In 1847 the Mormon pioneers crossed Iowa walking with their wagons. Today there are still people crossing Iowa. This week I joined 17,000 cyclists to ride from the west side of Iowa to the east.
The ride went from July 25 – 31st. The ride is call Ragbrai and was started in the 70’s by two reporters from the Des Moines Register who decided they wanted to ride across Iowa to get stories for the newspaper. What better way to do that than to get on their bikes and ride.
It has grown to be a major event in the state. When I was over 300 lbs, I decide to start riding my bike to get the exercise that I needed in order to lose weight. Once I got into the biking communit,y I heard about the ride across Iowa. I knew that it was for me as it gave me a reason to ride over 600 miles to prepare for the ride. I have ridden on the ride two other times but only did part as I was much heavier. I have now lost 125 lbs and decided that this was the year that I would see if I could make the whole ride. I did complete that ride and even rode 100 miles one day. Total miles ridden were around 425.
I even met a returned missionary who came to ride with his parents to show them where he had served on his mission. The journey this year started in Sioux City and went to Dubuque, Iowa.
Bikers back their back tire into the Missouri River to start and at the finish they put their front tire into the Mississippi River. This has been a tradition since the ride started in the 70’s.
The ride begins in Sioux City, Iowa and goes across the state to Dubuque, Iowa. Two fire ladders hold American flag as riders head out of town.
Hills are filled with riders in the morning as 17,000 riders pedal out of town on their way across Iowa. Rides start in the morning at 5 AM and continue to start until about 12 PM.
Corn fields stretch out across the beautiful state. The other major sights are soybean fields. I also saw pig farms and a few turkey farms. Iowa is an agricultural state producing food for America.
Mr. Pork Chop is one of the many venders that has food for sale for the riders. This old school bus had been turned into a pig painted in pink and pigs ears at the front. This bus was their supply wagon for the pork chops and the dried corn cobs that are used to grill the pork chops on the two big grills that you see in the photo.
A highlight of the trip were all the creative things you see along the way. These two rides were created out of old farm equipment.
Three big hay bales decorated like a turkey
Each day we rode through about five to six small towns. Each town set up entertainment and had food for sale for the riders. This big pond allowed riders to jump from a platform and swing over the pond and then drown into the water. Riders stopped to swing and watch others as they perform for the group.
Uncle Sam met riders as they pass though town
High school students in Parkersville, Iowa entertain riders with bucket drums and big plastic barrels. It was fun and so entertaining. Programs like this are found across the state as you ride though the towns.
Greg and Sheila Wilson, from Ames Iowa and their family of four made it all the way. Remington 8, Chastity 7, and Hope 3, and Preston 1 rode in the small trailer behind. You see many families riding together along the way.
Often people joined the ride for just one day. Jake who is six rode with his mother for one day.
Riders pass through to see the beauties in each town.
This a a church in Graf, Iowa.
