My new best friend in Carroll, IA

It’s the unexpected encounters on the road that are most enjoyable. Stopped at a Hy-Vee in Carroll, IA to take a break from the heat.

Normally I will pull my pony into the entry of the store, just for an extra measure of security and there tends to be air conditioning and fewer flies, so that’s a bonus.

I normally just mind my own business when…

“I’d like to do something like that,” said the man in the red Hy-Vee shirt pointing at my bike.  “Get to work without using any fuel…. like a rocket.”  

His name was Eric and he had my attention. 

“And the rocket, you wouldn’t need a license or registration and it would be easy to find a place to park.”

I like the registration aspect. Eric used his black croc sandle to give the shopping carts an extra nudge. 

He had a mop of black hair with curls that stuck to his sweaty forehead.

”You would only be flying about a thousand feet in the air.” Eric really thought this through.

Then he was off…

“Service with a smile,” he said to an old man walking in. 

The man said huh and Eric cheerfully repeated. “Service with a smile.”

The old man waved him off. But Eric was not to be deterred… there would always be another customer. The next elderly lady did not disappoint.

”Aren’t you hot,” she said as she shuffled into the store in bright red capri pants and toothpick legs.

”I’m gonna cut my head off and put it in the freezer it’s so hot.”

Eric lit up, and so did I.

”Me too,” said Eric chasing her into the store.

With a brief pause in the entertainment I sat on a milk crate and checked messages on my phone… until two black crocs crept into view.

”I have a good idea.” It was Eric.

“How about getting a wagon to carry a cooler with ice behind your bike and then you could have a cold drink whenever you want.”

It was an excellent, if not heavy invention.

I was in no hurry to leave the Hy-Vee. It was instant entertainment.

Eric talked frequently. He eagerly shared details about his head-on accident where he almost died.  “Jaws of Life and Flight for Life and 8 years of therapy and I’m as good as new,” he said. 

While Eric was fielding carts from the parking lot a cheery clerk got a hold of the store PA and sang the Happy Birthday song to Sue. 

This whole 15 minute break reminded me of an episode of “The Middle.”

Eric returned with another idea, for me to ride with a friend and get a “duplex” and I’d get there much faster.  “Wear earbuds so you wouldn’t always have to listen to the other person,” he said.

The next round of Eric, was when he came through the entry with music blaring on his phone. “Got music or a radio with you?  I got Pandora on my phone.”

It definitely felt like he was vying for my attention.

“How long does it take you to charge your bike,” he asked.

I stood up and told him there was no charge; I was the engine.

Eric looked at me. Then he grabbed the front of his shirt tail to wipe the sweat off his forehead and a big hairy watermelon belly fell out.

”Well I have a 28 speed with 8 cylinders,” said Eric proudly.

Eric was definitely a local treasure for the Hy-Vee in Carroll, IA and so far my most entertaining break.

Side notes on tour…

An awesome double silo outside Grundy Center, IA.

Marvin had a roadside stand on the main drag in Grundy Center. He was sitting alone under a shade tree. “I have corn and tomatoes, melon and cantaloupe and peaches are in the truck.” He was 85. Retired. I bought a jar of raspberry jam for my mom. Marvin said it was from the Amish. “You’ll get that home in one piece,” he said. “If you don’t wreck.”

Met some young entrepreneurs outside Dickeyville, WI. Rhett and Colton set up a lemonade stand. Colton would spot potential customers and Rhett would hold the sign up and holler “Lemonade!” I happened to be the first customer that day. I’ve been advised in the past, “Just give the kids a quarter Judes… don’t dicker on the price.”

The service was excellent. “You can sit there on that corner for some shade,” said Colton offering me a spot under the umbrella. I took advantage of it… testing the sturdiness of the Fischer Price plastic picnic table. It held my weight but for some reason popped the littlest girl, Faith, off her perch. “How’s it going today ladies?” Colton piped in, “Awww they’re just here to drink and bother us,” he said. It reminded me of a Little Rascals episode. I gave the girls kudos for carrying on the tradition of driving men nuts.

This year’s tour is intended to highlight previous Winter Olympics as we head into the 2026 Winter Games in Milan, Italy.

Local speed skater Jordan Stolz is expected to compete in four events and if you would like to be part of Team Jordan feel free to pledge your support by using the QR code below courtesy the Dan Jansen Foundation.

Jansen’s foundation is a 501c3 and he’s agreed to donate 100% of all support noted to Jordan Stolz. Be part of Team Stolz today.