Day 21

Sunday morning ... think I'll make this a rest day of sorts ... not much happening, nobody about and things are very quiet. Am a few miles west of Corydon, near the reservoir camped on lovely short manicured grass ... but I'm not allowed to swim. I could do with a really good cleanup and would have to wash a few clothes too. The tent is drying out nicely in the morning Sun. I'll move off down the road shortly and stop at the first pond and take it easy ... might even go to church if I come across one ... there are countless denominations out here and it might be interesting ... who knows? It's going to be difficult from now on to keep the blogsite updated daily ... it's got to do with lack of Internet access but I telephone or text Calum and/or Paul daily just to check in and let them know I'm safe and well ... and I do feel safe, especially out here amongst the country folk ... Hmmm! Don't want to meet anyone playing a banjo though!! Last night when I was fast asleep one of the little fireflies flew into the tent and landed close to my head on the pillow ... it flashed ... Gee! It scared the wits out of me ... I thought the tent was on fire! They're not my friends anymore. The only bugs that bother me are mosquitos ... they're noisy and bite ... I can cope with the other things. Where is everyone? Called in at two farmhouses for cold water... nobody about ... maybe away at church? At the second stop I noticed a long hose with a rose head at one end and a tap at the other ... yippee! I had a wonderful warm shower for 2 or 3 minutes ... stripped off to my underpants and had a brilliant wash down ... followed by a surge of ice cold water as the warm stuff ran out ... I stuck it for about 10 seconds! Got dressed, filled the water bottles and off I went. A few miles up the road passed over a clean fast flowing river with a sand and gravel base ... it wasn't too deep and I took the opportunity to wash all of my sweaty, grubby clothes ... I sat in the middle of the river and had a shave and a good scrub. I'm as good as new now?


Would you believe I nearly passed this piece of steel art work without noticing it. The terrain around here is undulating ... long shallow hills and scrub filled fields ... haven't hit the short prairie yet. The day is overcast which makes cycling easier ... anyway this is supposed to be a rest day and I'm not going much further. Funny that I haven't passed any churches and just wondering what's happened to all the people? Oh, here's something that you don't do ... never stop at the top of a hill for a breather or a slug of water because fast moving traffic coming up the hill can't see you until the very last moment ... be warned!


Not a good shot of Route 2. The road surface has been laid out in concrete sections and now covered with tarmac ... but all you get is thump, thump, thump ... it's terrible and the sound of other traffic is just as bad. There's no hard shoulder either ... I hope it improves shortly. I intended this to be a rest day ... have completed 20 miles and am outside the town of Leon ... it's time to stop. Passing the Country Golf Club I see shady trees and nice short grass ... let's try this ... there's a man in charge up by the club house and I approach him with the remark ..."Excuse me sir! Would you mind if I pitched a small tent over there by the trees?" ... "Yes I would" was his reply ... "you can't stay here ... sorry" ... Well I did ask the question and got an answer ... I bid him time of day and moved on. Maybe there are some insurance issues or the board of trustees have laid down rules that I'm not aware off. No problem ... I move on a few miles down the road and come to a beautifully maintained farmstead with manicured lawns and a big lake surrounded by shady trees. I've arrived at the front door of Jonas and Linda Yoder and within minutes of introducing myself they have invited me into their home and offered me hospitality for the night. Their pretty daughter, Jenny and her fiancé are busy working on the guest list for their upcoming wedding and I'm made to feel at home in their beautiful and comfortable home. This is far in excess of what I expected or deserve ... it's unbelievable! Whoa! I have a shower, excellent conversation ... we attempt to solve some world problems! ... and a satisfying evening meal.


Thank you Jonas and Linda ... I appreciate all you did for me ... wait 'til I tell the folks back home about this!

Location:Leon, Iowa