Thursday, June 13, 1996
Day 33
Vinton, Iowa to Anamosa, Iowa
Today's Miles: 52
Cumulative Miles for the Tour: 2200
Degree of Difficulty: Very Easy
Terrain: Slightly Rolling, Newly Planted Corn Farmland
Find of the Day: Sue's Filling Station
Today was a short day of riding as we plan our entrance into Illinois. We'll cross the Mississippi River at Clinton tomorrow, headed to spend a rest day at the home of a friend of Dave Blair's. Ken and Adam went to see "Mission Impossible, the Movie" tonight, while the rest of us stayed in camp, enjoying the park in Anamosa where we have setup camp.
All of us are surprised at the amount of food that is served around here when ordering breakfast. This morning we ate at a place called Sue's Filling Station in Central City, Iowa.Ken asked for "The Full Tank"...steak, eggs, hashbrowns (enough to cover half a large size dinner plate), toast and pancakes...all for five bucks. It was enough for two people, but Ken, being the trooper he is, ate it all and then complained about it for the rest of the day. Adam ate the "Half a Tank" and could barely finish that.
The sign speaks for itself... Beaman, Iowa
Dave, Ken and Adam
The people in Iowa continue to be as nice and hospitable as when we first crossed the border into the state. At the local newspaper office in Central City, Vern gave me a phone line for a half hour so I could catch up on the journals and get everyone's e-mail.
The newspaper office is inside a building that was built in 1888, as were most of the large structures on the street. This area of Iowa was settled in the mid-1800's. The old, plantation size houses that dot the road along our route are a continuous reminder of an America that most people think no longer exits. As Kevin Costner said in "Field of Dreams" when asked if this was heaven, "No, this is Iowa."
Bike America Tours
dblair@wtp.net
1-800-738-7271