This year's patch

Century Loop patch below

Kellys picture turned out better

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We did it again!

At the front tire dip site into the Mississippi River in Davenport. A 65 mile day of cooler temps a few hills some head wind and all around beautiful biking day. A great end to a great week of around 450 miles across Iowa this year. I wonder where we will go and how many miles we will travel next year? The only time Ragbrai's last day was not sad fore was on 2000 when we incorporated Ragbrai into our cross-country trip when we biked from
Anacortes, WA to Yorktown, VA. We did Ragbrai and got back on our bikes the next day to continue our trek to the Atlantic Ocean! We'll be back!

Looking for breakfast

Stop in West Branch after biking from Coralville to Iowa City and through the hilly campus of the University of Iowa

Day 7

Sun rise on the road of Ragbrai's last day

Dinner party with the Jenkins...

... at Blackstone in Iowa City.

Didn't mean to take a video, but hope it still posts.

Last sack for the day

Biking and eating. Churches and vendors always ready to feed us. Found a Farmers Market tonite fresh Iowa sweet corn home grown delicious tomatoes and jalapeno peppers home made bread and big juicy orchard peaches and delicious Iowa Black Angus all natural beef jerky. Fueled up and ready for another 3500-4000 calorie burn tomorrow!

Robert sets up his tent

My bike resting on the ground upon arrival

Rock Creek Lake

6 miles from our day's destination of Grinnell

Grinnell Arrival

Short tough day ready to set up tent shower and eat...

Day 5

57 miles of hills headwind and a little rain tough, but at least short and cloudy. Had lunch at this restaurant here in Grinnell. This town is home to a very prestigious small college named Grinnell College. Temps have been in the high 90s, but 80s today.
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Daddylonglegs

Taken from inside my tent looking out. On the outside of the screen is transported little fellow from Boone. Part of my cherished Ragbrai experience is the simplification of life: my bike powered by me crossing Iowa with long time friends & my daughter & brother; sleeping in my tent; and everything else in one duffle bag. Then there are the new friends and critters encountered every year adding even more to the experience!

In Altoona

56 mile day. Still hot but not nearly as hilly as the last 3 days. Lance joined Ragbrai for a couple of days this year, but no Lance-firings yet. Haven't heard an official rider count yet, but there are at least 10,000 registered riders and close to 2000 support people. Having a great time!

Day 4 - Pineapple on a stick day

9:00am in Elkhart, IA
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My Century Loop patch

Another great riding day!
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Long time biking bud, Brent

On the Century loop with me

Me

Looking to fuel up as I turn our 70 mile day into 100 by taking the optional 30 mile loop

Kelly

Looking for lunch on one of the pass through towns

Looking for breakfast

Robert and Brent in one of the pass through towns

Day 3

My favorite way to start the day. Sunrise on my bike on Ragbrai

Day 2

Windmill in Elk Horn at 6:46am.
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Mermaid fountain...

... in Kimballton at 7:11am.
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The "Post Office" in Willey, IA

8 miles to go!
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We did it!

Day 2 over. Atlantic to Carroll- 65.4miles. Woo hoo! Hopefully our last really hilly day. It started off cool, morning fog, cloudy and ended with a blistering sun for the last 10 miles. But we made it and a shower felt great! Camping in a park, so at least our tents are in the shade...

Going to grab some food soon and maybe catch a movie!

2 days down... 5 to go!

-Kelly :)
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Downtown Manning, IA

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Us resting in the shade in Dedham, IA

13 miles to go!
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Chilling in the park

Contemplating what we have done and what we have yet to do. Shade trees are a premium town asset

Done

60 miles arrived in Atlantic before noon. Great day!

Day 1

Iowa corn & beans from my bke

Storm clouds

Fun nite sleeping in tent before ragbrai's first day. Hopefully front moving thru and going to cool things off

Bike club is here

The Marines have arrived

Tents are set up

Waiting for our North Iowa Touring bike club to arrive

Ragbrai descends on Glenwood

Made it to Glenwood!

Rear wheel tires getting Missouri River water!
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Packed and ready

For early morning trip from Dallas to Iowa

It's almost Ragbrai time again!

We leave for RAGBRAI this Thursday!  I think I have done enough training, but there just aren't enough hours in the day to do all that I really want to do.  This has been my most fun Ragbrai training year ever.  It started out with Kelly designing surprise routes all around and ended with our favor new route of hills and great shoulders on roads with no traffic.  Plus plenty of fun wild life sightings in the pre-dawn beautiful sunrise mornings!