Sometimes a motel tour is needed and it's good to be adaptable... just so you can get time on the bike. I do miss my tent time on those occasions though.

But, gosh, a shower, a place to get all my gear dry, and a pillow for a night, in that order, are the reasons I get a motel or caravan park cabin on occasion while riding. I have so much data on my phone plan and don't post while touring... so I never really think about the wifi aspect.

Not many I know that the moniker fits like it does you ;’-).

Spoon... Funny thing. I used to carry a "lightweight spoon" (plastic) when backpacking, but had a couple snap and had to carve a wooden replacement with no place to buy anything within a couple long days hike, thus the metal spoon on bike tours.

Not all of Iowa is as spectacularly hilly as the northeastern part, but every region has its own charms.
I have toured in northern Minnesota while on my way to Winnipeg, Manitoba and back, but it's been a while. Maybe it IS time to get back up there for a mini-tour.

Next time I watch "Field of Dreams," I'll have to watch the credits closely to see if they mention Dyersville. It would be a travesty if they didn't.

I always appreciate that you read my journals and provide nice comments. Now I really appreciate that you called me "Buckaroo." That's hilarious!

Iowa really is an underrated state, as I knew you already know. Now I know that you also know that kids who went to Catholic School are no holier than public school kids. Kids are kids, and kids will get into mischief and test their boundaries. As you said, "it's life, after all."

I'm glad my failure helped make you feel a little better about yours . . . I think? Seriously though, thank you for reading about my escapades. And have fun on your next tour with Susan, which I just read about on your new Cycleblaze journal.

Thank you for not only the compliment, but also for the emergency spoon-as-a-tire-iron idea. I always carry a metal spoon on my tours for eating peanut butter out of the jar and for eating most of my campsite meals.

Thanks Rocky!

When I first saw your "I loved that movie" comment, I thought it referred to the clip I posted on the next page from "The Three Amigos." I really liked "Field of Dreams," but I LOVED the daffiness of "The Three Amigos." When it comes to depth of cinematic appreciation, the Amigos are more my speed. But really, the thing I love most about it is that my son and I watched it together about five times in the month after it came out. We still quote lines from The Three Amigos quite often.

That's exactly how it is with me. A car is simply a tool used to get me and my stuff from point A to point B. It's not a pet or a valued possession . . . or a bike.

Speaking of tools, in answer to your question in another comment: No, I didn't go back to the Dyersville Super 8 to retrieve my forgotten items. I thought about it, but they weren't worth going 26 miles out of my way for--even if that is only a half-hour by car.

Reading about your experiences reminded me of our past tours that didn't turn out as planned. Sometimes it's better to just admit that you're no longer having fun and head home. We're enjoying our time in Dubuque and found the Tri-State area to be quite beautiful - certainly not what we expected for this corner of Iowa, Wisconsin and Illinois! Maybe you should try a mini-tour to the north part of Minnesota?

No tour in Iowa, no matter how short, is a waste of time for me. And a bonus were the memories of Catholic grade school. Thanks for sharing all the highs and lows - it's life, after all.

I’m sorry it didn’t work out. I would have bailed out long before you did! Thanks to global warming, the weather is getting worse all the time!