This day's ride started early due to warm and humid weather. It was a shorter ride than normal so that I could get to my digs before the weather got to unforgiving. I started on the T-Bone Trail, south for about 15 miles and on the way ran into Chris and Mary. I had met them the day before at Mom's Cafe. We chatted and he took my picture again and said it would be on FB Bicyclists around DesMoine. I haven't look it up.
I road to the end of the trail, or what I thought was the end, and followed my Google Maps route to Walnut. That route included hills and gravel. I resolved, even before the day's ride, that I would stop at the top of each hill for a minute and take pictures, reflect, be grateful and build resolve to go after the next one.
I finally ended up in Walnut for lunch and conversation and to my Hotel by I-80.
.... and this is Kim who is the baker and listened to my stories very politely as I ate a tuna salad on crescent sandwich and a delicious strawberry covered cheesecake. YUM ... She ran her business out of her home since 2017 and opened her shop two years ago. She says business has been good. Good location. Her 19 year-old daughter runs her own in the next town over. I just love to listen to the stories of the common folks in small town American.
