Wednesday, August 31, 2011
Tuesday, August 30, 2011
Sunday, August 28, 2011
Friday, August 26, 2011
Thursday, August 25, 2011
Wednesday, August 24, 2011
Tuesday, August 23, 2011
Monday, August 22, 2011
August 21: Rapid City, SD to Hill City, SD
Taking a side trip to see the Crazy Horse Memorial and Mount Rushmore.
The Black Hills are tougher to climb than I expected due more to the hills' duration than steepness. Best estimate, since road signs are silent on the issue, is 5-8% inclines, which I handled with ease earlier this week when taken in 1-2 mile doses. But I had to really gear down and take it slow yesterday over thirty miles of them!
This morning I hope to get an early start and climb the last 1000 feet or so to Crazy Horse (elevation: about 6700 feet). Then I'm off to Mount Rushmore.
The Black Hills are simply beautiful, even in pouring rain, and I'm eager to see what they will show me today.
The Black Hills are tougher to climb than I expected due more to the hills' duration than steepness. Best estimate, since road signs are silent on the issue, is 5-8% inclines, which I handled with ease earlier this week when taken in 1-2 mile doses. But I had to really gear down and take it slow yesterday over thirty miles of them!
This morning I hope to get an early start and climb the last 1000 feet or so to Crazy Horse (elevation: about 6700 feet). Then I'm off to Mount Rushmore.
The Black Hills are simply beautiful, even in pouring rain, and I'm eager to see what they will show me today.
Saturday, August 20, 2011
Thursday, August 18, 2011
Tuesday, August 16, 2011
Monday, August 15, 2011
Saturday, August 13, 2011
Thursday, August 11, 2011
August 10: Forest City, IA to West Bend, IA
"But wait," you--my devoted readers who track my progress daily with a golf pencil and protractor--surely protest, "Why did you suddenly dip 20 miles south when you're clearly heading for the South Dakota border?"
Glad you asked.
While passing through a tiny little town called Ventura, and enjoying my characteristic bad luck finding a soup, sandwich or salad not riddled with pork fat, I received a tip from a woman named Vivian at a tiny ice cream shop (where, for the record, I abandoned my hope of a nutritious lunch and settled for a characteristic grilled cheese sandwich and side of fries) that there's one thing I MUST see before leaving Iowa: the Grotto of the Redemption in West Bend. Since up to that point I honestly hadn't seen ANYTHING in Iowa, and since it's obviously Christian-themed, I was all ears.
In a nutshell, this site should be considered one of the top 20 man-made wonders of the world. It's the largest grotto on earth and an almost unparalleled display of one pastor's faith and lifelong devotion to an unthinkably ambitious work of art and engineering.
Of course, I have no images to share--yet--since I'm reduced to stealing Wi-Fi from a closed public library in another miniscule town, but I spent hours there and took about
3,000 photos, so you'll have to ask me very nicely not to post them all.
Seriously, this place blew my ever-lovin' mind.
Glad you asked.
While passing through a tiny little town called Ventura, and enjoying my characteristic bad luck finding a soup, sandwich or salad not riddled with pork fat, I received a tip from a woman named Vivian at a tiny ice cream shop (where, for the record, I abandoned my hope of a nutritious lunch and settled for a characteristic grilled cheese sandwich and side of fries) that there's one thing I MUST see before leaving Iowa: the Grotto of the Redemption in West Bend. Since up to that point I honestly hadn't seen ANYTHING in Iowa, and since it's obviously Christian-themed, I was all ears.
In a nutshell, this site should be considered one of the top 20 man-made wonders of the world. It's the largest grotto on earth and an almost unparalleled display of one pastor's faith and lifelong devotion to an unthinkably ambitious work of art and engineering.
Of course, I have no images to share--yet--since I'm reduced to stealing Wi-Fi from a closed public library in another miniscule town, but I spent hours there and took about
3,000 photos, so you'll have to ask me very nicely not to post them all.
Seriously, this place blew my ever-lovin' mind.
Wednesday, August 10, 2011
August 8: Rest Day in Hampton, IA (Just Because)
Enjoyed a peaceful day alongside Beed's Lake at the State Park campground.
In the morning, I biked into town to do laundry (due to a Camelback mishap, I awoke to a wet sleeping bag), stuffed me gob at a Godfather's Pizza lunch buffet, and then headed back to the campsite for some quiet time by the lake: prayer, Bible study and meditation on the trip thus far and life in general.
Unfortunately, I'm unable to upload photos at the moment. Will do so ASAP.
In the morning, I biked into town to do laundry (due to a Camelback mishap, I awoke to a wet sleeping bag), stuffed me gob at a Godfather's Pizza lunch buffet, and then headed back to the campsite for some quiet time by the lake: prayer, Bible study and meditation on the trip thus far and life in general.
Unfortunately, I'm unable to upload photos at the moment. Will do so ASAP.
Tuesday, August 9, 2011
Sunday, August 7, 2011
August 6: Dundee, IA to Waverly, IA
Learned something today; thought I'd share.
When you buy a tent, it invariably comes packed with little guy ropes used to brace and stabilize the tent structure in inclement weather. Turns out these are not ornamental but in fact should be used nightly. Even, it would appear, when you bed down on a cool, perfectly clear eve and are awakened, say, at 1:30 a.m., to the sound of thunder and torrential rain.
I've also learned that a tent can be secured on a moment's notice and reasonably well--even in panic mode--and that a mildly damp synthethic sleeping bag is still surprisingly warm and dries rapidamente in the morning sun.
When you buy a tent, it invariably comes packed with little guy ropes used to brace and stabilize the tent structure in inclement weather. Turns out these are not ornamental but in fact should be used nightly. Even, it would appear, when you bed down on a cool, perfectly clear eve and are awakened, say, at 1:30 a.m., to the sound of thunder and torrential rain.
I've also learned that a tent can be secured on a moment's notice and reasonably well--even in panic mode--and that a mildly damp synthethic sleeping bag is still surprisingly warm and dries rapidamente in the morning sun.
Saturday, August 6, 2011
August 5: Maquoketa, IL to Dundee, IL
With little else to behold the past few days except rows of corn and soybeans and empty campgrounds, the O'Brien family at Backbone State Park were a welcome change, an answered prayer.
Details and pictures to follow...
Details and pictures to follow...
Friday, August 5, 2011
August 4: Savanna, IL to Maquoketa, IA
Getting hillier. Heading west a bit more, then north, based on vague intel it'll spare me some of Iowa's worst climbs around Dubuque.
Started this morning at the State Park with a side trip to a scenic overlook. It took me up the steepest, curviest hill I've encountered the whole trip. Decided to walk the bike halfway. The view from the bluff, of the Mississippi running alongside ubiquitous railroad tracks, was well worth it.
Started this morning at the State Park with a side trip to a scenic overlook. It took me up the steepest, curviest hill I've encountered the whole trip. Decided to walk the bike halfway. The view from the bluff, of the Mississippi running alongside ubiquitous railroad tracks, was well worth it.
Wednesday, August 3, 2011
Tuesday, August 2, 2011
August 1: Homewood, IL to Villa Park, IL
Still battling my way out of the metropolitan Chicago area!
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