Julie's Big Adventure

  I wanted to take a long ride and see if I could do RAGBRAI this year.  Last week Rick, my DH, rode from our house to Adams and back, a round trip of around 35 miles.  He picked the hottest day and the windiest day to do it.  I wanted to do it on a nicer day and I didn't want to end the trip going up the huge hills to my house so I started at the river.  I wanted to prove to myself I could ride that far.  I wanted to prove I was in good enough shape to do it these days.

         

             Just got the bikes off the van and are getting ready to go.

         

   My bike loaded for the trip.  Extra water and I have ice in the cooler and the camera is hanging from my handles.  Added about 5 pounds to the bike which doesn't seem like much until you start riding       

  There I am, your's truly in my coolest clothes since no matter how much I tried,  I couldn't get Rick started until noon.   

 

       The first part of the trail which will take us to riverside.  We ride this often.

        

      This trail is always collapsing as the bank gets eaten away.  Nice ride though.

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                        More view from the river trail.

  

    When we reached riverside park we had to drive on streets and the the sidewalks.  Not many pictures because the sidewalks were cracked and heaving in places.  The curbs were square and it wasn't that pretty.  So far we have gone around 3.5 miles.

       

    We decided to get some cash so we could get extra water if needed.

    

  Over the bridge is South Dakota.  The town over the bridge is almost all casinos.  Every store, every eating place, every gas station, casinos.  It used to be home to Gateway also.

   

    Yes, we have bait stores.  This is right by the river.

    

   This is what's left of Gateway.  They leave and leave the buildings to rot.  They should be required to take it down.  Anyone want a huge building painted like a cow?  When they left hundreds of people lost their jobs.

   

  Another casualty of Gateway leaving were these business which had no business when Gateway left.  A new bank and the Grocery store in the back closed shortly after Gateway.  The town died except for the casinos.

    

    This was the hottest part of the ride so far.  We are on the way to McCook Lake.  The path is better then it looks in this picture.

    

    This little park was a nice little rest stop and fresh water.  The smell of the honeysuckle was heavenly.

    

    This park is in McCook Lake.

             

                                     McCook Lakes water tower.

     

     The Preserve entrance.  So far we have been riding about an hour.  The temps are in the 90's.  I feel really good though and it hasn't been hard at all.  There haven't been many hills though.

       

    The Barn where the trail starts.  They were having some type of dedication ceremony out there and we were glad we didn't drive as there weren't any parking spots.  Usually the lot is almost empty.

   

 The trail here turns to gravel.  It is easy to drive on though but the bikes get really dusty.  The smell is heavenly as there are flowering trees all over.

   

                         More of the trail and Rick fixing a tie.

       

        I love this part of the trail.  Slightly downhill and smells great.

      

                      Ricks getting tired of stopping for pictures.

     

       We stopped for lunch at the river lookout.  We had sandwiches packed and trail mix.

      

   Darn, all that riding and I still am heavy.  Felt like I should be dropping a pound a mile in sweat.  It's hot!  There are the dreaded shorts.  Sure was glad to have them on thoughin the heat.

     

      This is the map of the trail at Adams.  7.5 miles if you do the whole thing which we do     

                                    The Missouri River.

                         

                

   The path away from the lookout.  The trail on the way to the lookout is mostly downhill.  The trail on the way back is uphill.  Usually a gentle uphill but still uphill.

   

    This meadow usually has deer and we have scared off a couple plus some pheasant.  No mountain lions thank goodness.

          

I am including this plant because it is neat and I can't ID it.  Anyone know what it is?

                

  This is the 20 mile mark.  I hit the wall here.  My butt is numb and my thighs are cramping.  Rick is resting while I walk off a charlie and get some pictures.  I still have 10 more miles to go and am starting to regret this silly outing of mine.  I just filled my water with the rest of the ice.  The good thing is the weather has gotten alot cooler by 10 degrees.  The sky is cloudy and now we are wondering if we are going to get caught in some rain.  Might feel good.  I can't stop long though to rest as the sun screen I used attracts bugs and I get bitten the second we stop anywhere

      

    We are now back in Riverside Park.   I stopped to get more ice and we are enjoying a cold drink.  My knees are killing me and my shins broken.  I am walking off more charlies in my thighs of all places.  3.5 miles more to go.  It seems like 100 miles.

           

    I always love this part of the trail with the wooden bridge.  The end is in site.

     

    Back to marina we are stopping at Jolly Rogers for a victory beer.  We made it.

    

                  Cheers!  I did it.  I may not be able to walk in the morning but I did it.

      

         Ricks knees are killing him also.  Oh so much fun to get older!

    

    

          

          

   I had to get these pictures of the thistles at the river.  So cool.      

   They use blue mulch which really makes the flowers glow.

      

    A much welcomed site.  The van to load the bikes up so we can go home.  I am proud of myself that I made it.  I enjoyed it for the most part.  I will even do it again.  

      I don't however think I will do RAGBRAI.  We started at noon and it is now 5.  If we hadn't stopped so much we would probably have still only averaged around 11 miles a hour.  I would have to be able to ride 50 to 70 miles a day alot faster and not stopping to do RAGBRAI.  In July when it is even hotter and windier.  At the rate I ride it would take me around  8 to 9 hours to get anywhere.   It wouldn't be fun which is why I ride, to have fun and for exercise.  So my decision is made.  I feel sad but my husband is thrilled.  He never wanted to do it and he can ride alot further then me.  He is in better shape and he didn't want to do it.  He would have though if I insisted and to keep an eye on me.