Iowa - Land of Bike Paths

 Fri 06/24:  Overnight in Stuart. 

Thunderstorms in the early morning.  Boring little town, but nice bike paths to Des Moines.

Paved and flat

Rode to Altoona, IA.  This is a tourist attaction town with a large amusement park.

Saturday 6/25:  Rainy day.  Rented car to get to Iowa City.  First stop was Jimmy John's, my favorite BBQ joint in Iowa City

Sunday 06/26:  Iowa City

Returned car to Cedar Rapids airport in the early morning, then met Dan and Lisa Katz, and their daughters, Lauren &Natalie for lunch at Poe Rooftop in Iowa City.  A good time was had by all.  Then a couple of hours in the very nice Iowa City Library, after which, I took the scenic route up to Dan and Lisa's house for a visit.   A really nice day with a really nice (Iowa Nice) family!

Monday 06/27:  Iowa City to Clinton IA

A long 85 mile ride with a fair amount of rolling hills.  Clinton is on the Mississippi.

Tues 06/28:  to Rockford IL

Mississippi River from Clinton IA

Started out the morning by stopping at Krumpets, a really nice, homey bakery/cafe in Fulton, IL.   Then a 90 mile ride to Rockford with a stop for lunch (Liver and Onions) at Brother's Restaurant in Lanark

Wed 06/29:  to East Troy

East Troy is a village about 30 mi SW of Milwaukee.  It's has a village green in the center and a really good pizza place (Sauced)  

While I was having my dinner a kid at the next table found a painted rock.  Apparently this is a thing that the kids in the town do.  They paint up small rocks and hide them in plain site.  This particular rock was painted in 2018.  The kid who finds it then re-hides it.  It's sort of like a perpetual easter egg hunt.  Pretty cool!