These two songs keep floating through my head as I roll down the roads of this new state. There's the verses of Dar Williams singing that "...the hills of Iowa make me wish that I could." Could what? Well, they sure make me wish I could fly at times. Then there's old Bobbie D with "...this land that I come from, is called the mid-west." Can't figure out quite why this land kind of east of mid is called the mid-west, but...whatever. Long hours of long roads of cornfields upon cornfields and these are some of the thoughts that float through.
One state down. ?? to go. At first, we found Iowa to be full of curious folks that wave and ask questions but don't go much further than that. Yesterday we were coming to our wits end with this state and just wanted to get out. The day before we had hitch-biked on the side of the road for two hours because we just couldn't face the brutal south wind a moment longer. Two hours?? And every other vehicle was a truck.
When the south wind was just as strong yesterday and the dust from the feilds was coating our mouths and eyes we decided to head east instead to Clear Lake. That was our first right turn. On our way out of town we saw a sign for the library and decided to go check our email (our second right turn). We passed the Healing House on the way, an alternative healing studio with a medicine wheel on the lawn...in this part of the country, an unusual sight. So we asked the women on the lawn where to find the library and were invited in for a warm, delicious, local, vegetarian meal and met some great folks involved in promoting local, healthy farming practises and slow cooking. They informed us the word of the day was serendipity and invited us to spend the night in their home and took us out to this beautiful river for a bbq with some friends under the filling moon on a stunningly warm night. Serendipity indeed.
Iowa is more than just farmers, fields, football and fall fairs after all. We've been connected with some organic CSA farms and are learning about "King Korn". These fields that are full of inedible yellow seeds that get processed and are found in most of the food on our shelves...high-fructose corn syrup, "grain-fed" beef, corn oil... For more info check out Michael Pollen's "The Omnivore's Dilema" or this great documentary "King Korn" filmed in Greene, Iowa where we're heading tomorrow.
Anyway, we had a really great time in Minneapolis by the way. It's a vibrant city with really cool folks. Especially D's friend Jack's folks who let us stay at their beautiful, artsy home for four days and made us feel like part of the family. In Minni we hung out at bike co-ops (got my derailer fixed), dumpstered at food co-ops, ate at Hard Times cafe co-op, watched a free film about Argentinian worker co-ops. I think if there was one, co-ops might have been our Minni theme. And has inspired me to work on our bylaws to become a land co-op when I get home.
We also went to this cool sculpture garden and this awesome show of mostly female performers and musicians, including these two beautiful and inspiring poets from Brookyln...wow!
The city was fun, but I was glad to be on the road again. We had our first rain day which turned out to be stunningly beautiful with all the autumn colors shrouded in a mist of rain. Danielle and I also had our first fight and have come through more chilled and happy because of it...phew.
I'm constantly reminded to be thankful for the small joys in life and appreciate every single moment as it happens...after all, that's all we have. Wishing you all a healthy dose of serendipity.
Until next time....
-love Sheri
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