Today’s key words are: fog, hills, gravel, hills, heat, more hills and hills. I started riding alone at 5:45am and it was so foggy! Sometimes you couldn’t see the stinking hill in front of you. I quit counting the hills with over an 8% grade when I got to five. Sure enough, it got worse with 10-11% grades- and not just short climbs. I do not like hills due to my knees. I caught up to Ray about 25 miles down the road. We stopped in Mitchellville for a smoothie because it was the shortest line. I think we rode together about 18-20 miles. During our time together we cycled about 2.5 miles of gravel. I was afraid the whole time that I would fall because not all of the gravel was hard packed. The gravel was included only because a bridge was out and this was the shortest detour available. Also, once the ride organizers had committed to the town of Colfax for the ride to pass through, it was too late to change to an alternate town. The gravel also made for dusty bodies and bikes. Shortly after, I parted ways with Ray in the endless hills. At 9:30am it was already 88 degrees with a feels like of 96. The wind was out of the southeast at 9mph. When I went through Kellogg, I was asked by a veteran if I was a vet so he could put a star by my hometown. Since neither Doug or I were vets, I said my dad was a WWII vet, so he put a star by Detroit. I got choked up, I thought Kellogg was where I was taking an optional early out shuttle so I would not have to ride the whole 88 miles. I was wrong. I needed to get to Grinnell, another 15 more miles. It was now hotter and ever hilly. I stopped three times in that stretch to buy a bottle of water and drink it (from kids or little vendors along the way). My shuttle was for 3:30 pm at mile 65. I reached the pickup point at 1:25 and asked if they had room on the 1:30pm shuttle (because someone else couldn’t get there in time). They did and I was so happy to get out of the heat! I am also proud of myself for not walking up one hill. Thanks goes to my bike shop Trek of Spring Hill for getting me on my new replacement Domane with electronic shifting!! When I got into camp tonight the temperature was 96/felt like 103. I rode 65 miles with 3,396’ of elevation gain. A very tough day for me. Tonight at camp, our musical performer was Maddie Poppe from American Idol fame. I sported my Peace jersey through the towns of: Altoona, Mitchelville, Colfax, Newton, Kellogg, and Grinnell before shuttling to Tama-Toledo.
Des Moines morning skyline.
Stopping for a red light/police officer in downtown Des Moines
The early morning fog. The photo looks less foggy than it really was.
Post Office in Colfax.
A young boy and his mom each had a turn dunking their head in this tiny pool under the water faucets used to refill water bottles.
The air conditioned, flush toilets at the Thunderdome outside of Newton.
An old post office building for sale in Newton.
One of the many climbs.
Me in front of the Kellogg Post Office.
Because today was Veterans Appreciation day on the ride, Kellogg vets had this map with stars designating the hometowns of riders. I was able to get a star put on for my dad.
I received many positive comments about my jersey today. I wore it for veterans appreciation day.
Our entertainment tonight: Maddie Poppe.