First Day Flashback

August 14, 2024

Dyersville, Iowa

Pre-Bike Tour Minutiae

My day began with driving my dad to his ophthalmology appointment in the city of Waterloo. Every few weeks he gets a dose of Vabysmo injected directly into his eyeball. He is one tough 89-year-old dude. I can't even handle a tiny vaccine needle going into my arm without closing my eyes.

It makes me wonder what I would do if I ever got macular edema. I assume closing my eyes or looking away would not be options for the Vabysmo shots. Upon being forced to watch that needle getting closer and closer, I most certainly would pass out. In other words, the ophthalmologist would have to figure out a way to inject the serum into an unconscious patient. Either that, or blindness will be in my future.

Eyeball shot aside, my dad and I had a fun morning. Despite his mild cancer, his weakened cardiovascular system, his walking difficulties, and his advanced dementia, he still has a kooky sense of humor and moments of keen insight.

Here's a picture of me getting ready to go to the eye doctor.

TRICKED YOU! That wasn't me. That was my dad. People--especially his friends--tell me I look just like him. I hear it all the time. The picture that follows is the actual me. Notice any similarities? If not, you might want to be checked for macular edema or some other ophthalmological condition.

Hint: There is one glaring similarity on top.

Moving On to Minutiae Related to the Bike Tour

Yesterday, I came up with a pretty firm plan to deal with the wind, rain, transportation, and limited window of time problems. The plan involved driving directly to Dyersville, where I would begin kind of a weird loop tour. Not so much a loop, really, as an elongated figure eight.

Something like this--except for many explorations of side roads, small towns, some nostalgic highlights of Dyersville & Dubuque, and a surprise visit to two other states:

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Bill ShaneyfeltYou are getting close to somewhat home territory for me. I lived a few miles south of Galena in Savanna, IL 2 different times for a total of 12 years. I fondly remember going to the BSA 75th anniversary jamboree in Galena. 13 Scouts from our troop, scoutmaster and me. I was told to keep them from killing each other. I was at least a success in that department!
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2 months ago

Gregory GarceauTo Bill ShaneyfeltI look forward to seeing a bit of your old territory.
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2 months ago

After I dropped my dad off at his new home and we exchanged goodbyes, everything went according to plan. I did my part of the plan by driving to Dyersville, and the weather did its part by delivering on the forecasts of rain.

When I arrived in Dyersville, an eerie feeling of deja vu came upon me, and I'm not talking about some kind of psychedelic flashback from my early teens. I'm talking about similarities to the first day of my U.P. tour two months ago.

Firstly, I was a little tired from having to drive a car for so many hours instead of riding my bike. Secondly, I arrived too early for check-in at my motel. Thirdly, I killed time by exploring the town I was in. Fourthly, it was raining lightly while I explored. Fifthly, I checked out the bike trail on which I'd be starting my second day.

I wish I could report a 6th, 7th, 8th, 9th and 10th-ly deja vu, but they just weren't coming to me. Instead, I'll show a few pictures I took. Perhaps a couple of them will remind me of a story or two.

The Basilica of St. Francis Xavier is the most prominent feature. Dyersville always took pride in having a basilica in such a small town. It's a German Gothic masterpiece. To the left of the church, is the Catholic school I attended from 4th through 8th grade.

Dyersville's other claim to fame is that the movie "Field of Dreams" was filmed a few miles outside of town. The movie site is now an expensive tourist trap. I'll settle for this picture in downtown Dyersville. It cost me nothing.

The basilica will naturally attract your eyes to the left, but straight ahead there's a brewery built in an old textile mill.

At the terminus of the Heritage Railtrail, there is a cool tank in the background and an un-cool goofball in the foreground.

This is the house I lived in with my family. Let me tell you, it didn't look that nice back then. It looked exactly like the house to the left.

I attended this school my freshman year before moving to a public high school in Oelwein. Some of the hijinks my friends and I engaged in at Beckman were unbecoming of good Catholics.

After my little nostalgia tour, I stopped at the local Casey's convenience store for some motel room snacks and beer. I'm looking forward to watching some heavy rain tonight and hoping it will be reduced to light rain by morning.

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Karen PoretBeing the “good” Catholic boy you once were instilled in you to take care of your Dad. Good for you, Gregory :)
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2 months ago

Gregory GarceauTo Karen PoretNot only the good Catholic boy I once was, but also the good Church of the Great Outdoorsian I now am.
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2 months ago

Emily SharpA bit of nostalgia is nice - it's good to remember your roots sometimes. I'm glad the Catholic school instilled in you a sense of reverence that you could transfer to your adult church.
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1 month ago

Gregory GarceauTo Emily SharpAmen to that, sister!
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1 month ago