We started on ride on Sunday bright and early at 6am. The daily routes on RAGBRAI are broken up into 10-15 mile segments, allowing riders to stop in towns for some food, rest, relaxation and whatever else. The first stop in Orange City has probably been the most memorable thus far. Its an old Dutch town that has maintained it's Dutch heritage - from the building facades to the food.
The morning flew by and was pretty uneventful. We met some strangers and stopped in some uneventful towns. Things changed around 11 when the temperature rose and hits 100 degrees. By this time several of our team members are done. Only if we were that fast.
Elizabeth's day took a turn for the worst when her tire and tube blew up only ten miles from our overnight town, Cherokee. She was pretty disappointed that she couldn't finish the last 10 miles, but without a spare tire there was no choice. Luckily, she was not on her bike when it happened. With 10,000 other bikers packed around you on the road anything can happen. We had stopped for some water, food and shade and when she went back to get her bike a lady said "your tire just popped."
We capped the night off with some delicious pork tenderloin sandwiches (recommended by Jeff G.) and great conversation outside the team RV. It's all downhill from here!
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