Out of Nebraska, Through Iowa, Into Illinois!

On Saturday September 6th we traveled from O’Neill, NE to Randolph, NE in the rain.  18 miles from our destination Pearson found himself with flat #10 and sick of changing tires he finished the day on his mountain bike.

 

Pearson & Pete Riding to Randolph, NE (photo by Meghan Sheridan)

Pearson & Pete Riding to Randolph, NE (photo by Meghan Sheridan)

On Sunday September 7 P&P cycled into across the Iowa border and into Sioux City.  Pearson tricked Meghan and me into stopping downwind of an enormous cow farm; he found our reaction to the stench hilarious.

 

Pearson & Julia Smelling the Large Cow Farm (Photo by Meghan Sheridan)

Pearson & Julia Smelling the Large Cow Farm (Photo by Meghan Sheridan)

On Monday September 8th we took a rest day in Sioux City and had an interview with Samantha Suttle of KMEG in Sioux City.  She did a great story on the ride and mission that led off the evening news: http://www.kmeg.com/Global/story.asp?S=8973712

 

On Tuesday September 9th we started the morning with an interview with KTIV in Sioux City: http://www.ktiv.com/Global/story.asp?s=8979211

 

We then took off for Rockwell City, IA.  Along the way Pearson and Pete had phone interviews with a Waterloo Radio station and the Waterloo/ Cedar Falls Courier newspaper:

http://www.wcfcourier.com/articles/2008/09/10/news/metro/10598946.txt

 

We passed a sign for “Pierson 5” which reminded me of the “Pearson Detour” that we passed outside of Douglas, WY and the Pearson’s Salted Nut Roll candy bars that are everywhere out here.

 

Pierson 5 (Photo by Meghan Sheridan)

Pierson 5 (Photo by Meghan Sheridan)

 

Pearson with the Salted Nut Rolls (Photo by Julia Wrona)

Pearson with his Salted Nut Rolls (Photo by Julia Wrona)

 

Pearson Detour Through Douglas, WY (Photo by Julia Wrona)

Pearson Detour Through Douglas, WY (Photo by Julia Wrona)

We also traveled by a huge wind farm!

 

Pearson & Pete at Wind Farm (Photo by Meghan Sheridan)

Pearson & Pete at Wind Farm (Photo by Meghan Sheridan)

Iowa’s roads either have no shoulder (just road, a white line and grass) or a gravel shoulder so P&P ended up riding on the white line.  Most drivers were respectful, giving Pearson and Pete ample room when passing them, however on Wednesday September 10th there was one scary, close call. While riding on the one inch of pavement right of the white line a trucker started honking at Pete to get off the road, with no where to go Pete held his line and the trucker came within inches of him.

Pearson & Pete Riding The White Line (Photo by Meghan Sheridan)

Pearson & Pete Riding The White Line (Photo by Meghan Sheridan)

Halfway through the day’s ride P&P took a detour to avoid 20’s merge with I-380.  After a few miles they ran into unpaved side roads (most side roads in Iowa are unpaved) and they rode their Raleigh bikes through gravel until Pearson got flat #11.

On Thursday September 11th We got lost trying to find our way to Old Route 20 from downtown Waterloo- the Iowa roads even confused our GPS.  Pearson and Pete battled food poisoning but managed to pedal from Waterloo to Earlville, Iowa.  They didn’t find better shoulders but did manage to avoid gravel until the last ½ mile.

Before Pearson even got on the road on Friday September 12th he found flat #12- which must have been acquired from the gravel road to the hotel.

Pearson and Pete rode from Earlville to the Field of Dreams in Dyersville, Iowa

Pete at the Field of Dreams (Photo by Meghan Sheridan)

Pete at the Field of Dreams (Photo by Meghan Sheridan)

 

Pearson at the Field of Dreams (Photo by Meghan Sheridan)

Pearson at the Field of Dreams (Photo by Meghan Sheridan)

At the Field of Dreams they had an interview with the Dubuque Times Courier

http://www.thonline.com/article.cfm?id=215741

Additional video clip: http://www.thonline.com/multimedia/?id=1709

Lots of rain on Saturday September 13th allowed Pearson and Pete to debut their new camouflage rain gear- the orange safety vest made the outfit!

