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Summer 2020

We had planned to ride from Rome to Barcelona, but the coronavirus took over the world. I will occasionally post our adventures here, some will be back dated. Read more

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Day 6
Monday, June 15, 2020
☀️ 23 °C
Altitude: 221 m
United States Modern Manor Mobile Home Park 41.653522, -91.48475641°39’13” N 91°29’5” W
Another 40+ mile morning
June 15, 2020 in the United States ⋅ ☀️ 23 °C
On the road at 6:15 AM. Down Sand Rd to Riverside, Iowa, then through Hills, Iowa and Sharon Center, Iowa. Another cooler morning. The corn is growing quickly. We ended the ride going by the Hawkeye football field, and had 2nd breakfast on the porch.Read more
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Day 5
Sunday, June 14, 2020
☀️ 21 °C
Altitude: 221 m
United States Modern Manor Mobile Home Park 41.653591, -91.48471841°39’13” N 91°29’5” W
Flag Day
June 14, 2020 in the United States ⋅ ☀️ 21 °C
Today is Flag day in the U.S. Lisa went to Anamosa, Iowa and helped our good friend Doug stain his deck and I went for a casual ride around Iowa City. The video is of Lisa’s other artifact find!
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Day 4
Saturday, June 13, 2020
☀️ 20 °C
Altitude: 221 m
United States Modern Manor Mobile Home Park 41.653568, -91.48477941°39’13” N 91°29’5” W
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Haystack 70
June 13, 2020 in the United States ⋅ ☀️ 20 °C
7:15 AM we picked up Pat to drive to the Millstream Brewery in the Amana Colonies. We met Craig and Matt and started riding at 8:00 AM. Our first stop was after two blocks at the Amana bakery. We then rode 37 mile of mainly gravel to Chelsea, Iowa. We stopped every five miles or less for Pat to add air to his rear tire. Also, we had about six water crossings in route to Chelsea. A great tailwind made the morning ride delightful! After lunch (Haystack Burgers*) and beers in Chelsea we took a more direct route of more pavement back to the Millstream brewery. The headwind made for some tough riding, but we reaped the rewards of cold brews at the end! 70 miles of fun with friends.
*A hamburger smothered with mozzarell and sauerkraut.Read more
Traveler I like that you enjoy a cold brew at the end of each day's ride 👍
6/15/20Reply
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Day 3
Friday, June 12, 2020
☀️ 27 °C
Altitude: 221 m
United States Modern Manor Mobile Home Park 41.65361, -91.48480241°39’13” N 91°29’5” W
2 Artifacts for Lisa!
June 12, 2020 in the United States ⋅ ☀️ 27 °C
After our morning ride and some yard work we headed back to the cornfields to look for more arrowheads*. Lisa had two great finds and I’ll include one video in this post and put the other in another post soon. It was a hot day, but definitely worth it!
*I say “arrowheads”, but mean any Native American artifact.Read more
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Day 3
Friday, June 12, 2020
☀️ 27 °C
Altitude: 221 m
United States Modern Manor Mobile Home Park 41.653555, -91.4848241°39’13” N 91°29’5” W
Reverse Res. Loop
June 12, 2020 in the United States ⋅ ☀️ 27 °C
Again we got out for a nice 20+ mile morning ride. We rode through the the cemetery and stopped by where the service will be for my dad as he donated his body to the University of Iowa Hospitals & Clinics. We ended with a hearty breakfast on the porch. 😀🍳🥖Read more
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Day 2
Thursday, June 11, 2020
☀️ 24 °C
Altitude: 221 m
United States Modern Manor Mobile Home Park 41.653541, -91.48473641°39’13” N 91°29’5” W
More Artifacts & Beers with Mike
June 11, 2020 in the United States ⋅ ☀️ 24 °C
After our morning Res. loop I got out for some arrowhead hunting. I found a beautiful one! The day ended with beers on the porch with our good friend Mike.
