amw

Kalona → Ottumwa → Thousand Hills → Crowder → Watkins Mill

Oct 03, 2021 18:43

Well this isn't exactly the urban campsite i was looking for. I managed to find myself in the middle of a biker rally ( Read more... )

travel, bike, american dream

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Comments 15

coercedbynutmeg October 4 2021, 02:36:05 UTC
Ha. Watkins Mill has a woolen mill and a historic house, and I remember going there as a girl scout back in 1993 or so.

So yeah, MO is full of hills, especially the southern part, but I feel like Illinois and Kansas are comparatively flatter, but even Kansas has hills. And abandoned buildings. I remember taking a bus ride from KC to Kirksville back in the late 90s and there were abandoned barns and other tumbledown or burnt out structures all between. The only place I've seen more was along the DelMarVa peninsula.

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spiffikins October 4 2021, 03:24:32 UTC
Being a West Coast person all my life, I guess I just assumed that once you got east of Manitoba (or, in the US, I guess the Dakotas) - that the "wild" is all tamed and there are no more mountains of any real note, no more plains or wide open spaces. Just endless hills and trees and civilization until you hit the Atlantic ocean.

Your experience so far has not contradicted my assumptions, although for your sake, I hope you find something awesome!

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amw October 9 2021, 11:57:07 UTC
There are actually some areas of wilderness in the east. I have some LJ friends who post pictures. It's mostly around the Adirondacks, Appalachians etc. I think they even have bears! But it is a different kind of wilderness to the west, it's more these very cramped hills and hollows, not so much stark mountains and wide vistas. It feels more like a wilderness to get lost in rather than one to soar through, if that makes sense.

Most long term travelers i know who have been all through America (and/or Canada) end up moving to the west to settle down. I'm not sure if it's because the west is more welcoming to hobos, hitchers etc or if it's just because the way the landscape is feels more "traveler-y"? It's really interesting.

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livejournal October 4 2021, 03:35:22 UTC
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opakele October 4 2021, 03:40:14 UTC
Reading this, I'm thinking going to Florida is not for you, but I get this was the plan. This is exploratory, seeing what you can see. Push on. Just know, you can call it anytime, book a flight and pack up the bike.

Perhaps, this is my own ignorance, but don't underestimate the ignorance of the Deep South.

Safe travels.

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newwaytowrite October 4 2021, 05:19:12 UTC

“ankle to wrist chin”
That made me think of the people I considered my second set of parents growing up who use to say, “No touching between the neck and the knees.” They would then laugh like crazy.

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