6-17-10
The Cannondale dealer couldn’t figure out the shifting thing. So we are stuck with the middle chain ring to 9th gear and a clicking sound. No upper ring, won’t shift up into it. Made for more spinning which is good for the knees, and plenty of exercise for the legs.

We ended up getting dropped off at the camp site in Missouri Valley IA. at the fairgrounds and community pool. There were some hard top campers there and a tent already. About an hour after Tim dropped us off about 12 semi and dump trucks pulled in and parked. The trailers and tent belonged to the drivers. They were hauling material for work on the freeway. They start around 6:00 AM in the morning when they start their engines to warm up. They leave about 6:15.

Tuesday we did about 45 miles to Onawa - Lewis & Clark Camp ground. It helps when it is flat, which it is. We had a bit of a head wind also which slowed us some. The Lewis and Clack campground was okay but not for $16.00. It had a replica of the keel boat L & C had. They are building a nice visitor center, due to open next year which will focus on the boats L&C used and those of the times I guess. Met some nice people camping in hard campers. Ernie (lady, just retired aquatics director) is sending me a couple of recipes for a creme rhubarb pie, what sounds like a killer brownie. Looking forward to them. Kids just hung out out swung on some swings near by.

Got word from Susan that Mom was not doing well, so making plans to head back to Dayton.

Wednesday we got up and left around 8:15, hoping for signage to a shortcut out of the park and up the road but didn’t happen. Ended up having to pedal the way back into town, about 4.5 ml to the route. We got headed to what we hoped would be Sioux City. With a nice tail wind we made to the south edge of Sioux City - Sergent Bluff by 12:15, and that was with a couple 1/2 hour stops. Great pedaling day.

Unfortunately it went down hill from there. Going by an Iowa biking map Mike J. the farmer / biker we meet Tuesday. The map showed a trail going from near Sergent Bluff all the way into town. It wasn’t marked and the road was getting busier and busier. Stopped at a truck stop near where the trail should have been. spoke to a few guys there. One said, just go down the road next to the truck stop here and it is at the end of it, But it doesn’t go through, stops at a stream. To catch it agin you have get back on the busy road and ride down 5 or so miles. So thats what we did. a rough shoulder for some of the time, no shoulder for the more exciting (busier parts). Ended up somewhere downtown trying to figure out which way the river was. This is when a nice lady, Diane stopped to help with directions and advise. We were thinking of trying to get to Stone Park the only camp ground shown, about 4 miles outside of town. Finally got a plan together started to go and we have another flat on the bike. Diane had told us where the bike shop was in town so we started walking to it. Low and behold she calls and says I got maps and where are you? Told her we were walking the bikes to the shop. Well she came and got Andrew and gave him a rid e to the shop to get more tubes. Emma and I showed up shortly there after. By the time we got the flat fixed it was 5:00. decided given the heat, late hour and Marta coming to pick us we would stay in town, so we did. Got another 45 miles in for the day

Thursday, Marta has picked us up this AM. Did have a chance to walk down to the river. low and behold across the river next to a beautiful YMCA is a nice campground. Darn.

We are headed back to IL now and then on to Ohio. It is up in the air when I will get back on the trail.