MId Summer's Day Dreams

Ah yes,, it is almost the MIDDLE of Summer in Iowa. I have alwayss considered JULY 15 to be the middle of Summer. When I was a kid, school was out roughly June 1, and we went back roughly September 1, so the middle would be JULY 15.....The other reason is that JULY 15 is my birthday. It is always hot on my birthday. Back in the day my buddies and I ALWAYS went swimming on July 15.. The river, (sorry Mom) OR we rode our bikes to the Iowa City pool. Such great fun!..We were absolutely in fear of drowning from the cramps, and our Red Cross swimming lessons had taught us to wait ONE HOUR after eating to swim..Believe me, we did....The pool opened at 1, but the line could be long.., and we had to ride our bikes...so we either ate at 11:30 ish, rode to the pool, got in line, and usually into the pool at 1:15 or so..If we cut in close, I can remember standing on the side of the pool watching the clock above the 'basket room' as the second hand made it to 12, thus signalling that 1 hour had officially past since I took my last bite of lunch...NOW I hear that the 1 hour thing is only a guideline and not a real 'set in stone' thing.........Damn!! We had discipline! The bike ride TO the pool was fun. We were instructed by our Moms that we could NOT get on the 'highway' (Strip) and that we HAD to ride along the northside on our way to the Pool.. Thus we rode down 5th street, south on the sidewalk in front of Coral Lanes, Briskey Cabinet etc, across Clear Creek, TO the Superior 400 gas station, THEN we crossed unbusy (in those days) 1st avenue, and rode in back of the Carousel Restaurant, into the BIG half moon driveway of the Hawkeye Lodge, across the front of the Hudson gas station, Henry's hamburgers, Dog N Suds, UNDER the canopy of the Alamo Motel, in front of the Zesto Ice Cream stand, cut a 45 degree angle thru the lot of Kobes Motel, UNDER the CRANDIC trestle, and along Rocky Shore Drive..It was NOT as nice as it is today. It was gravel, some chip and seal, but not real busy....around the corner and, and, and, UP the big hill.. Weenies had to get off and push, and 'studs' could hack it up the hill. Depended on the day, temperature etc....,, on to the pool, paid our fee (.25c) and into the open air lockerroom, took a QUICK shower, tried to jump across the little pool that has stuff in it to sanitize your feet against Athlete's Foot, dropped off our basket with clothes, and beelined it to the water...WHAT FUN!!
............Did we ever get home? How long did we swim?, did we go 'off' the high dive?......Hmm, next time......................Enjoy the 2nd half of Summer!!