RAGBRAI comes to an end... :(

We rolled into Austin about 3:00pm this afternoon and the vacation finally came to an end. :(

What a great RAGBRAI. Weather was hot, but rain stayed away when we needed it to.

Special thanks to John (my future father-in-law) for agreeing to going with us this year and providing transportation along the way. It was a joy to have him along and share this unique RAGBRAI experience. Thanks John! I hope you enjoyed it as much as we enjoyed having you!

Thanks to all of the blog followers and readers... I hope I provided some fun and informative information. Since this was my first blog ever, I would really appreciate some comments or recommendations on my blog. Things you liked or things I could have done better. You can email me at barneyka@gmail.com.

I am not 100% sure there is going to be another RAGBRAI in my horizon, but either way - I enjoyed 2011 RAGBRAI and will cherish the memories forever... :)
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Sunrise at the Kansas/Oklahoma border

Left Wichita about 6:10am.
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Arrived safely in Wichita

After driving west to Des Moines, crossing a 120 mile corner of Missouri, and heading southwest through some heavy rain storms, we arrived at our hotel in Wichita about 9:15pm.

Excited to sleep in a nice, soft bed tonight with a fluffy pillow. AND it has no zippers or sounds of locusts singing!

Good night!
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Sunset in Kansas

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Heading home...

After a great day in the rolling hills into Davenport, a short 65 mile day got us into town about 11:30am. We dipped our front tires in the Mississippi River and then went and found John at a predetermined street intersection. We loaded our bikes and off we went. We stopped at the I-80 Truck Stop, changed, grabbed lunch and now back on I-80 heading towards Des Moines. From there, we will hit I-35 and start heading south. We did make a hotel room reservation in Wichita, KS which is about 455 miles. Wow! That is the same distance as RAGBRAI this year! Crazy! But instead of biking that distance over 7 days, we are going to drive and it should take about 7.5 hours.
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We did it!

454 miles, 7 days, we made it to the Mississippi!
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Pickle on a stick...

... in last stop before Mississippi River. Happy and sad at the same time. :) :(
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Finally a homemade piece of cherry pie in Wilton

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The turn in Moscow.

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Breakfast at Springdale Methodist Church

Homemade cinnamon roll and fresh squeezed lemonade. Yum!
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Saturday sunrise

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Iowa Pork Tenderloin Sandwich...

... that John ordered for dinner.
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Father and daughter...

... out for a ride. :)
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Waiting for...

... Robert Jenkins to pick us up for dinner. Don't know where we are going yet, but we have 6:00pm reservations.
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Robert and John...

... got new backpacks! Wear it proud, John!
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Mmmm... Iowa Sweet Corn!

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Day 6 complete!

My dad and I got in about 1:00pm. It was a greart ride. Some hills, a nice breeze, and beautiful landscape. It was fun day to ride together. And we didn't get rain like we did last year!

Love you, dad! Thanks for riding with me! :)
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At a rest stop...

... to grab some water. About 6 miles to go. :)
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Hamball Sundae...

... in the Oxford Fire Station.
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Old Oxford fire truck

We are taking our last break in Oxford before Coralville.

17 miles to go!
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Snack time in South Amana!

Dad got us blueberry, oatmeal, homemade yogurt with a touch of honey. Yum!

28 miles to go!
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Mr. Pork Chop...

...in South Amana! 28 miles to go!
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In Ladora...

...at the Stop Ladora Stora. Getting some Gatorade.

Sorry about the Longhorn shirt, David.
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Breakfast in Brooklyn!

Fruit cup
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Friday morning

Sitting in front of State Farm agent's house waiting for my dad. My group got on the road at 5:15am and John had to run errands, so I am waiting here.

Today is a long 75 mile day and I hope the weather cooperates and we beat the heat. The longer we wait to leave the more crowded it is.

Hope to be on the road soon!
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Czech kolaches

... in Grinnell!
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Bagpipe band playing downtown Grinnell

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Dinner at Frontier Cafe

In downtown Grinnell with my dad! :)
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They finally meet!

My dad and future dad-in-law! :)
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Another exciting aftn at the Grinnell Public Library

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Candyland Station

A chocolate malt for dessert at the soda fountain.
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Beautiful flowers...

... outside Comeback Cafe. Excellent!
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Lunch

Turkey wrap, pasta salad with chips at Comeback Cafe in downtown Grinnell.
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Day 5 complete!

Out at 5:00am, in at 11:00am. 60 miles. Cloudy skies, threatening rain, cool, chain popped and took a tumble in the ditch, but all is ok. Few rain drops, wet roads and head wind out of the east. Lots of hills. Good day. Glad to be at the campsite. Excited to see my dad today and ride with him tomorrow! Tomorrow is blue KAB Consulting jersey day too!
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I think mine is blue...

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Watermelon break in Baxter

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Downtown Baxter

27 miles to go!
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John Deere in Colfax

15 miles in. 42 to go.

Freezer pops. Oh, the past times...
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Tonight's entertainment

Grand Funk Railroad is the headliner tonight at the main stage. I can hear from my tent... Hope they will give me some sweet dreams so I sleep well. Good night!
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Dinner at Adventure-Life Church

Pretty good. Chicken and noodles, green beans, salad and fruit punch. Dessert too! No cherry pie though...

We are also camping on the church's lawn. Very nice. Hope there is a breeze tonight and no rain!
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Now at Altoona Public Library...

... watching "Diary of a Wimpy Kid". Free soda and popcorn!
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Curtains?

Yes, at the Copper Creek theater in Pleasant Hill, IA. Seeing Horrible Bosses.
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Lunch at Claxon's

Delicious prime rib sandwich, cup of cheesy/creamy/chicken/chipotle (C4) soup and cottage cheese. Excellent. Now on way to movie theater to see if we can catch a movie. Haven't seen a movie yet on RAGBRAI. :(
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Riders coming into Bondurant

6 miles to go!
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Pineapple on a stick...

in Elkhart, IA. 15 miles to go!
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Day 4 - Breakfast...

... in Slater. Biscuits and gravy for me.
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Crusin' downtown Boone

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My active family...

... taking a nap at the Boone Library.
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Welcome to Boone!

A mural painted on a building downtown Boone.
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She did it!

My mom did the century loop! I am so proud of her! Brent finished it too. Way to go guys!
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Apologies...

Cell signal in western Iowa was not very good, so sorry for lack of timely posts and the order they came in. Should work from now on... Fingers crossed!
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Day 3 complete!

75 miles. Carroll to Boone. Left at 5:15am, and got into town about 11:30am. Pretty flat, except for Twister Hill. 1.6 mile Category 5 climb in the sunshine. Robert and I made it and celebrated with dumping a bottle of water over our heads. It felt awesome! My mom and Brent are still out on the road. They are doing the Century Loop for a 100 mile day! Campground found, tent pitched - it's shower time!
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Day 2

Windmill in Elk Horn at 6:46am.
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Mermaid fountain...

... in Kimballton at 7:11am.
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