Comfort Inn North Cedar Rapids

Mary Matthew Wilson, head of the Civic Engagement Center at the University of Iowa, explained to me today her feelings on world-wide serendipity. She told me of how many people she has noticed through her work at the CEC who feel connected to a un-controllable force that moves many people in a good direction. She explained that one needs to be open to it, letting it flow through, to be able to accept its powers. On a practical level she believes that volunteer work is greatly influenced ...

A clip written by David Burgess (U.Iowa) for the group at the Civic Engagement Poster Session 9/2/09:

"Red Voluntario ʺVolunteer Networkʺ is collaborating with
BplansForHumanity to be the first University of Iowa semester‐long
study abroad social entrepreneurship initiative that integrates an onthe‐
ground team of students working with virtual teams at the UI
through ...

... br>Guilt descended upon me as we exited Iowa City via stopovers at the cemetery (to see the Black Angel) and The Hilltop (for a soda). Emerged in the experience of the past few days, I’d forgotten to record it. Not one image of Iowa City and its occupants had my camera captured. Maybe a good omen, that we’ll back soon, enjoying good company. Or maybe, a testament to the ultimately ephemeral and therefore, precious nature of youth, friendship and good times.

... and enjoyed each others company thoroughly.

Before we knew it our time was up and we had to leave to reach our Permaculture course which starts in two days. Thanks again Grandma for your love, generosity, yourself and your bed. We had a fabulous time and will no doubt be back to mooch off you again.

Love and Peace to you all from, the loved up, Bek and Jesse Train

P.S. If Grandma tells you she can't cook its a lie!

... get hair cuts,  we fueled up the truck and got a local company to change the engine oil, using a synthetic and pricey( or as they say over here "spendy") oil. Gotta look after the chevy. So far she has been very good to us!!  
Our RV park although called Sleepy Hollow was right on Interstate 80 but it was surprisingly quiet.
Our RV neighbours were from only a short distance away and were very friendly and we enjoyed talking about Iowa.

  

... wouldn't mind the name and would actually prefer it over having to blow her nose! She was two at the time. So, now my sweet, adorable neice will forever be known as Boogie Pinch ( she couldn't prononce her last name, which is Finch, properly either ). I can just picture Uncle Kenny at her wedding giving a speech to the lucky groom, can't you??

... br>
Making the decision easier for us was the fact that both sets of parents lived the fulltime lifestyle for a number of years. Yes, we are 'second generation fulltimers', which I think makes us a bit unique in this lifestyle. We had originally planned on staying out here on the road for about 5 years and than re-evaluating. Well, that 5 year mark is coming up in March and we can honestly say that we have ...

... turned out to be some sort of cold or flu that just knocked me on my derriere for two days once I arrived home. It was so good to get home and see the dogs, llamas and even the cats. All had been lovingly cared for by our friends Pat, Lila and Jill, whom we can never thank enough! Doug will get to come home in a week, thank heaven, although he probably will go back again. I was in France only a short time, but I learned ...

Amana, in the middle of nowhere, but it's a cool stop when you have nothing to do between Cedar Rapids and Des Moines. It is a German village. There are 7 villages as a whole, Amana, West Amana, Middle Amana, High Amana, South Amana, and Homestead. Amana is the biggest.

Before we set off for Europe on a bicycle tour, we thought we better do a practice run first. So we decided to bicycle from my brother's home in Cedar Rapids, Iowa to my parents' home in New Palestine, Indiana. Bill summed the trip up in one word: brutal. It was hot, humid, and (BELIEVE IT) often quite hilly. But it was also pretty and peaceful and good practice. Here are some images from the trip out (best viewed as a slideshow.)