Note: This is a preemptive post if there is such a thing. It is written as a placeholder for the actual event when it occurs. The content will be changed at that time.
JULY 21, 2026
COLLEGE JERSEY DAY
All downhill to Perry (Meeting Town) and then *gasp* uphill to Boone. Today’s route is simple: Left-Right-Left-Right-Left-Right-Left-Right. Going east, then north, then east, then north. Repeat.
It’s just nine miles to the Breakfast Town of Panora (population 1,000). The economy is smashing eggs into powder. Yum. (Nutriom operates a facility in Panora, which converts the equivalent of approximately 24 million eggs each year into a powder that can later be combined with water and heated to create scrambled eggs.)
In the Panora Festival area will be some breakfast vendors
After fueling in Panora, it’s only seven miles to Yale (MP 15), population 267. They love their Fourth of July Celebrations.
The meeting town is Perry, population 7,800, which will be the largest Iowa town we have ridden to thus far. The largest employer was Tyson Foods’ pork plant that closed in March 2024, costing 800 Perry residents their jobs. It’s Meeting Town, so there will be vendors (undetermined). And the future home of the RAGBRAI Museum. Donate your sweaty jersey.
After Perry, it’s 18 miles to the next pass-through town, Ogden (MP 50), population 2,000.
Boone, population 12,400, is the end town (MP 60). We’ve found the railroad.
Brancel: Tuesday night in Boone a Hy-Vee will be set up by our campsite for a cookout.
