Greetings from the Midwest

Ames, Iowa

 While I realized internet access would be limited during our time on the road, I failed to anticipate the deadly combination of slow connections and my increasing fatigue post ride. But I'm back!!

Frolicking in Ohio fields of gold.

 The past two weeks have been a complete whirlwind with everything blending together as one long day in the saddle. I've pedaled from Ohio to the middle of Iowa in what seems like no time at all. Is this real life? The change in landscape has been incredible. We've gone from rolling hills to flat as the eye can see, farm after farm after farm. The Midwest is a never ending expanse of corn. Soy. Corn. Cow. Corn. Indiana, Illinois, and Iowa have roads that form a massive state wide grid system, so we've been riding on the likes of 1100 N, and 950W. Be careful, make sure to turn onto 750 E once you pass the intersection of 800 N and 2350W. You'll pass the smelly farm and the wind turbines. Can't miss it! We're not in Ithaca anymore..  

Turbine photoshoot

 Honestly the rides have been beautiful and I've become accustomed to the terrain. I've never seen so many wind turbines, and they'll just never get old. So cool. It has also been quite interesting to put my Ithaca education to use and discuss agribusiness and sustainability with my fellow riders. We're always passing patent signs along the corn fields, and I shudder at the sight of factory farms.



 As we move farther west our mileage increases dramatically. For instance, within three days of being back in the saddle I rode 95 miles. Whew. By the last fifteen I was seriously questioning my life choices and drafting off of my fabulous leader Colin, who was also wondering why it was a good idea to sign up for this. 75 miles no feels like nothing, and the 45 we did today seems like it never happened. On the 8th we completed our first century, an awesome accomplishment, but a rather depressing day as we rode through wind ravaged towns. I've never seen anything like this, and it was quite disheartening to say the least. Barns completely destroyed, corn blow down, debris everywhere. We at lunch next to a house that had been blown 20 feet forward from its foundation. We came through just days after the storm, and immediately after the area had been declared a disaster zone.

 On a lighter note..
-We crashed a 4th of July parade in Liberty, Ohio. 

New friend

-I was able to meet up with two long lost study abroad friends in West Lafeyette, Indiana and Gilman, Illinois. Vienna was machst du? Both were wonderful evenings spend reminiscing and catching up while getting the grand tour of the area. I love you Tia and Christina!

Team jukebox at the border!

-I love eating as much as humanly possible on a daily basis
-I may or may not have swan sans shammies in a random Iowa river..
-My friend Kelly and I had coffee, with soy milk(!!!) at a hippy shop in Mount Vernon
-The community center/middle school/thrift shop/gym/library we stayed at had a dance studio! Stretching my legs and getting my Irish on felt great..
-We crossed the Mississippi River. Enough said.
- We stayed in a YMCA that hasn't changed since 1962 and got our butts whipped by some teenagers and ten year olds at dodge ball. No seriously, I had a welt on my thigh the next morning. I almost peed my pants laughing so hard when the game began, these kids just weren't real. I swear there's something in the corn.. 

About to go down. Real hard.

-The last Harry Potter was incredible, as was watching it with 33 20 somethings.
-We've had our best build day yet! Two houses side by side got a complete facelift from the inside out. I spent some quality time siding a house, its amazing to see how much our group gets done. While I was six feet was initially too high, I conquered some eight foot scaffolding. Big day.  

Bloomington, Illinois build site

-The Bike and Build prom was a complete success. Not only did my date Alex say yes, but she did so by sharpying this on the back of her newly shaved head. Ohh yah. And we were Batman and Catwoman. 
-Amazing rides are made even more fulfilling as well tell each other "life stories" and become closer and closer each day. I can't describe what a beautiful experience this has been and will only become. 

Cheers,
Muffin