Dave Bikes America

We left camp at about 5:30 this morning anticipating a moderately long (60 – 65 miles) and hilly day. We needed to be done by 2:00 so we could shower, change, and get our bikes boxed up for transport back to Sioux City. Our bus to Sioux City would leave no later than 4:00. We … Continue reading RAGBRAI Day 7: the final day

We had an easy day today- about 40 miles with a light headwind. It was nice and cool at 6:30 when we started and wasn’t that hot when we arrived in camp, around 10:00. Our first pass through town (Dunkerton) was 16 miles away. I had a “nosh” bowl, which is layered potatoes, peppers & … Continue reading RAGBRAI Day 6

After 2”+ of rain and big time lightning and thunder last night, we left early today under a heavy overcast and a beautiful, wonderful, lovely 5-10 mph tailwind. Our first stop was after 14 miles- Peter had coffee and 2 bananas and I had a cafe mocha with 3 shots of espresso and a huge … Continue reading RAGBRAI Day 5

Today, we left camp at 6:00 am and rode south 70 hilly miles to Cedar Falls, IA. And we rode into a very stiff headwind all day. Even so, the steeper hills blocked the winds while we were climbing and the wind helped us to keep cooler- when we finished at 2:30 it was 90 … Continue reading RAGBRAI Day 4

I’ma bikin’ Iowa. Continue reading RAGBRAI

Well, today was my last ride in RAGBRAI. I had a big piece of peach pie, donut holes and little muffins before leaving camp. We stopped early and had big slices of quiche and then stopped 10 miles later and I had a raspberry and a chocolate frozen yoghurt. Then, I saw a little stall … Continue reading Last day of RAGBRAI

Today we had a lovely 66 mile ride to West Union. We had about a half mile of climbing but it was mostly nice rolling hills. We had our usual early breakfast of coffee, bananas, blueberry and carrot cake muffins. Then, 25 miles out, we found our favorite breakfast wrap/burrito vendor and had a big … Continue reading Beautiful 66 mile ride to West Union, IA

Today was an easy 48 mile ride from Mason City (birthplace of masonite) to Charles City. We rode about 20 miles and came across an abandoned quarry that had lots of Devonian fossils. I found three different kinds of brachiopods, pelecypods (clams) and horn corals- it was fun! We then rode another 10 miles before … Continue reading Easy ride today

We left at close to 6:00 this morning and it was beautiful! Cool, a little foggy and a very light breeze. We (Fred & I) stopped in every pass through town and had beverages in every one of them. And food in sone of them. I tell you, vodka and lemonade is a refreshing summer … Continue reading Emmetsburg to Mason City- 104 miles