Day 15 (May 10) - Cedar Rapids, IA

Eric blogging. When there's a brisk east wind, that's great for Carson, because it can push him along for 80 or 90 or 127+ miles. Of course, it means that when I turn around in the morning, after going the first nine or ten miles with Carson, it's a bit of a challenge for me. As I fought to get back to the frightening Motel 6 in Clinton, Iowa, I thought, "How has Carson managed to do this day after day?"

Fortunately, today was a comparatively fast day, partially thanks to the wind, and a relative lack of tractor-trailer traffic on US-30. Heading into Cedar Rapids, Carson was even able to spend the last 12 miles or so on side streets, far more pleasant than the main ways. "I raced some trains," Carson said. "They won."

We're now ensconced at the hotel in Cedar Rapids, in a two-room suite with a full kitchen, perfect for preparing an MRC or two -- a good place to spend our second rest day tomorrow. On the Internet again. Maybe we'll see if there's a minor-league ballclub in town, as we did last night in Clinton, when we took in a LumberKings game. For just a little while, as the sun drifted down, and the bats cracked, and the kids with hot dogs cheered, all was right (Carson: Check out that cinnamon-sugar funnel cake).