Far out, man! I totally dig your groovy tour and am hip to the route!

Thanks George, and yes, I forgot to mention how nice the people of Iowa are. I lived in Dyersville for three years--well before the Field of Dreams existed. My field of dreams was the Little League field at the city park, where I spent many, many, many hours playing baseball--not only in league play, but also in near-daily pick-up games with my friends.

"The land where few bike tourists--or any other tourists--dare to go. (Or care to go.)"

Well - maybe I'm weird too, but I liked Iowa a lot on my Northern Tier adventure last year. I especially liked Donna, owner of the bar in Oxford Junction, who arranged for us to stay inside in the civic building instead of camping out in miserable conditions! That plus cycling past the Field of Dreams made for good memories of Iowa. I checked and our route last year is very close to the eastern end of your circuit. So I think you will have a far-out experience on this tour.

Iowa is so much more than corn and beans. Right now, I can't think of what that is but, for sure, there is more. I will report on the state's excellence in a few days.

Iowa has some wineries, but it's not likely I'll come across one on this trip--unless there is such a thing as corn wine. If so, I COULD come across a hidden distillery that produces some kind of strange concoction between wine and whiskey.

I will count the streets between 60th and 100th, and I might use your idea of expanding on the Iowa-Minnesota rivalry. There are actually some pretty funny jokes out there, and they come from both sides of the debate.

Of all the people here on Cycleblaze, I knew YOU would recognize a great and enjoyable state. Iowa and Illinois and Minnesota are like close brothers. Wisconsin, as you know, is the wicked stepsister. LOL

I have some familiarity with both Savannah, IL and Clinton, IA. I also know enough about eastern Iowa to be able to say you were racing in the hilly part of the state.

And yes, I think it'll be a fun tour. I hope I can find a few strange plants to identify. I heard you need the work. Ha!

It really was a great and groovy decade.

Looking forward to following you on your little trek across the corn and bean fields of Iowa! You'll be biking not far from where we were a month ago. Iowa is another state that surprised us and is one we'll note as a "must return to" in the future!

Hi,
Perhaps you should comment on the friendly rivalry between Iowa and Minnesota so those from elsewhere can appreciate your proselytizing for the Hawkeye State.
I have visited Iowa many times and I can see it’s obvious charms. I did notice that in traveling from Oelwein to Maynard you pass both 60th and 100th streets. My quest for you is to verify that there are fourty streets between them ( well, 39 actually. The end points of a series are not counted to determine what’s between them). Yes, I took statistics in college, too. If there are not 39 streets, well why? Inquiring minds want to know. And stop in a winery if you should stumble upon one.
« How’d y’a get that shiner Moe? I stumbled across a winery ».
Anyway, have a splendid time.
Cheers,
Keith

You are a very good man, Mr. Garceau.
Looking forward to your tour, and even tho Im in Illinois, Iowa is one great enjoyable state.

Groovy! I lived just across the river from IA in Savanna, IL two different times for a total of 12 years, and one of my daughters was born in Clinton, IA. Ran a lot of races in the late 70s-early 8os in the eastern part of IA.
Should be a fun different tour

Far out. I'm all about the 70's.

I think I only got a "B." Maybe I would have gotten an "A" if I wouldn't have used such a simplistic formula as 3,000,000 divided by 3,700.

That is an interesting ratio, alright: 3,700/9 = 810? How did you do in that freshman level statistics class, just out of curiosity?