DAYS 6 and 7
Independence to Dyersville AND Dyersville to Dubuque
JULY 24, 2026
Yesterday afternoon I got a text from my fourth cousin, Loni. We have never met but corresponded for seven or eight years. DNA was our connection, which led me to discover my third-great-grandparents. My promise to someday ride RAGBRAI again- I rode once before in 2012- finally came to fruition. And Loni offered me a cottage on the Mississippi River for tomorrow night. There was one problem. I was supposed to be in Dyersville.
The last two days of RAGBRAI were relatively short, just 42 and 37 miles respectively. We had just ridden something like 60, 60, 60, 70, and 105 miles. So I was ready for another long day. I said “Yes” and simply would combine Days 6 and Day 7 into my final Day 6 ride.
Because our club was split into two charters that stayed apart from one another, we did not have a group photo of all of us. We had decided to meet in the Meeting Town, Manchester, which was just 15 miles into the ride. One problem was that due to the short distance, the other riders weren’t leaving as early as I was because I had an 80-mile ride ahead.
I found a perfect spot to wait, at a stop sign by Walmart. I texted the group and waited. And waited. I was beginning to think that I needed to roll ahead because of my mileage today. I was watching riders go by. Then I saw Kaitlyn, the girl we met in Harlan, go by with her family. They pulled over just ahead, so I went and met them. I took away lots of memories, but meeting this family was my favorite. They had seven people riding, four on two tandems and three riding single bikes. My group was a little jealous that I met Kaitlyn and her family on Tuesday, and they did not, and now I met them again. I was happy.
I had just two more goals I wanted to accomplish on RAGRBAI. One was getting a pork chop at Mr. Pork Chop. Just ahead, I saw the smoke and moved over. Today only, it was the last day for Mr. Pork Chop, chops were 2 for $20. Normally $13, they were $7 when I got one in 2012. I was in line and asked the gentleman behind me if he was getting just one. He was. I intended to buy him one, pay it forward, but he handed me a $10 bill. Okay, I took it. Got a pork chop for $10.
I rolled out with about eight miles to go before Dyersville. Just as I was going and contemplating the ride ahead, a young man came up on my left. It was Finnegan.
Having doubled up on the riding today, I knew that I would be riding on open roads and not the closed roads for RAGBARI. But they were mostly back-country roads that were lightly traveled. And this is Iowa, home of “Iowa nice.”
I saw
I would not have the support of closed roads or frequent food and water. Actually, maybe no food and water.
I came to Farley amd found an ice cream shop. It was the only ice cream I bought all week.
After Farley it was open roads to Dubuque. I would pass through Epworth and Centralia but with no food trucks, I saw no place or need to stop.
As I entered Dubuque I started to check the distance remaining. At 16km (my display is in kilometers) there was 10 miles remaining. In another 1.6 km (14.4 remaining) I saw a sign for 10 km remaining. I thought it might be the signs but it turned out that it was me.
I counted down to 5 Miles to go and didn’t see another sign. No problem. I was a little ahead of the sign placement crew.
I came to McAleece Park which is where we checked in seven days ago. I went to the boat ramp and asked a boater to take a photo of me dipping my front tire in the Mississippi River. And with that, I had done it, Biked across Iowa beginning with a tire dip in the Missouri River on Saturday and ending with a tire dip in the Missississippi River on Friday, one day earlier than official RAGBRAI.
I rode back to the field where I had parked my car. I removed the front wheel, loaded the bike, drove to a gas station to fill up (to avoid buying gas in Illinois), met someone in the store who also had just finished. then drove back to Dysersville. I picked up my gear and then used my last shower punch for one last shower.
The showers were in a trailer. There were 12 stalls in each end, a women’s and a men’s. While I was in the shower I heard someone fall. Instantly a voice called out, “Are you OK?” And the person responded that he was. Another voice called out, “Are you OK?” Again, he answered he was okay. Then a voice came out of my stall, “Is the bike OK?” Alright, I’m a jerk.
As I was leaving Dyersville I saw a guy pushing his bike. I did a U-turn and pulled up beside him. “I will take you and your bike to wherever you want to go.” Troy said, “Sure, would you take me to Farley?” I told him I would, I had ridden through there just a few hours earlier.
It turns out that he was with a group that always follows up the Century Day with a “Liquid Century.” The group consumes 100 drinks, be it water, Gatorade, Cokes, something harder. The group leaders can’t break camp until all 100 drinks are consumed. And this is why one pushes their bike after only 40 miles. On the flat.
Bane said, “If youre not coming to this event to laugh and have a good time, then your’e at the wrong event.
“If you hust want to bike across the state, there’s a lot prettier states than Iowa.”
MILES RIDDEN: 79
MILES WITH PWCC: 0
