Man's best friend....

The plan was to take today off from work and ride a Metric Century on Gravel. Seems I collect Metrics and consequently collect more ‘Cup O Dirt’ coffee cups. I wanted to make this a good work out and would ride the harder ride of grown over snow mobile trails and the hilly gravel or North East Iowa countryside.

I didn’t sleep well, sometimes insomnia just shows up unplanned, and uninvited. So I was slow getting out the door and getting my ride started with sluggish blood. I thought I would stay with the plan and let the over grown trails, and rolling gravel hills show me no mercy.

After 20 some miles of grinding I stopped at Graf Iowa’s park. Felt exhausted, and felt like I could lie down and fall asleep. I stretched out on a picnic table and went shortly into dream land. The last thing I remember thinking was I wish I had a pillow.  Thirty minutes later I wake up, face stuck to the picnic table in a town of 75 people that were not making a sound.

So not even half done with my ride goal I head northwest of Graf to the rolling gravel hills that geologists say are there because the last glacier that came across the Midwest forgot to visit this area and flatten the countryside.
The short nap did refresh me.

I am heading past the farm where last weekend a sheep dog tried for quite some time to get a chunk of my calf muscle for a snack. I understand out here on these farms dogs roam. What was disturbing about this attack was the owners watched while I dismounted my bike and used it as a shield to keep from getting bit. I walked the bike for 150 yards and shouted to keep the dog away as it would retreat slightly and then charge over and over again. The owners never called out to the dog or said a word.

The next day I talked to the sheriff’s department to see if they could ask the owners to be more mindful. My taxes help pay for that road too.  They wanted me to call them after I got off work and go with them to talk to the owners. My schedule that evening would no allow and somehow I did not feel good about where this was heading.

Today I am happy to report as I rode past the dog he stood up and I asked him loudly where he thought he was going. There were no owners in sight and he did not attack at all. It must have been my charm. Maybe we can all get along.

Riding along and needing fluids I swing towards the town of Farley, buying 3 pops from a sidewalk vending machine on this warm day for only 75 cents apiece.

Took around about way to get home making sure I would get 62 miles in to chalk up another metric gravel century.  

Can't wait to do this again, what can I say....

Cheers and thanks for the visit.

Dave

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