Is This Heaven? No, it’s Iowa

[Crusty]

Is This Heaven? No, it’s Iowa


I’m beginning to develop a strong dislike for freight trains. It’s not the train’s fault; I know that it’s a law that they have to blow their horns at crossings, but after camping near main lines for a few nights (the City Park in Columbus, IA was about 100 yards away from the tracks) I’m really getting tired of hearing Beeeep, Beeeep, Beep, Beeeep; dimly in the distance at first, but then getting louder as the train approached my campground at multiple crossings four or five times an hour all night long. It seemed that all I was hearing was train horns. It doesn’t make for a good night’s sleep. I’d better find campgrounds farther away from railroad crossings.

Anyhow; I got to Matthew and Lorraine’s around 4:30 on Monday afternoon. I met them at the Guzzi National in Elkader, IA in 2011, and Matthew and I kept in contact through the Wild Guzzi forum. The first thing they did was take me out to dinner at an Italian restaurant in Cedar Rapids.

Now, I wasn’t really expecting much, as my experience with Italian food in the midwest has been less than impressive in the past, but this time that changed. The food was superb. I had Sausage Parm. and it was both well prepared and quite tasty. After we ate, Matthew introduced me to the owner and I got to tell him how much I enjoyed the meal. As I discovered the next day, Matthew likes to introduce me to everyone as,  “Crusty, who’s visiting from Boston”.  He gave me “a Dollar’s worth of the Nickel Tour” both Monday night and Tuesday afternoon. I learned about the flooding that occurred in 2008, and how high the water got and how many areas of the city were wiped out or just damaged by the flooding, and the efforts everybody put in trying to keep the water from getting into places like Nursing Homes and Hospitals. It was a once in a 1,000 years type of event, and seeing the high water marks still on some buildings really drove home the point that Nature can be really tough to fight sometimes.

For Lunch, we went to a Czech restaurant and Matthew’s son joined us. He was working, (he’s an EMT) but was able to meet us I’ve never had Czech food before, and when we got to the restaurant, I didn’t know what to order; so I asked the waitress to order for me. I got a meal that was a couple of different kinds of sausage with Czech potato salad and candied cabbage. Everything was delicious. The potato salad was nothing like I was expecting. It was thinly sliced boiled potatoes that were seasoned with unfamiliar spices. The candied cabbage was a purplish red color and was like nothing I’d ever tasted before. I thoroughly enjoyed the meal. After the meal, Matthew introduced me to the owner and we had a pleasant discussion. When she saw Matthew’s son, she commented that our waitress could have used him the previous Saturday. The Waitress had fallen and injured her coccyx. Matthew told her that I would be happy to rub it for her. I didn’t hear the comment, and when I saw them both looking at me, I said, “OK, what did I miss?” Matthew repeated what he’d said, and I replied, without thinking, “I’d love to!”  That earned me a very nice smile and a stroke across my cheek. I was kind of taken by her, and that made my day. We also visited a few businesses (a great bread shop, a cigar store and a hardware store) and I was introduced to the owners at all of them. Matthew has a garage full of motorcycles; a bunch of Guzzis (I think six), plus his sons bikes (A Victory and a Kawasaki Vulcan)

We managed, in spite of the lunch, tour of Cedar Rapids and and visits to numerous businesses, to assemble a lot of the bodywork on Matthew’s Norge. He’d replaced an oil pressure sensor that had been leaking, and we got to have fun putting all the plastic back on the bike. Since I’d had the plastic off my Norge a couple of times, I was able to be a help, and we had everything back together by day’s end.

Matthew and Lorraine fixed charcoal grilled T-bone steaks with salad, Twice baked potatoes and watermelon for dinner. The steaks were enormous, and I had a lot of trouble finishing mine, but I hunkered down and applied myself and in the end, I was victorious. Or somethin’.  I certainly was stuffed.

