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Hawkeye Memories
Biking Iowa Byways
In 1940, Miriam Taylor, the recreation leadership instructor in Iowa's
women's physical education department, was promoting American Youth
Hosteling (AYH). A 200-mile circle out and back to Iowa City had been
set up, with sleeping accommodations provided along the route.
 My
friend, Bette Embick Anderson, 41BSPE, and I got permission to store
our belongings on campus during the senior week break, and then we
set out with a high school friend, Christine Lindall Butterfield, then
working in Chicago.
We pooled our money to come up with a total of $26.50 to fund our
week's trip. With a late start on day one, we arrived at the Amanas
in time for a family-style meal at 40 cents each. The Homestead overnight
with use of our sleeping sheets cost 25 cents each. A coiled rope was
by the window of our second-floor room in case of fire.
The second night we slept in a clean chicken coop equipped with cots.
The third night was spent with friends from the University of Iowa.
 On the fourth day, we were descending a steep grade, when our friend
from Chicago hit the gravel and skidded across the road. She was covered
with road rash. We had to put her in the hospital overnight, which
cost a huge $6.00. Bette and I stayed at a nice hostel in a barn.
Miss
Taylor arranged to get us back to Iowa City, where we each went our
separate ways: Bette to Hutchinson, Kansas; Christine and I to Valparaiso,
Indiana.
 It was a memorable adventure. With World War II starting the next
year, I never heard any more about the AYH in Iowa.
Bette lives in Bradenton, Florida, with her husband, Jack. She is
the women's golf champ at her club, where she won by shooting her age,
78. Christine recently died of cancer. Her husband never let her buy
a bicycle.
I'm also 78 and keep active with aerobics, tennis, golf, and also
biking (my husband's favorite). Hooray for the Iowa physical education
program! I taught in Muscatine, Iowa, and Chardon, Ohio, for a total
of 30 years and retired in 1980.
Ann
Hinkle Chaney, 41BSPE
Peachtree City, GA
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