What People Are Saying: Iowa City, IA to Sioux City, IA
Hwy 1 to 13 North to Hwy 20 across the State of Iowa to Sioux City. Just a mile repeated 300 times - the same scenery the entire way. Was a grind - but sunny skies the entire way.
When I think of discussions that may be of interest, politics would be the first topic you would think of ..., but I do not want to ride all day and then invade a local bar and get into a political discussion. A bar room brawl would probably ensue. Of course, I would probably win any fight. NOT. My discussions have been about them: how do they like where they live, what do they do for fun, what do they want to do in life. Not until I reached Iowa, did I have any conversations about politics.
Went to dinner last night in Iowa City with my daughter, her boyfriend and his parents, and Aunt Ginny. It was great catching up with my daughter Katie about her time teaching in Thailand and her trek in Nepal. Group conversation would always turn to politics and relationships.
Dinner in Sioux City with my favorite people from my days here (20 years). It was mostly politics and aging parents. George cooked up his freshly caught Walleye Pike - battered in cornmeal and Bisquick, fried in Crisco oil. Cornbread and potato salad. 4 hours of conversation about local and national politics. I am staying with Dennis and Jackie Smith; Jackie is running for an Iowa State Senate seat.
The conversations throughout this trip could be held anywhere in the US:
Lucas in Louisville was about to get his first job as a mechanical engineer. He was regretful that he did not get into software engineering; I encouraged him to be satisfied with his chosen profession since there is high demand for his talents.
Tamara and Renee, clerks at the hotel in Springfield, IL were bored in Springfield since not much night life. The local bars were the standard form of entertainment in this sleepy tourist infested town.
The various clerks at small town convenience stores talking about how corporations were buying up all these stores - Huck's, U-Pak-Um, and Zippy's. They were worried that things will change with the corporate takeovers. Any change, no matter how small, is monumental in these communities. A new resident, a new stop sign, a dog running loose, who is dating whom, you name it - it is a big deal. There are those who control the towns, and those who whine about how the town is being controlled. Nevertheless, if you talk national politics, it is civil - and you better be ready to listen and rationally respond. No curt dismissals of ideas. You cannot afford to burn bridges if you live in these towns.
As I approached Sioux City, I stopped in the County Engineers office. My fellow colleagues were still there on the job - mostly dealing with the same issues that existed when I left 5 years ago. It was great to see them. I knew then that very little had changed in the area.
Tomorrow I will be spending time in Sioux City visiting friends and old stomping grounds.
When I think of discussions that may be of interest, politics would be the first topic you would think of ..., but I do not want to ride all day and then invade a local bar and get into a political discussion. A bar room brawl would probably ensue. Of course, I would probably win any fight. NOT. My discussions have been about them: how do they like where they live, what do they do for fun, what do they want to do in life. Not until I reached Iowa, did I have any conversations about politics.
Went to dinner last night in Iowa City with my daughter, her boyfriend and his parents, and Aunt Ginny. It was great catching up with my daughter Katie about her time teaching in Thailand and her trek in Nepal. Group conversation would always turn to politics and relationships.
Dinner in Sioux City with my favorite people from my days here (20 years). It was mostly politics and aging parents. George cooked up his freshly caught Walleye Pike - battered in cornmeal and Bisquick, fried in Crisco oil. Cornbread and potato salad. 4 hours of conversation about local and national politics. I am staying with Dennis and Jackie Smith; Jackie is running for an Iowa State Senate seat.
The conversations throughout this trip could be held anywhere in the US:
Lucas in Louisville was about to get his first job as a mechanical engineer. He was regretful that he did not get into software engineering; I encouraged him to be satisfied with his chosen profession since there is high demand for his talents.
Tamara and Renee, clerks at the hotel in Springfield, IL were bored in Springfield since not much night life. The local bars were the standard form of entertainment in this sleepy tourist infested town.
The various clerks at small town convenience stores talking about how corporations were buying up all these stores - Huck's, U-Pak-Um, and Zippy's. They were worried that things will change with the corporate takeovers. Any change, no matter how small, is monumental in these communities. A new resident, a new stop sign, a dog running loose, who is dating whom, you name it - it is a big deal. There are those who control the towns, and those who whine about how the town is being controlled. Nevertheless, if you talk national politics, it is civil - and you better be ready to listen and rationally respond. No curt dismissals of ideas. You cannot afford to burn bridges if you live in these towns.
As I approached Sioux City, I stopped in the County Engineers office. My fellow colleagues were still there on the job - mostly dealing with the same issues that existed when I left 5 years ago. It was great to see them. I knew then that very little had changed in the area.
Tomorrow I will be spending time in Sioux City visiting friends and old stomping grounds.
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