Journal entries are just that – the digital copy of my hand-written entries in my journal. If you aren’t interested in the daily details of our adventure, feel free to skip on to the next “regular” post.

Woke up at 5 so we could leave at 6. Able to watch the sun rise while packing up. Dropped our bags off in the truck a few minutes past 6 and hopped on our bikes. Briefly debated dipping our back tires in the Missouri River but ended up missing the turn-in. So before we knew it we were on the road across Iowa!

Our first stop was 6.4 miles away, Leeds, where we pulled off and bought some breakfast burritos and drinks. Delicious and a great way to start off the morning!

   
 

Ashley had a flat tire. Fixed it easily enough but couldn’t get the bead on the tire seated. Stopped and grabbed some free bananas and sent out a couple of free postcards – then managed to get her tire fixed if not completely aired up. A few miles down the road we stopped at someones house and got air from their compressor. Strangers, opening up their shop, offering shade, water, bathroom
and air. Pretty darn nice!

Next stop is 21.9 miles away, Kingsley. Very crowded going through town, had to get off our bikes and walk. Bought a Scotcheroo, mostly out of curiosity. Cornflake cookies that teasted like butterscotch with hard milk chocolate on top.

  

Washta was 14.9 miles futher. It was the meeting town for the day. We went to the library in the elementary school for water and bathroom break. Bought lunch from the fire department. Brats for me and a burger for Ashley – plus a split rhubarb pie slice.

Along the way we have seen a unicycle, numerous styles of recumbent bikes, and were serenaded by a woman in a kilt playing bagpipes – accompanied by a man playing a traditional-looking drum.

Next is Quimby, 5.9 more miles. The boy scouts were giving watermelon slices away. Cold, juicy melon really hit the spot as the heat was picking up.

  

At the top of a big hill a woman stopped on the side, pulled out a trumpet and played 2 renditions of some marching song. Really fun to hear as we pedaled up the hill!

We passed right by Hanover. As we passed a woman waved and yelled that “this is Hanover!” It looked like just another booth set up on the roadside.

  

Then we headed into Storm Lake, our stop for the night, a total of 27.4 miles from Quimby. 76.5 total for the day, with 3941 feet of climb. Fortunately, only a few of those hills were really long and steep – we definitely trained on worse! This is both the longest and most incline for a single day all week. Made it in about 3:40.

  

Picked up our bags and set up camp close to the drop-off trucks. Scouted out water sources and bathrooms, then headed over for showers. Felt delicious!

Meandered over to St. Mary’s school for a spaghetti supper. Pasta, salad, garlic bread, and pie. Ashley got apple and more rhubarb for me. Delightful conversation with a couple of guys on the Air Force riding team.

Wandered around, past the swimming area, the band for tonight’s concert, and the vendors. Saw some cool wooden statues, a couple of hot air balloons, and an ultra-light flying over the lake.

  

We were a little surprised at the accidents. Saw one tandem bike at the beginning of the day with a bent front wheel – looked like it hit or was hit by a car. Another man’s front wheel got stuck in a crack on the road and he flipped over the handle bars. Plus a couple of ambulances passed us along the way. Out of 20,000+ riders, accidents are bound to happen, I suppose.

  

It is amazing how many people that is! You can sit for 30 minutes and have a steady stream of bikes pass you, stretching out of sight for both ways. These little towns (some 300 or less in population) are flooded. And the others swell to their limits.