It should be an easy ride today, so a little later departure time shouldn't hurt.

Listening, while packing, to the tragic ambush on the Dallas policemen. I don't understand all of the black Americans getting killed, but I do know this: the great majority of police are good people. Sometimes we forget what life would be like without them. I experienced that when I worked a gas station/lodge in northern British Columbia. The nearest Mounties were 135 miles to the north and 196 miles to the south. We were the only place in a 73 mile stretch. Suddenly, I was responsible for helping to protect the people and property there. We only had to show weapons once, but I completely changed my attitude towards police power. We have to have it to maintain safe and stable communities. Clearly, there is a spate of over-reacting officers, but let us not throw the baby out with the bath water.

 Stopped in a bakery downtown. Where else can you get a large bowl of oatmeal, side order of toast, and a large glass of orange juice for $5.25?

The ride along the river was wonderful. For the first time I saw a long barge, pushed by a tug. At some point the road needed to go through some hills, and the road started to climb. Overall the area near the river had rolling hills, so travel was scenic but not fast.

Then the event which changed the day happened. A bridge on my route  was out.  I followed the detour, hoping it was a short one. That ended up not being the case. I was being directed inland straight into the hills that I could see from the river.

The bicycling maps are very good as long as one stays on the route, but the roads around the route are not well identified.

Not having a clue where I was, or where this detour was taking me, I finally spotted a couple of farmers near the road. They were very helpful, and gave me directions which would get me back onto my  original route. They asked "Do you want short but steeper , or longer but less steep?"  I chose the longer route.

The farms looked healthy and prosperous. If corn is supposed to be knee high by the fourth of July, then the Iowa farmers are ahead of the game. Their corn is 5-6 feet high.

My hope was to get to a tiny town called Waterville, and have lunch. The bar was quaint with most of the walls covered with adages, signed dollar bills, stuffed animal heads, and plaques from pool tournments. I stepped onto the deck out back and the owner was cooking my hamburger on a charcoal grill. It was delicious. I cannot help but ponder where the residents work and play. The town seemed quiet for having two bars.

 The bicycle is starting to show sign of needing a "tune up". In particular, it is not shifting well, and the brakes are on their last legs. I have gotten by with soft brakes for awhile, but I have to admit that when I came to a descent, with warning signs indicating a 9% grade, I stopped to think up a strategy. To put 9% in perspective, Stevens Pass was a 5 % grade. The Orondo Grade was 6%. Some parts of the North Cascades Highway were 7%, but rarely have I had to deal with a 9% grade. At least, I was going down, not up, but I was envisioning the possibility of gathering too much speed, more than the brakes could affect, then losing control of the bike at high speed. I gently started down, brakes engaged until I could see where the curving road went. Once I saw it was okay, then I released the brakes and let momentum take over.

The point that of that story is that in two and one half days, I will be in a big enough town that it can sustain a bike shop. I already have made arrangements to have them address my concerns. Since my bike has disc brakes, I had difficulty 8 years ago finding a bike shop that carried the parts. This time I brought spare disc brake parts with me. 

Compared to Minnesota, the roads in Iowa have not been near as bicycle-friendly. Even busy roads lack proper shoulders for bicyclers. The drivers have been courteous, but I left the road into the gravel a number of times, just to allow vehicles room to pass.

After 53 miles, I reached a B&B near Elkader, my destination for the night.

May the peace of the Lord be with you.