Tuesday
Mason City IA to Independence IA
112 Miles
Travel Time 10:30
Saddle Time 7:30
After 124 miles yesterday, I treated myself to the Historic Park Inn built by Frank Lloyd Wright. I also stayed around for the free continental breakfast at 6am! Never can pass that up!
Everywhere I have been riding these last few days people have been asking me if I am training for the RAGBRAI. What is that you ask? The Register’s Annual Great Bicycle Ride Across Iowa. This is its 42 year. There are 10,000 registered riders for this 7 day event, but there is a total of 20,000 to 30,000 people that actually ride it! The course changes every year and takes you from one side of Iowa to the other. This year it happens to be taking a northern route, which is basically what I have been riding this week. It is a 7 day circus, zoo, party…..event that everyone in Iowa knows about. The small towns on the route start preparing months in advance. The logistics of housing, feeding, managing this event are amazing. Each town creates committee after committee. They spruce everything up in preparation. Tent cities and port a johns go up on every available field and lawn. The Warm Shower family I’m staying with tonight will have 10 police officers using their lawn for their tents. And They are also part of a team preparing and feeding breakfast to a group of 1,200 cyclists.
The real cool part of this is that it seems like the whole state is involved. In every town, I get asked about the ride from the local farmer to the grocery store clerk. This is big! Do I wish I was here next week for the ride? I don’t know. But I think it would have been fun to overlap for one day. Today I came across two groups of people biking west to get to the start of the ride. One person flew up from Kentucky, and does every year.
I just enjoyed a pizza dinner with Than and Sara Chesher and their 3 children. They just signed up to host warm showers and I am their first guest! Sara is driving me to town later so I can buy groceries. They rent a house that is on a huge corn and hog farm.
And today I rode by a farm with “Jesus Saves” painted on the roof of the hog barn that houses all the pigs going to slaughter, and next to the big black manure bin.
Thanks again Ken for the inspiration. RAGBRAI 2015 is now on my list!
Keep it up the great work. Chappaqua is a buzz talking with excitement for your your ride and blog. Think you need to do this every year to keep us busy during the summer.
Cheers
Joe
Sounds like you are having a great day. I’m thinking it is going to be nuts in northern Iowa next week! Hope you are having good weather. It’s yucky here!!! BTW tonight is the All-star game and the AL is leading 3-0 in the bottom of the 2nd. Just in case you were wondering. 🙁
Kenny,
Myself and Pat from the gym been following you and telling the boys we play hoops about your story. You are one crazy mother. I get to lbi on the 13th, I can’t get there the 9th but would love to catch up if you are still there the 13th or I will be there IF you arrive between the 13th and 23rd. Keep riding you are my hero, I couldn’t do this on a motorcycle…
Vinny
Ken What a great experience. I love your daily blog and the pictures are terrific! Great job. PS I am guessing you took the photo of Sukup for the literal pronunciation. It is actually Sue-Kup. (I once had an assistant with the last name Sukup!) Happy riding!
Ken, The Levey family has enjoyed this trip so much we have friends reading your blog daily as well. I think next time you do this I may consider riding my bike with you to keep you company. I’m not certain I can put my bike on the plane though..Keep the blog flowing and be safe.
Best Regards, Robert.
The pictures are fabulous! I hope the wind and trucks behave for you! Don’t forget to dip your tire in the river before you leave!
Still loving the daily reads! Thank you, best summer reading ever
You have done an amazing job so far. I am very impressed at your writing skills..maybe a book in your future. You need a career change. The photos are also fantastic.
Remember to sing the America song – “Amber waves of Grain …..”
If you bike there, you will be there.
Love the pics