Day 22

There's a storm outside ... a real Iowa thunderstorm with very heavy rain ... it shouldn't last too long and I'll be on my way. Finishing off a nourishing breakfast at the Yoder family home ... and am still overwhelmed by their generosity. This is a very different America to what is portrayed on the world stage. Depart about 08:00 and cycle on a superb road to the town of Mount Ayr, 20 miles away ... it's twinned with Ayr in Scotland ... looking for Wifi access ... the library doesn't open 'til later but "Peggy Sue's" restaurant is and let's me onto their Wifi. They're friendly people and after 10 minutes or so Alan, the local newspaper proprietor, reporter and printer arrives to interview me ... what!? I'll be in the next edition of the Mount Ayr Report Newsletter ... check it out online.


All the small towns in Iowa have the same layout with the focal point being the Court House in the town square. Think this is Leon? The heat of the day is getting to me now so it's time for my siesta ... boy, the hills here are continuous ... up, down,up, down ... none too steep but they are long. The road surface is improving. At stop points people call across and chat to me ... I hear myself saying the same things each time... I'm like a gramophone! Pushing on to the small town of Bedford ... it has the same layout as other towns but the public library is closed and their Wifi is switched off ... Hmmm? Michael Ware drives by and offers to help ... we have a nice cool beer but for some reason can't get onto his Wifi!!! Ugh! Completed 53 miles and will get a few miles out of town before it gets dark. As usual, I'm looking for a good safe spot to pitch the tent and end up in the garden of Paul Hitch and his wife Judy ... he's the Deputy Sheriff of Taylor County, Iowa ... I couldn't have picked a better spot, eh? His daughter Cody tries to scare me by saying "Watch out for the coyotes and racoons when they come out of the cornfield at night" .... Is she joking?!! Goodnight all.

Location:Mount Ayr, IA