Rick's bicycle ride across America

 Day 33 Coralville to Davenport 81 miles. It's  the last day of Ragbrai. My cousin  Connie made me these yummy  pancakes and bacon for breakfast. So glad I stayed at her house. When the storm hit all the people that were  staying outside the church I was supposed  to sleep in ended up coming inside. The crowds on the road seemed to thin out a little today. I think the heat of the last couple of days made some people drop out. The route today  was flatter, only 1900 ft of climbing. The general  spirit  of the riders was good. I was able to find my Mocha in West Liberty. Chatted  with several  people today. I talked to Susie that found out I  was from Spokane, then asked if I  was the one riding across the country. Turns out she'd met my friends Allison and Alvin earlier  in the week. Best part I  was her mailman  in Kendall Yards, small world. I got my last serving  of Beekmans  ice cream  befo...

 Day 32 Toledo  to Coralville 86 miles. Day 6 of Ragbrai. It was predicted  to be hot today, they nailed that one. Cleared skies and sunny weather made the feels like temp 111 degrees. The route was flat the first  half of the day, lots of rolling hills  the second  half.  We climbed over 2800', who said Iowa  is flat? Not a lot of fun activities  to do in the through towns. The route took us right through the Amana  colonies.  When I  got close to Coralville  my cousin  Connie  texted me and said she  lived near by. She invited me to stay at her house. Of course  I  said yes. I have not seen her in a long time. So much to talk about. We had a very intense storm move through the area, glad I  was inside.

 Day 31 DesMoines  to Tama/Toledo day 5 of Ragbrai., 93 miles.  I left with Mike about 6. Riding out of DesMoines  there were some killer hills.  The first  through towns were really boring with not a lot of food vendors. I thought I would  move on to Newton, but again nothing I ended up with a couple breakfast  burritos  from McDonald's. The ride had lots of hills with 4125 feet of climbing and it was very Hot. The route took me on gravel  for about 2 miles. We  are tenting at our hosts tonight, kind of hot to sleep outside.We are close enough  to get to the concert venue. Foghat  was really good

 Day 30 Carroll  to Ames 88 miles.  I rolled  out at 6:30 to try to beat some of the heat. The road was crowded until I blew past the first through town.  Then it thinned out. I supported the Methodist  church in Jefferson buying one of their breakfast burritos. I fought head winds most of the day. Lunch stop was Mr Pork Chop while I  listened  to a great brass band. I hand to make my Lemonade stand stop.We stayed with my friend since kindergarten, Travis and his wife Linda. Loved petting their golden Mollie but had to look from a distance at their other golden  Chief. Lisa, another of my long-time friends since kindergarten  dropped by and we had a great chat. Her husband Marty and Lisa have participated  in lots of Ragbrai's. It was great to see old friends,  but then it was time  for bed. Day 31 Ames to DesMoines 48  miles.Earlystart again today. I rode with  Allen. We ended up going off the Ragbrai  rout...

 Day 28 Sioux City to Storm Lake  66 miles. First  day on Ragbrai, First 10 miles was nerve racking with al the people learning  to ride in the mass. Cleared up a little after the first through town. Most of the riders in my group leave early, so by the time I  roll out at 7 I'm  the last one. Plenty of people to keep me company. I chatted  with people along the way.  I got to the host families  house about two. What a beautiful  home close to Storm Lake. They made us a great  dinner  of pulled pork sandwiches,  Mac & cheese, and baked beans.  Day 29 Storm Lake to Carroll  58 miles. Our host family sent us off with a breakfast  pizza. A lot flatter  ride then yesterday. In Lake View I  found a wonderful  coffee shop for my morning  Mocha. I had a great chat with James from Northern CA. He has been on many cycling  adventures including riding the Continental Divide  trail. In...

 Day 27 Yankton, Sd to Sioux City, IA 66 miles. I woke up to a thick fog that soaked my rain fly. Dried it out as best I could and stuffed it in a plastic bag. Really flat day on nice paved secondary roads. I have never dipped  my rear wheel in the Missouri  River so I  went down  to the dipping site. I'm  riding with St Ambrose University  as Team Mothership is retired. Nice group of people. We have a great host tonight with our tents in the back yard, a shower, and they made us dinner. 

 Finally  day 26 Mitchell, Sd to Yankton,Sd. 88 miles. After waiting four days for my new wheel and then my car ride yesterday I'm  back on the road  again. Not much to show about the ride today.  Lots of tall plants on one side and short plants on the other. A lot like Iowa very green and incredibly flat. I had my first corn stop, pre-functioning for Ragbrai.  Lots of wind after  I  got camp set up. The clouds looked threatening  and there was loud rumbles of thunder. It has not rained on me yet. It's  only 80 miles to Sioux City  tomorrow, so I'm  going to make it to Ragbrai.

 So my day was spent in a car today. Allison  and Alvin Bell took me from Gillette, Wy to Mitchell,Sd. It was great to catch up with them and I  am sure I  will bump into them on Ragbrai. Thank you so much for the lift to catch me up. I am at a campground just outside Mitchell.  Finally  back on the rode tomorrow  with a 90 mile ride to Yankton,  Sd.

 The Four days  in Gillette have been relaxing. I've walked downtown a couple of times, boxed up more things to send home to Betty, got in some reading, and watched  a lot of TV. I did knock on the skeletons house door and no one was home. My new rear wheel arrived today and I'm  ready to ride. I was on track to make Ragbrai  before this delay happened.  My station manager Allison and her husband are driving to Iowa to ride Ragbrai. They are picking me up tomorrow and dropping me off in Mitchell, SD tomorrow afternoon. I'll  have about 160 miles  to make it to Sioux City by Saturday  afternoon. Just in time for the start of Ragbrai  on Sunday.