We stayed overnight at a truck stop in IN. We pulled in about 10:30 p.m. and decided we were better off quitting here and not pushing on, besides we were hungry. We devoured the last of the chips, taco meat, sour cream and salsa. Cold food was going to be he norm we figured so we should start now. Got on he road about 7:00 and before too long we crossed into IL. Next was crossing the mighty Mississippi into IA, and boy what a change. It was directly at high noon and Ben was asleep, I tried but didn’t wake him in time. The first rest stop had a computerized information podium at which I saw what we had coming up. Severe weather, I mean it showed a heavy band of thunderstorms on the west side of the state that was coming our way. Ben started diving from here and I took a nap OMG, I woke up to lightning, thunder and torrential rain like nothing we get in CT. What if we run into this when we’re biking????? We decided that if it didn’t stop by 4:00, there was no sense in us stopping for the night as we had planned. It continued for probably 2 hour. A most amazing sight we can across was the Anita Wind Generation Project. For probably 10 miles all you saw was these huge wind generators. From here out through NE, they were everywhere and we saw many trailer trucks transporting the components to build new ones. The blades are HUGE, we estimated that they were between 75 -100 ft. long. So around 4:30 we stopped into Lake Anita State Park in Anita, IA. We set up the trailer and checked what out the place then suited up for a short ride. Well we got a good taste of we would be up against riding across the mid-west. The first 7 miles we rolling hills, but always climbing in elevation. The real kicker was we were riding into a 25 mph headwind. Peddling downhill gave me a real appreciation for Linda Wilkinson’s trials when riding the Cape Argus ride in South Africa. But since we were doing an out and back, now we could really appreciated riding with a TAILWIND! Then back to the park, starving. Cooked our first mean, pasta and got a full belly. After diner we had visitors to our camp, a deer was grazing on the beautiful grass in Anita State Park, and this wasn’t the only one we’ve saw during our stay. Now shower and off to bed around 10:00. About 5:00 a.m. there was a rumbling, which woke me and I though it was my stomach. So I trekked off to the restroom and on my return I realized it was NOT my stomach, but another thunderstorm was approaching. Ben, get up and let’s pack up the camper before it rains! Fifteen minutes later, just as we secured the last hold down clip on he trailer, it started. Lightning, thunder and the heavens opened up! Whoa, we just made it. We stayed put in the truck for about 30 minutes until it passed and then ventured out and hooked the trailer to the truck and off we go. Next up, Nebraska. Just after Omaha, a truck pulls up next to us and motioned to roll down the window. They say we just lost the cover on the spare tire on the camper. Oh well Tracy and Craig, I’ll replace it with one that will remind you of the generous gesture that you made in letting us use your wheels! OOOPS. We stopped at a rest stop down the highway a ways and it wasn’t the cover but the entire spare, mount and all. Our plan is to drive to Salt Lake City, Utah tonight ad hit a truck stop somewhere for the night. We're not going to put up the camper tonight, severe weather announcements have were broadcasting all afternoon with even tornado warnings. Hopefully, tomorrow we can make it to Portland OR, but we are planning on stopping to watch the U.S.A. versus England in the FIFA World Cup and I promised Ben a BIG steak dinner as a reward for his making Dean’s List his last semester at UCONN!
Keep Them Wheels a Rollin’
Paul
P.S. Sabrina found this great article about Chikumbuso and everything they are doing. Check it out!
http://www.globalgiving.org/projects/chikumbuso/updates/?RF=progrept3930
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