The day started too early when some campers started to take down their tents at 4:00 am. As a group we started riding at about 6:30am. However, shortly into the ride, less than 4 miles, we came upon a young rider who had crashed into the concrete wall parallel to the bike trail. The wall was there for just a short distance, so it was heartbreaking to see him hurt in the only place it could happen. We left when 911 was called and his friends stayed with him. But that accident split up our group. I ended up riding with Janet, Fred and Linda for the first 50 miles. The last 20 or so miles, I rode with Ray who crossed paths with us in Quimby. As we rode through the small towns, people were in lawn chairs in their front yards cheering us on. It was quite an experience. About 10 miles into the ride, there were double railroad tracks that were just too hazardous to cross. Before the organizers enforced a “dismount” there were 25 flats in a short time. I’ve tried to take pictures of just how far the bicycles could be seen on a road, but they really don’t show the scale. With so many riders it is very difficult to pull off and back onto the road. We stopped in Kingsley for a slice of pie. Our second stop was in Quimby for ice cream by Beekman’s. They were actually cranking home made ice cream on the side of the road with the help of some powered equipment.
The weather was warm again with the day starting around 60 and reaching 85 in Storm Lake. It definitely felt hotter on the roads with zero shade. The were several climbs today and also some rolling hills. The climbs are what prompted me to finish out the day with Ray as we both climb the hills more slowly. My campsite at Storm Lake was near the lake and in the shade today - a huge plus! Once in camp I tried two local brews: Citrus Surfer (a wheat ale) and Bomb Pop Sugar. It’s supposed to mimic the flavor of an old fashioned red/white/blue bomb shaped popsicle. I thought it was tasty and refreshing after a day in the sun. Today’s jersey theme was “Throwback Jersey” day so I wore my oldest DALMAC jersey from 1979. Total miles for the day was 70.75 through the towns of Kingsley, Washta, Quimby and endin in Storm Lake.
A rider on the route.
Sunrise. The sun was actually more orange than the picture portrays.
Waiting at the railroad crossing.
The view/crowd behind me at the same crossing.
The crowd/walk into the Kingsley, the town where we had apple pie.
The set up for cranking the homemade ice cream.
I chose raspberry flavored ice cream. Yummy!
A town band playing along side the road.
A sculpture alongside the road.
This little sculpture was in front of the larger bike.
Near the end of the day, the cyclists started to spread out a bit.
My tent is in the 300-399 section and this night we were near a lake front.
A wooden carved sculpture inside the park.
A duck family gliding along the water.