in the rain. If it rains once I have started pedalling, that is different to me. Well, on to devotions then breakfast.

Before eating breakfast, I decided to get ready to go with rain jacket and pants on. Everything going got packed, and I opened the door to go next door to eat. The rain had stopped, at least for the moment. My weather app had changed its hourly forecast to a likelihood of rain all day. I left with my rain jacket on but open. 

The change in terrain in Minnesota was striking. When I first entered the state it was flat as a pool table. As I approached the greater Minneapolis area, it started getting hilly. On either side of the Mississippi River the highway paralleling the river was relatively flat, but the west side of the highway were heavily wooded hills, one after the other. It reminded me of Tennessee or North Carolina.

The River did not look so pristine today. Between the clouds and the light wind, the water looked dark and potentially menacing. I kept waiting for the rain to re-commence, taking off my rain coat while on a break. Walking outside of a cafe, after lunch, the sun was out and the skies were blue. I went back inside to apply sun screen. 

The  River started looking more pleasant, with tons of islands and channels, great habitat for fish and wildlife.  Going through one small town, I was a little uncertain on how to get through. The only recognizable road was the Interstate, which is verboten to bicycles. Finally I found what I was looking for, a new bike path that bypassed the Interstate. The only problem was the "Trail closed" sign blocking the entrance. My options were so limited that I squeezed the bike around the blockade, and rode on. At the end of the trail, a couple of miles down the road, I discovered the problem: there was a big road work project which narrowed the southbound road to a narrow lane. For me to get on it was to slow everyone behind me down to 10 mph, but what else could I do? The lane lasted for 1/2 mile, a long three minutes with a line of cars backing up behind. But soon it was back to normal.

I entered Iowa a couple of hours after lunch.

The town I am staying in is Lansing, IA, and it is really a neat little town. Busy, funky shops and restaurants. They won me over immediately by having an ice cream store when you first enter town. After a rain, the humidity soars when the sun comes out. It is only 82 degrees but feels like it is in the nineties.

Had a nice faith talk with a local man who was working in the yard. Having been a Christian his whole life, I am sure I could have learned from him.

Four more days of riding in Iowa, then I bust out to the east again.

Blessings.