A Ride in the Country: 07/28/16

Thursday, July 28, 2016

RAGBRAI. DAY 5

In Ottumwa today. Short day, low humidity and good roads. Had a turkey brat for lunch.

A few bikes parked at the lunch stop. It is amazing that I can find my bike among the thousands of others.

Ottumwa is the hometown of Radar O'Riely from the iconic TV show, M*A*S *H

Just two more days and the adventure will be over. Looking forward to sleeping in a real bed and resting a tired body.

About the Ride

For many years one of the items on my “bucket list” has been a cross country bike ride. It looks like this summer it will happen. Bright and early on Sunday, June 19, I will join up with my brother-in-law and several other riders in Seattle, to begin an adventure that will take us through 7 states and across the Cascade and Rocky Mountains. We plan to join our RAGBRAI team near Council Bluffs and will end the ride with Team Animals at the Mississippi River near Davenport, Iowa, on July 30.

The 3000 +/- mile ride will take us through some extraordinary country. Devil’s Tower, West Yellowstone and Jackson Hole are only few of the cool places we will see. Over the 37 days we will climb a total of 113,000 feet.

I have been training since the fall and still have a way to go but am looking forward to the challenge and adventure.

Depending on my access to the internet along the route, I plan to use this blog to chronicle the trip for anyone who might find my trek of some interest.