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Students: If you are a student at Coe College interested in applying to take this course, use the toolbar above to explore what the class is about and the requirements for enrollment. Click here to view the May 2008 class Web page.

Others Visitors: If you are not a student, but someone interested in bicycles, in writing, or both, this home page will be updated as regularly as possible with news stories, links, and information on these topics. Please feel free to contact me, Kerrie Miller, with questions, story ideas, or comments.

July 19
First Railroad Excursion
There's a little-known hobbie in the U.S.A known as railroad excursions, and we did our first one today. Slideshow

July 14
The DC to Pittsburg Bike Trip is still on. We postponed leaving town one week to work at the house, but the big trip on the Chesapeake and Ohio Towpath and the Great Allegheny Passage is still on.

July 6
What is left behind after the water is gone
The house is finally dry and it's time to assess the damage. Photos

June 23
Evacuation orders lifted for some on Taft Speedway
Some homes on the west end of Taft Speedway have had evacuation orders lifted, but we are still waiting, and still wading through water to get to the house. More

June 19
Bush Visits Iowa City
It's pretty awe-inspiring to see the POTUS helicoter fly over your house. We weren't quick enough to get a picture, but we were in the right place at the right time to see the motorcade go down Riverside Drive. More

June 14
Air tour of Iowa City
We were able to take the Navion up on Saturday to have a look at our house and other places in Iowa City. More

June 11
Water tops spillway; last chance to get out forgotten items
Earlier this morning water began flowing over the spillway. Any time we had to get things out of the house is growing short. Photos

June 7, 2008
Packing for a flood on Taft Speedway
Living along the Iowa River has a lot of perks, but part of the bargain is being prepared for flooding. More

May 26, 2008
Clive Greenbelt Trail is close to resident's doorstep
During the 2008 May Term BW class, I ran into a woman on the trail who was willing to talk about what it is like to have the Clive Greenbelt Trail access in her front yard. More

May 22, 2008
Bicycle Haiku
Every day, if I have Internet access, I read one of my favorite Web sites, called BoingBoing. Today I saw an entry there about Kevin Kelly, the founder of Wired magazine, who rode his bike across the US and wrote one haiku and created one sketch each day. Note: there is an advertisement inserted in the short clip.

Link to BoingBoing TV interview with Kevin Kelly

 

Bicycle Writing Class 2008 Photo Gallery: May 7 to May 31

	House in Brandon, Iowa, just off the Cedar Valley Nature Trail. May 10, 2008 This is a nice example of a "fun house," or a home on the edge of town that is "decorated cheerfully and chaotically," as defined by Jon Spayde in his essay "The Edge of Town" in Take This Exit.
	Cedar Valley Nature Trail, outside LaPorte City. May 10, 2008 We saw many tree limbs across the trail today, some much bigger than this one.
	Cedar Valley Nature Trail, north of Urbana. May 10, 2008 An uprooted tree on the side of the soggy trail. I thought it looked interesting and a little freaky.
	Urbana Tavern May 10, 2008 A warm and dry tavern lifted our spirits in Urbana, especially for Nick Ludwig. The day's riding was cold with light sprinkles. Having done 20 miles, we called it a day. This, our first nature trail, was good training for less-than-perfect weather. To see Nick's Web page, click here.
	Biking makes you hungry. May 10, 2008 Ryan Rogers, always well prepared, refuels on the ride home To see Ryan's Web page, click here.
	Sugarbottom Loop and North Liberty Trail May 13, 2008 After biking the sugarbottom loop---great training for hills---Bobby Hayes, Nick Ludwig, and Stephanie Beecher take a rest at the new trail bridge over the dam in Coralville, behind the Iowa River and Power restaurant. To see Stephanie's Web page, click here. To see Bobby's Web page, click here.
	Chichaqua Rail Trail May 17, 2008 A lovely Iowa scene. The picture is nice, but being there was even better!
	Great Western Trail, Des Moines, Iowa May 18, 2008 What a wonderful surprise to find out that this trail has been paved in asphalt all the way to Martensdale! We saw many cyclists today. If you pave it they will come.
	Clive Greenbelt Trail, Clive, Iowa May 20, 2008 Stream next to the Clive Greenbelt Trail, which heads west under busy Hickman Road.
	Raccoon River Valley Trail, Waukee, Iowa May 20, 2008 The RRVT is one of the best and most used trails in Iowa, as it travels west to Adel and Redfield and then north to Panora and Jefferson. The trail is part of a planned loop that will circle back to Des Moines via Perry and Dallas Center.
	Adel Courthouse, RRVT May 20, 2008
	Redfield Depot/Trail Information Center, RRVT May 20, 2008
	Carmen's Cafe, Panora, Iowa May 21, 2008 The friendliest owner/waiter in town, and good omelets too.
	Raccoon River May 21, 2008 Raccoon River near Jefferson, Iowa on the RRVT.
	Long Bridge over the Raccoon, RRVT May 21, 2008 If you look very closely, you can see a little black puppy. His best friend was fishing below.
	Wildflowers on the RRVT near Jefferson May 21, 2008
	Grazing horses on the RRVT near Jefferson May 21, 2008
	Jefferson Depot May 21, 2008 Jefferson is the end of the RRVT.
	Babbling Brook Sauk Rail Trail, near Breda May 22, 2008 The Sauk Rail Trail is one of Iowa's most beautiful, with pastoral scenes and rocky creeks such as this one. The SRT is also notable for it's stillness. There is absolutely no noise here, just the sound of the wind, rustling grass, and occasionally a bubbling creek.
	Trees in water Sauk Rail Trail, near Lake View May 22, 2008
	"Tree Ship" Sauk Rail Trail, near Lake View May 22, 2008
	Trail End, Sauk Rail Trail May 22, 2008 If you begin in Carroll, Iowa and complete the entire Sauk Rail Trail, you reach the end in Lake View, under this bicycle arch. Stephanie Beecher and I savor our accomplishment.