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Day 2
Thursday, June 11, 2020
🌧 20 °C
Altitude: 221 m
United States Modern Manor Mobile Home Park 41.653557, -91.48477241°39’13” N 91°29’5” W
“Res. Loop” part 2
June 11, 2020 in the United States ⋅ 🌧 20 °C
...continuing past the “Dump Trump” sign we pass the worlds largest wooden nickel into the Iowa City water treatment park. From there it is under Interstate-80 to the city limits and into the University of Iowa,the Old Capitol building, and some historical churches. A beautiful ride that usually takes a bit over an hour. 🚴🏻‍♂️❤️😀Read more
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Day 2
Thursday, June 11, 2020
🌧 20 °C
Altitude: 221 m
United States Modern Manor Mobile Home Park 41.653534, -91.48477241°39’13” N 91°29’5” W
“Res. Loop” part 1
June 11, 2020 in the United States ⋅ 🌧 20 °C
Our favorite 20 mile loop is over the Coralville Lake Damn. The ride has a nice gradual climb to the big Buddah and old barn. It continues to a nice scenic view to the south and past a cute cottage style house. We then reach the 1/2 way point just after passing over the resivoir. We have nice downnhill past the “Dump Trump” sign...(see part 2)Read more
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Day 1
Wednesday, June 10, 2020 at 3:00 PM
🌧 16 °C
Altitude: 220 m
United States Modern Manor Mobile Home Park 41.653446, -91.48481841°39’12” N 91°29’5” W
Artifact Hunting with Sebastian
June 10, 2020 in the United States ⋅ 🌧 16 °C
We went searching for Native American artifacts 35 minutes south of Iowa City toward Riverside, Iowa on the ridge above the Iowa River. We trounced through the muddy corn rows finding a lot of flakes of chert, and Sebastian found two really nice pieces (seen with the coin.) We missed videoing the finds as he did think at first they were artifacts. It was chilly and we got rained on a bit. Fun times!Read more
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Day 1
Wednesday, June 10, 2020 at 6:00 AM
⛅ 19 °C
Altitude: 221 m
United States Modern Manor Mobile Home Park 41.653494, -91.48480541°39’13” N 91°29’5” W
40 miles in the Morning
June 10, 2020 in the United States ⋅ ⛅ 19 °C
Lisa and I did a nice loop through West Liberty in the early morning. It was foggy for the first part, but the sun broke through as we rode the stiff headwind home. We saw The Statue of West Liberty!
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Tuesday, June 9, 2020
🌧 21 °C
Altitude: 220 m
United States Modern Manor Mobile Home Park 41.653455, -91.48481941°39’12” N 91°29’5” W
Our life is a bike tour every day!
June 9, 2020 in the United States ⋅ 🌧 21 °C
Lisa and I decided we need to pretend every day is like a bicycle tour. We rode about 30 miles before 8 AM and stopped for an iced coffee and pastries at the Java house near our house. Of course we are missing the bakeries in Europe, and the US prices are ridiculous! 👎🏻Read more
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Monday, June 8, 2020
☀️ 29 °C
Altitude: 221 m
United States Modern Manor Mobile Home Park 41.653477, -91.48483341°39’13” N 91°29’5” W
New Touring Bike! ❤️
June 8, 2020 in the United States ⋅ ☀️ 29 °C
I ordered a new steel touring bike. Yay! It’s a 52cm Salsa Marrakesh. I got it from Nick’s Cycling and Fitness in Burlington, Iowa. More on this to come, as I have not picked it up yet. I am not sure where I’ll fit it in the garage, but that’s a good problem. 😉Read more
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Sunday, June 7, 2020
☀️ 26 °C
Altitude: 221 m
United States Modern Manor Mobile Home Park 41.653596, -91.48469441°39’13” N 91°29’5” W
Backyard BBQ & fun!
June 7, 2020 in the United States ⋅ ☀️ 26 °C
We had the McKays and their girls over for a BBQ and games and a fire in the backyard. Bummed I didn’t snap any photos. We’ll do it again soon and I’ll add photos. Pat and Lisa defeated Jim and Renae in “bags” 2 games to 1. I used this super old beer in the one photo I took to precook the Bratwursts. Of course I had to sample a bit to. ☺️Read more
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Saturday, June 6, 2020
☀️ 27 °C
Altitude: 221 m
United States Modern Manor Mobile Home Park 41.653505, -91.48476741°39’13” N 91°29’5” W
Sutliff Bridge Ride
June 6, 2020 in the United States ⋅ ☀️ 27 °C
Pat, Lisa, and I did one of our favorite rides to Sutliff, Iowa. It is a 45 mile ride of mainly gravel, with a beer and food stop at the historic Sutliff Bridge. We met Doug at the pub and enjoyed cold brews with some frits. We also chatted with some other cyclist as it is quite a popular destination. On the way back to Iowa City we stopped in Solon, IA to grab a few road beers. It was a beautiful ride and day!Read more
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Friday, June 5, 2020
⛅ 28 °C
Altitude: 221 m
United States Modern Manor Mobile Home Park 41.653477, -91.48481241°39’13” N 91°29’5” W
Strawberry Moon
June 5, 2020 in the United States ⋅ ⛅ 28 °C
We drove out to the country to look at the Strawberry Moon (full moon of June) and stars with Sebastian. A very calm and enjoying evening together.
