You're right, Mark. But sometimes a vacation is even more satisfying with a little pain and suffering.

In the past, I never saw a real need for fenders/mud guards. Now I get it.

Clearly it was no longer under the protection of St. Francis Xavier.

True, it seems 90% of the tube replacement operations I've performed involved the rear tire. So much more is involved with releasing the chain from the cog and the greasiness on the hands.

Sounds like you made a smart decision to drive to Dubuque. We've decided not to bike around here on the county roads as it's VERY hilly. And a wet gravel Heritage Trail as you've found is messy. But I'm not sure where you checked in the fairgrounds but we were parked there on Thursday. If you come by again, the camping area is behind the Grand ballroom building. There are only a few trailers here and only one Airstream. We'll be here until Thursday August 22.

Of course it stops there..just like “the buck”..

Thank you for “saving us” from the sin of *T/V signs… surely you know I don’t actually mean *television..;)

When you're feeling "psychological pain for taking the easy way out of a mess" remember that it's a vacation, and you're supposed to be having fun!

That is why I have mudguards (fenders)

At least it's the front wheel!

Yup there's some hills around Dubuque! Ran a few half marathons there back in the late 70s/early 80s.

I went by the fairgrounds yesterday. I only saw two vehicles in the camping area and neither one of them were an Airstream. I might try to get back there before I leave town.

I look forward to seeing a bit of your old territory.

Not only the good Catholic boy I once was, but also the good Church of the Great Outdoorsian I now am.

There are churches like this all over the area I'm in too. Even in very small towns. It's hard to believe northeastern Iowa is like Quebec-- at least in their Catholic churches.