Matthew had to be at work this morning at 4:00 AM to haul a load to someplace in Illinois, so I said my goodbye to him last night. I got up this morning and thanked Lorraine for all their hospitality, and left. I’m now sitting in a McDonald’s in Clinton, IA, waiting for the fog to lift and drinking lots of coffee.

My next stop; Du Quoin, Illinois to see a Mile this Saturday!

[fotoguzzi]

Are you coming to Elkader this year? You should.

[Crusty]

I'll be in Indianapolis at the Mile that weekend. I'd love to be in Elkader, but I can't be in two places at once.

[not-fishing]

It's not Heaven it's a time of Camelot and you are there.

I always try and remember my "Camelots" when the long dark times have come.

[Bill Hagan]

It's not Heaven it's a time of Camelot and you are there.

I always try and remember my "Camelots" when the long dark times have come.

Good points.

I really miss Iowa from my two-year exile in the QC. 

Heck, I even miss Matt.   

Whoa. You got VIP treatment. Just realized he never took me to a Czech restaurant, especially one with a feisty waitress. 

Best wishes on your ride ... and to finding many Camelots.

Bill

[Stormtruck2]

Crusty, so glad you enjoyed your visit.  Hopefully you didn't leave hungry.     You have a home here in Iowa anytime you want.  Give me a heads up and I'll visit that waitress and just maybe...   Lorraine and I really enjoyed hosting you here in our humble hovel. Anytime you want, we have room for you. This is your Iowa home. Looks like I could use your help again; plastic has to come back off to check the sensor and see why I am getting the red triangle of death.  I'm afeared that it may be the oil pump  The bike is an 07 with 32,000 miles and the original pump.  There have been problems reported with those pumps in the past.

Good points.

I really miss Iowa from my two-year exile in the QC. 

Heck, I even miss Matt.   

Whoa. You got VIP treatment. Just realized he never took me to a Czech restaurant, especially one with a feisty waitress. 

Best wishes on your ride ... and to finding many Camelots.

Bill

Bill when you come back out here I'll take care of that oversight.  If Kathi accompanies you, I'll introduce you to a ugly grumpy one.  If you are solo I'll introduce you to the pretty hot one.   

[MGPilot]

It ain't heaven.

I think they had to manufacture weather for the movie.  I lived in Iowa City for about 10 years for grad school and waiting for my wife to finish med school & residency.

Heat/bugs/humidity/SeriousThunderStorms/105DegreesPlus/ - Summer

Had 25 below zero w/ 42 mph winds....making 73 below wind chill; shoveled snow into piles taller than I am..

Never so glad to leave a place.

Nice people, though.

[Stormtruck2]

It ain't heaven.

I think they had to manufacture weather for the movie.  I lived in Iowa City for about 10 years for grad school and waiting for my wife to finish med school & residency.

Heat/bugs/humidity/SeriousThunderStorms/105DegreesPlus/ - Summer

Had 25 below zero w/ 42 mph winds....making 73 below wind chill; shoveled snow into piles taller than I am..

Never so glad to leave a place.

Nice people, though.

Where are you at now??  I live east of Mt. Vernon,  town of Mechanicsville, not that far from IC.  What grad school did you go to?? Several there in IC.

[Arizona Wayne]

It ain't heaven.

I think they had to manufacture weather for the movie.  I lived in Iowa City for about 10 years for grad school and waiting for my wife to finish med school & residency.

Heat/bugs/humidity/SeriousThunderStorms/105DegreesPlus/ - Summer

Had 25 below zero w/ 42 mph winds....making 73 below wind chill; shoveled snow into piles taller than I am..

Never so glad to leave a place.

Nice people, though.

Now stop that, the locals have a short memory.     Nice people tho.

[Chuck in Indiana]

It ain't heaven.

I think they had to manufacture weather for the movie.  I lived in Iowa City for about 10 years for grad school and waiting for my wife to finish med school & residency.

Heat/bugs/humidity/SeriousThunderStorms/105DegreesPlus/ - Summer

Had 25 below zero w/ 42 mph winds....making 73 below wind chill; shoveled snow into piles taller than I am..

