Burlington, Iowa, yesterday!

How could I forget? Annie researched Burlington and told me to be sure to go to Snake Alley. I had my opportunities. Mary Palmberg invited us all up to dinner at a friend's house, high on a huge bluff overlooking the river. Annie, you would love the neighborhood, the houses up there are remarkable. After dinner, Mary invited those who wished to join her on a walking tour of Burlington, which would include Snake Alley, but I was too tired to walk and went back to the hotel. I was SOOOOO tired, more tired than I have been the entire trip, but I lost track of time and didn't get to bed until almost midnight. The next morning I woke up tired! I went with the rest of the crowd to the bike shop. I had left Bucky there the afternoon before for a complete tune-up and brake repairs. Boy, he sure rode great on the way back to the hotel. Of course, I bought a few new toys while there, including some much-needed flashing lights and other reflective gear. Everyone had been telling me I wasn't visible, especially on the rainy days. Bichel's Bicycle Shop in Burlington is the best! Bucky has never been in such good condition.

I decided not to go to dinner with the crowd last night, as I worried it would get late and I knew I needed some sleep, so instead I joined Catheryn, Frankie and Sue for an early dinner at Martini Grill. We went down early and at last I got to Snake Alley. It really is a remarkable street. The descent down that bluff was too steep for a horse and carriage, so this twisty little road was built of bricks placed at angles and deliberately bumpy so the horse could "get a grip." We walked up, and it was a surprisingly easy walk. Whoever engineered that street knew what he was doing.

Dinner was magnificent. Santa Margerita (I know I spelled that wrong, there's an "H" in there somewhere) Pinot Grigio (John, eat your heart out), steak, Sesame-coated Tuna Sashini (Tony, eat your heart out), and key lime pie with cocounut (John, I know its sacrilege, but it was actually good.)

We got home early, I went to the BP station for water (riddle me this: where do bees go to the bathroom? Answer at the end of this blog) and was in bed and snoozing by 9:30. Finally had a really good night's sleep and really needed it by now!

I still can't get a picture up on this blog, so will try again tomorrow.

Answer to the riddle: at the BP! That riddle is courtesy of Janet Bee, one of the riders who will be making the Cigar Run with me. Don't you love her last name?

This trip has been marvelous, and I think my legs are getting stronger every day. I'm really pleased that I have been able to ride all the miles. I did sag the other day for ten miles, but it was because we hit a highway with no shoulder and wall-to-wall truck traffic. Ann played the guilt card when I said I was just going to bike it, reminding me that it was not only dangerous, but not fair to the drivers to have to wait for me, since there really wasn't any way for them to pass safely. Of course, she was absolutely right on each and every count, but I spent a few hours being very depressed, having managed to bike every single mile up to that point. Pretty silly thing to be unhappy about, right? Of course right!

Tomorrow is about 70 miles or so. I don't know the terrain yet, but the weather has one major problem. Brisk winds from the northwest! Yikes, stripes, that won't be fun. We can't complain about weather, though. We've had very little rain, though we've had a lot of threats. A tornado came through the Muscatine area a couple of nights ago, so it surely could have been much worse!

Okay, nearly time for dinner, and I think I want to put on some warmer clothes, as it is a little chilly out.

Bye for now!

Dusty