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Summer of the Bike: The Road Home

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After our amazing experience on RAGBRAI we headed back to the west, with a few fun stops along the way.  Why hurry?  We’re retired!

Immediately following RAGBRAI we stopped in LaCrosse, Wisconsin for a luxurious night in a hotel (after eight nights in a tent) and, we were happy to be joined by cousin Stacie Schuler and her fiancé Colton for dinner.  These guys drove out of their way to come see us and we really enjoyed spending time with them.

The next day we headed back across Iowa (well, actually on the interstate in Minnesota) and stopped in Okoboji, IA to see Steve’s uncle Bob and aunt Sharon.

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Steve, Marnie, Sharon and Bob

We spent the afternoon on their boat and loved catching up with them!  After spending the night in Sioux Falls, we headed west into another state: South Dakota and South Dakota treated us well! We visited the Corn Palace in Mitchell, the Badlands, Wall Drug, Mt. Rushmore, Custer State Park, Deadwood, and Sturgis just days before the Rally. Checking things off our list and it was really fun!

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Buffalo Chip Saloon in Sturgis

Our final stop on the road trip home was in Denver to spend a little time with our dear friend Sam.  In our two days there we biked, dined, and caught a Rockies game in downtown Denver. While we could have spent more time, at this point we were ready to get home to see our dogs and our own bed.

What a great adventure we’ve had this summer!

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Summer of the Bike: RAGBRAI

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On to the main event: RAGBRAI. After a rainy transfer from Lansing IA in the east, we made it to Orange City IA, the start of our RAGBRAI adventure. The plan was to ride 411 miles across the state over six days, supported by Pork Belly Ventures. With the service we had a tent, showers, cooling stations & nightly entertainment with at least 1500 other “Porkers.” IMG_8354Day one took us over 65+ miles from Orange City to Spencer,  and we had a great time! We visited some cute towns with pork chops and pie along the way. Steve is comparing rhubarb pie in each town, searching for the best.  The church ladies here really know how to bake!

On day two went went from Spencer to Algona.  I rode 76 miles & Steve opted for the optional century loop which took him a total of 110 miles. He got a special patch for the effort. We finished the day with a massage (me) and beer (Steve). We topped it all off with a church-prepared spaghetti dinner with homemade ice cream. RAGBRAI is a world within itself and we soaked it all in.

On the third day we rode 51 miles from Algona to Clear Lake, taking our time to enjoy the towns, the ice cream, and the people. We faced pretty strong winds on this day, but it’s all part of the adventure! Sure enough, adventure we got because on the fourth day it rained from Clear Lake to Charles City. IMG_8479We did about 58 miles and then enjoyed the town & camp. Day four presented us with a good but rainy ride from Clear Lake to Charles City today. We did about 58 miles, stopping along the way to take shelter in a farmer’s barn to escape the heaviest downpours.  We finally made it to camp at just about the time it cleared up.

From Charles City to Cresco travelled 56 miles.  Along the way we saw bikes, buffaloes, the biggest cock in the county. Great food, music, and people all along the way. After five days of biking over 50 miles per day we were starting to feel it.  Still, the excitement and energy of RAGBRAI carries you through.  And, as we’ve been told, it’s really a series of 10-15 mile rides since there’s a town with food and entertainment just when you need a rest.

Our last “full” RAGBRAI day was from Cresco to Waukon. We biked 62 miles over some pretty big hills and enjoyed the usual stops for pie, cute animals, and great views. IMG_8530Today was college spirit day and it was fun to see the variety of schools represented (including many Huskers and Sun Devils).

The last day, from Waukon to Lansing was really a half-day, covering 44 miles. And, we did it! 411+ miles on a bike across the state of Iowa, 8 nights in a tent, and 100s of great memories. On the final day we we biked through the Yellow River Forest and Harpers Ferry on the shores of the Mississippi. What a beautiful way to end a perfect week!

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Summer of the Bike: The Road Trip

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Summer 2017 is officially over as today is the first day of fall. And, this past summer will officially be know as our “Summer of the Bike.”  Steve completed the Whiskey 50 Mountain Bike Race in late April and from then on it was all two wheels.

Shortly after the Whiskey 50 Steve received admission to RAGBRAI–Register’s Annual Great Bike Ride Across Iowa.  While trying to figure out how I would support Steve’s ride across Iowa, it became clear that driving a support vehicle wouldn’t be near as much fun as riding.  So, with less than two months to prepare, I got back on the bike and started training.  By July 6 we set out on a road trip with the plan to pass through at least 13 states, visiting family and friends, and riding our bikes across Iowa in the annual RAGBRAI ride!

On day one of the road trip we explored Walnut Canyon, stood on a corner in Winslow Arizona, and biked 26 miles in Holbrook. IMG_7886Day two included the Petrified Forest, Painted Desert and 38 miles along the Paseo de Bosque bike trail in Albuquerque, which runs along the Rio Grande.  We took our time, enjoyed the scenery, and used each stop as an opportunity to continue training.

Day three of the road trip took us from Albuquerque to Amarillo. The highlights included a stop at the Cadillac Ranch and dinner at the famed Big Texan Steak Ranch. IMG_8028Yes, we spray painted the cars. No, we didn’t have the 72oz steak…but we watched two guys try. Kitsch all day long. Then we moved along to OKC for a quick visit with cousin Lori & Don & dogs Lucky & Lucy.

We couldn’t do a midwestern road trip without a stop in Kansas City to see Gary, Kristy, and the kids.  In one weekend, we biked, hit a Royals game, floated and slid at Schlitterbahn, and played pickleball at Chicken & Pickle. The best part was spending time with family, including Brynn, Hudson, and the dogs Nellie and Ruby.

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Brynn & Nellie

On the way to Nebraska we had a nice stop in Corning/Prescott/Creston Iowa to reconnect with the Freshour cousins. Thanks Terri Freshour Kretzinger & Dan, our gracious hosts, who sent us off with copious amounts of sweet corn 🌽 picked straight from the stalk. That fun was followed by two super fun days in Omaha with Brian, Heidi & the kids. We had lots of pool time, sno cones, and a little biking.

Then, it was time to head east towards the Mississippi and the start of our first RAGBRAI. Steve was ready, but I sure had doubts about a 400+ mile bike ride from the Missouri to the Mississppi Rivers…

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