Never so glad to leave a place.

Nice people, though.

Builds character.

[MGPilot]

Where are you at now??  I live east of Mt. Vernon,  town of Mechanicsville, not that far from IC.  What grad school did you go to?? Several there in IC.

Got my Masters/Ph.D. at the Univ. Iowa in human Communication Research, subspecializing in organizational communication/behavior.

Moved to Seattle. (yea!!!) Salt water. Fresh water. Mountains. Islands. Curving roads. Very few bugs. Temperate climate (relatively speaking). 3rd year here I was astounded to think how long it had been since I worried about  pipes freezing in the winter!  Wow!

When I first met my wife-to-be in Iowa, she wanted to drive to Decorah. I was amazed (!) that we were going to drive there and she didn't know what roads to take. Don't you people use maps???

Having grown up there, she simply said, well -- you go east enough, then you just turn north. There aren't any winding roads here. They're all parallel, just following the fields -- so we'll end up at Decorah no matter what road we take.

I was speechless....even more so when it worked.

Took flying lessons at the airport in Iowa City. Early lesson, got up to 2,500 feet or so. Made a couple of turns. Flight instructor asked, "OK, now where's the airport?"

Crap....it all looked the same quilt work of fields as far as I could see.....

Not so much near Seattle (see photos/videos on rf5b.com). Great place to drive/ride/fly airplanes/boat/(long list)....

But in some ways, Iowa folks are friendlier than in Seattle. Iowa--more Midwestern..."come over for dinner/barbecue." Seattle--"see you Monday, we're going to the beach." Seattle, polite. Iowa, friendly. A difference.

But I always figured the weather was what made the U. of Iowa such a highly ranked school. Surrounded by farm fields and bad weather....heck, may as well study....  :-)

[Stormtruck2]

MGPilot, remember, when its cold out wimmin folk like to snuggle more for the body heat, and that really leads to lots more heat.     I actually enjoy the extremes in climate, others maybe not so much.  It does build character, and we have a lot of characters around here.    I love Washington state, and Oregon too for that matter, but I could never live there.  Politics and laws being what they are.  Lorraine and I have driven semi over highway 2 from the coast east and it is beautiful country; great riding area and scenery. If Washington state was more conservative I could handle it, but then its not, so here I roast/freeze.  If you ever get back this way, let me know, we have room for guest, regardless of political bend. 

[Guzzistajohn]

Iowa is a beautiful state, I spent most all of my summers as a kid near Kiron & Odebolt, Ia. One of the things my Uncle Clarence always said was Iowegians are either mad because they think they're getting screwed over or mad because thier not screwing somebody over. And he was born in Iowa. But hey, Matt's a good man for sure and a GREAT host! And Sweet Loraine?  get outa town!

[Aaron D.]

Hey Crusty, I was just thinking about you and wondered where you were. I told Katherine about some of your story.

We're in Missouri tonight, between Rolla and Springfield.

[fubar guzzi]

IOWA----IDIOTS out wandering around!!! WELL, that's what they tell me it stANDS FOR!!!

[bad Chad]

IOWA---Idiots Out Walking Around   

[Crusty]

Hey Crusty, I was just thinking about you and wondered where you were. I told Katherine about some of your story.

We're in Missouri tonight, between Rolla and Springfield.

I'm sitting in Du Quoin, Illinois at a McDonald's having breakfast. Today and tonight, I'm going to be watching the best motorcycle Flat Trackers in the world competing on a one mile dirt oval (a uniquely American form of racing), followed by Fireworks.

I can't think of a more American way to spend the Fourth of July!

Matthew; If I thought I had a chance of getting a date with that waitress, I'd make like a boomerang and start heading back.
Seriously, you and Lorraine were great hosts, and I couldn't have asked for better company, nor could I have had a better time.
I hope you diagnose and sort out the problem with your Norge quickly.

[Stormtruck2]

Why do all the tress in Iowa lean east?  Because Nebraska blows and Illinois sucks.      Crusty, I'll so some checking with that waitress, you may be back sooner than you expected.   

