Iowa: Nice people, and Bike friendly

7/12:  Denison, IA
About midway between Onawa (an unremarkable interstate town) and Denison, I came upon an Iowa State research station on a very lonely road.  Since Alexandra has an interest in planting Milkweed for the butterflies, I stopped to chat, and share my cherries, and fill up the water bottle.

Todd, the Milkweed researcher

In Denison.  Lori, the manager at the Boulder Inn was kind enough to offer to throw in my laundry with a load the hotel was doing...  She also took a keen interest in my trip.  The whole staff there was very friendly and welcoming.

7/13:  Jefferson
Had a craving for some sweet corn... so I found a produce stand.  The bad news, it was a 5.6 mile ride from the hotel with the last 1/4 mile on dirt.  I bought 3 ears for $1.50, and had a nice chat with the owner (Cindy).  When I got back to the hotel, This was waiting for me:

The corn was really good too!  I called her to thank her for the note... and she explained that she felt guilty for taking my money after I rode all that way in the heat just for 3 ears of corn...
On the way to the hotel, I stopped at Bett & Bev's barbecue.  This was the Thurs. night special ($5)

 "Frip pie" : homemade Ripple potato chips covered with pulled pork baked beans and coleslaw.

Fri. 7/14:  Jefferson to Des Moines
Started the day off at the shop I stopped into in 2015.  This time I got there early in the AM when the merchandise is really fresh.

Bunker's Dunkers, Jefferson IA

It turns out that I was able to do the entire ride (69 miles) to Des Moine on dedicated beautiful paved bicycle trails.  Also, the weather finally broke.  Nice and cool for the next 2 days!

 

Racoon River Valley Trail

The Corn goes on forever

Sat. 7/15:  Des Moines to Marshalltown

Des Moines farmers market Saturday morning

Sun. 7/15:  Marshalltown to Cedar Falls

Wind power rising in Iowa

Mon. 7/16:  Cedar Falls to Fayette
A Road closure extended this ride by 10 miles from the planned 58 mile ride.  It's also getting hot again...
About 25 miles south of Fayette (near Hazleton), stopped into an Amish candy shop.  The whole farm ran from a windmill that ran a compressor.  Instead of electricity, the ceiling fans in the store were pneumatic.   I didn't see any electric wires going to the farmhouse or store. Their ovens were wood-burning.