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Friday, June 5, 2020
⛅ 28 °C
Altitude: 221 m
United States Modern Manor Mobile Home Park 41.653484, -91.48471841°39’13” N 91°29’5” W
Protesting / BLM / Weird Beer
June 5, 2020 in the United States ⋅ ⛅ 28 °C
George Floyd’s wrongful death has caused protesting and riots around the U.S. and world. Sebastian has joined the peaceful protesting. I enjoyed some free parking and strange beer, and am in support of change.Read more
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Friday, June 5, 2020
⛅ 28 °C
Altitude: 221 m
United States Modern Manor Mobile Home Park 41.653473, -91.48474741°39’13” N 91°29’5” W
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1 Year and a Day (Ingolstadt)
June 5, 2020 in the United States ⋅ ⛅ 28 °C
Last year we met Meike and Herbert as the hosted us at their flat in Ingolstadt, DE. Unfortunately, they had to cut their 2019-2020 bicycle tour from Vancouver to the tip of South America short. The coronavirus stopped the for two months in Columbia. They have now returned safely to Germany and our touring in the Czech Republic.Read more
Traveler Good times in the beer garden 🍻
6/12/20Reply
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Thursday, June 4, 2020
⛅ 28 °C
Altitude: 220 m
United States Modern Manor Mobile Home Park 41.653422, -91.4846941°39’12” N 91°29’5” W
100 Miles to See Mom
June 4, 2020 in the United States ⋅ ⛅ 28 °C
I left at 7am to ride mainly gravel to my hometown (Marshalltown) to visit my mom. Lisa drove over to give me a lift home ❤️. A beautiful ride which involved avoiding a thunderstorm, a “Haystack Burger*”
in Chelsea, Iowa, flooded roads, and running out of water in the heat of the day. Luckily I saw a person watering plants and stopped for rehydration , found out after chatting that we knew each other. Ended in Marshalltown at Tasty Freeze for ice cream. I grew up about two blocks from the ice cream landmark.
*Haystack Burger: A cheese burger with close to 1 pooung of Mozzarella cheese and 1/2 pound of sauerkraut.
100 miles / 6 hrs 15 min.Read more
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Tuesday, June 2, 2020
☀️ 29 °C
Altitude: 221 m
United States Modern Manor Mobile Home Park 41.65355, -91.48471541°39’13” N 91°29’5” W
COVID-19
June 2, 2020 in the United States ⋅ ☀️ 29 °C
A reminder of what is going on in the world as I ride my go-to-20 mile-loop, a “res loop. My “res loop” is a scenic 20 mile loop over the Coralville Reservoir (part of the Iowa River.)
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Sunday, May 31, 2020
☀️ 20 °C
Altitude: 221 m
United States Modern Manor Mobile Home Park 41.653477, -91.48477241°39’13” N 91°29’5” W
More Gravel Adventures
May 31, 2020 in the United States ⋅ ☀️ 20 °C
Pat, Lisa, and I did a nice gravel loop through Downey, Iowa. We end with beers in our backyard.
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Saturday, May 30, 2020
☀️ 20 °C
Altitude: 221 m
United States Modern Manor Mobile Home Park 41.653584, -91.48472541°39’13” N 91°29’5” W
Kitchen Remodel Begins
May 30, 2020 in the United States ⋅ ☀️ 20 °C
Money saved from our canceled trip is being spent on house renovation. Starting with new countertops. What a mess! 😏
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Thursday, May 28, 2020
🌧 20 °C
Altitude: 221 m
United States Modern Manor Mobile Home Park 41.653543, -91.48473641°39’13” N 91°29’5” W
Westmalle Dubbel
May 28, 2020 in the United States ⋅ 🌧 20 °C
Enjoying one of the best beers in the world on our screened in porch. We fell in love with this Trappist ale in Belgium and have been to the abbey to enjoy it locally too. A delightful taste if you ever have the chance. Our moment was graced with a rainbow in the East.Read more
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Wednesday, May 27, 2020
⛅ 25 °C
Altitude: 221 m
United States Modern Manor Mobile Home Park 41.653574, -91.48473441°39’13” N 91°29’5” W
Arrowhead Hunting
May 27, 2020 in the United States ⋅ ⛅ 25 °C
It had been awhile since I got out walking the fields of Iowa. I found one nice hide scraper and a bunch of flakes.
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Tuesday, May 26, 2020
☀️ 28 °C
Altitude: 220 m
United States Modern Manor Mobile Home Park 41.653437, -91.48472941°39’12” N 91°29’5” W
More LED Projects
May 26, 2020 in the United States ⋅ ☀️ 28 °C
Lisa hung some new lights in the screened-in-porch and we both worked on getting some blue ones near the firepit.
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Tuesday, May 26, 2020
☀️ 28 °C
Altitude: 221 m
United States Modern Manor Mobile Home Park 41.653488, -91.48474941°39’13” N 91°29’5” W
A Look Back at the 2019 Tour
May 26, 2020 in the United States ⋅ ☀️ 28 °C
I use the winter months to plan our tours extensively. I use a combination of mapping sites. Warmsowers.org, Airbnb, Couchsurfing, etc. I plan our routes and line up lodging. I then write out details in my journal and read them nightly to Lisa while on the tour as we recap the day and look forward to the next day. Never a dull moment!Read more
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