[MGPilot]

I like Iowan's as long as we can not talk about anything political....


So, in Iowa....you're driving along I-80. For hours, all you see is fairly flat land and fields. And yet, what it this????  You see up ahead, "Scenic Lookout" listed on the highway.

What a break from the usual this could be!

So, you get off the freeway. And what do you find?

A man-made tower that you can climb to get a better view of that endless sea of fields.

OUTSTANDING!
 

[MGPilot]

I knew it was cold one February morning when I got up and found frost on the clothes in my bedroom closet.


I deeply grateful knowing I was building character.


James
The blissfully characterless escapee in WA

 


On the other hand, in nice weather, my '82 Honda CBX sport tourer could chew up the miles and riding the roads along the eastern of the state, along "the river" can give you some nice scenery and roads that confound some locals because they're not straight.

[oldbike54]

I knew it was cold one February morning when I got up and found frost on the clothes in my bedroom closet.


I deeply grateful knowing I was building character.


James
The blissfully characterless escapee in WA

 

 At least Iowa doesn't have a mildew problem 

  Dusty

[Stormtruck2]

MGPilot, you must be talking about the scenic overlook on I-680 in western Iowa. In our defense it looks out over Nebraska.     

As for politics, I'm willing to bet bet, going by comments and current living local, that you are a liberal. If in fact you are one, I'm surprised that you didn't care for Iowa City more than you indicated. IC is the liberal center of Iowa.   All liberal movements and protest originate in IC. Iowa City and Johnson county is Iowa's San Francisco.  It was voted the number 10 best city city in the world for gays to live in, has very progressive city policies, and law enforcement policies.  Many of the restaurants are outstanding and you can find most any cuisine you wish. Granted frost on your shirts in the closet can put a bit of tarnish on the shine of Iowa.    Even as a staunch conservative Constitutionalist, who despises much of Iowa City and Johnson county, there is still much about it I really enjoy.  Hancher Auditorium,  great performances, as I said, the restaurants, and the rez.  No matter where one goes, you can find much good, and much bad in the same area. Whenever you and yours comes back to the area, your invited to my humble hovel for drinks, cigars, and Guzzi's over grilled steaks.   My daughter and her husband live around Renton Wa.  He works for Microsoft.

[oldbike54]

 Matt , do they even let you in Iowa City 

  Dusty

[Stormtruck2]

Matt , do they even let you in Iowa City 

  Dusty

Twice a year, and only with an escort.   

[oldbike54]

Twice a year, and only with an escort.   

 That explains an Email from the city council of Iowa City 

  Dusty

[blackcat]

My extended stay(3 days) in Iowa for the National in 99? left me with the impression that the largest corn in the world lives there along with the best tasting pork chops. Also some impressive and extensive smells from those pig pens. Nice folks, but I find most people in this country to be friendly.

[Guzzistajohn]

My extended stay(3 days) in Iowa for the National in 99? left me with the impression that the largest corn in the world lives there along with the best tasting pork chops. Also some impressive and extensive smells from those pig pens. Nice folks, but I find most people in this country to be friendly.

I've sat in those corn fields and actually hear it grow. And you're right, you can't beat a Iowa pork chop.

[MGPilot]

I did enjoy Iowa City. I don't think along liberal/conservative lines. Always appreciated the Dutch who simply tried to do the most logical, appropriate things without worrying too much about political correctness or party lines.

That said, my wife's parents had a farm just outside Mt. Pleasant. It was a Great place for my son to spend a portion of his summers growing up. The grandparents were doting...more relatives living in the area than I think are in my entire family tree...yet, my son had more independence to move around the farm and go to neighboring farms (some owned by relatives--some just had friendly kids) than he every would had in a more urban area.

We did need to work on a bit of attitude adjustment upon his return home....given some of the conversations he heard or values he encountered....but that goes with interacting with others no matter what.

He turned out to be a great young man (better than me....) and a portion of that is due to his experiences in Iowa.