I try to clean my chain each evening after the day’s ride and discovered something unsettling last evening. I noticed that my back rim was cracked in 2 places. These rim is aluminum and apparently fatigued from the miles of this trip and prior rides. Add to it the weight of the load (me and the gear or 270 pounds-ish, and you get a situation where a good bump in the road can cause damage. I think I remember where those bumps were yesterday. I called Scott (see yesterday’s post), who called Myron, who called me to arrange for support. He told me of the names of a couple of shops in Iowa City, home of the University of Iowa, who might be open. Geoff’s cycle and Ski was open today from 12-5. Closed tomorrow as is everyone else. Myron picked me up and all my gear at 11:00AM. We were at the dhop by noon. Young Luke said he could build the wheel and give the rest of the bike a once over. We cam back in 2 hours and i was on my way by 2:30. What wonderful acts of kindness. Truly. I always wondered why anyone would live in the middle part of the country, away from the oceans. I am getting a sense that the tightness and mutual care of the community is the draw. People help each other. It’s probably not universally true, but community it alive and well in Muscatine. And Genheseo. And, … the list goes on.
Dave goes West 