Pearson & Pete in their Rain Gear (Photo by Julia Wrona)

Pearson & Pete in their Rain Gear (Photo by Julia Wrona)

On the way out of Iowa and off its treacherous roads, Pearson got a tire stuck in a rut and took a hard fall onto the wet highway and injured his left arm.  He still managed to ride one-armed and crossed the Mississippi into Illinois.  With the rain and fog Illinois looked a lot like Ireland.

Sign into Illinois (Photo by Julia Wrona)

Sign into Illinois (Photo by Julia Wrona)

On Sunday September 14th we started the day off with an interview with the Freeport Journal News: http://www.journalstandard.com/news/x332633165/The-long-bike-ride-back

We then headed back into the rain.  When we reached Chicago we had to contend with delays and road closures due to severe flooding from record rainfall.

Today we’re hanging out in Chicago and getting Pearson’s arm injury examined.  Tomorrow we’re heading through Chicago and into Indiana!

7 Responses to “Out of Nebraska, Through Iowa, Into Illinois!”

  1. Elyse says:

    Wow, that is a lot to take in, thanks for the update! I’m glad everyone is still safe and Pearson I hope your arm isn’t too badly damaged and heals quickly! Congrats to everyone for making it to Chicago! I can’t wait to see all of you in Erie this weekend!

  2. Mrs. Janet Fagal says:

    So glad to see your update. What an adventure. Sure hope your arm is healing!!! And no more rain!!! We looked at your Nebraska postcard in class today and looked at the website on our school computer. I sent your website and info home with the kids. THe kids were very interested in watching you on TV in Nebraska/South Dakota. Good Luck on those tires, Pearson. Can’t wait to see all of you, but enjoy the beautiful days and moments when you have them. Heard from Matt C. out in Colorado. Heard lots of your old friends are following your progress. How was Chicago?
    Mrs. F.

  3. Karen Hartman says:

    So sorry I missed seeing you all in person on your stop in Chicago! I’m glad you made it through the floods…. not one of our more beautiful fall days in the midwest! At least we got you and Erin there safely to visit together! We hope the “nutritional treats” from Wisconsin will give you that extra energy when you need it! I hear you need some fattening up! See you in a couple weeks in NY!
    Be safe!
    Auntene (Erin’s aunt!)

  4. Joy says:

    I hope you are healing well Pearson! And hopefully that will be the last time you have a rain delay and/or have to break out the rain cami gear. I’m sure its much more enjoyable riding in non-rain like weather 🙂

    Keep up the fantastic work one and all! Counting the days until you make your appearance in WNY!!!

  5. Geoffrey Carlson says:

    Hi guys,
    Thanks for the update. I’m glad to see you made it to Chicago all right, and I hope Pearson’s arm is OK. Sorry to hear about all your problems with flat tires, gravel shoulders, aggressive truck drivers and bad weather, but it looks like you’re coping all right. Hopefully the rest of the ride will go better for you – it looks like you should have nice weather for the next several days. From what I remember, the road quality is reasonably good most of the way (except for the construction zones), and the terrain is relatively flat until you get to upstate New York. Keep up the good work and enjoy the ride, and I look forward to seeing you in New York State next weekend!
    Best wishes,
    Geoffrey

  6. L and K says:

    Hi everyone,
    Hope you were able to maneuver through the flooded terrain in eastern Illinois/western Indiana. I heard it is still bad there. Be careful. Weather is supposed to be good for the next 8 days! Pretty amazing!
    You’re probably all pretty full after eating all of the cookies from Wisconsin! Hope you are enjoying them.
    See you in New York.
    Stay safe and strong.
    Laura

  7. Agent Orange and Family says:

    Either of you old boys hit one into the corn at Field of Dreams?