JULY 23, 2026
Today’s route was the long day. It was 85 miles to Independence with a “Karras Loop” of 17 miles to make it a century day. Not to worry, there were more planned stops (pass-through towns) than on any day.
The breakfast (first) town was only nine miles away if you can’t find what you want leaving Marshalltown. I passed a Casey’s rolling out of town, and a number of cyclists were there, likely depleting their breakfast food items. Or coffee. Or both.
Because I had committed to riding the Century route today, I wanted to focus on distance and did not want to enjoy the RAGBRAI experience today of stopping often. Walking through towns would be enough. Since some of my team was skipping the Century option, I wanted to time my entry to camp to finish about the time that the rest of my group would. So I made the decision to ride alone.
I was “wheels down” at 6:40 a.m. I freelanced my exit in Marshalltown until I found the masses rolling out. We were on Main Street South and passed Sand Lake, the mist rising from the warm lake on a chilly morning. I decided not to bring any “warmers” to wear on this trip, so I didn’t have arm or knee warmers. But my arms were starting to feel the wrath of so much sunshine every day, so I broke out my sun sleeves. They give SPF-40 protection but also act as arm warmers.
I didn’t go far until there was a turnoff for Green Mountain (MP 9), population 113. The town is not named because of its elevation but because it was settled by people from Green Mountain, Vermont.
Hi! We are a very small, unincorporated town; a short ride from Marshalltown and the breakfast stop on Day 5-America’s 250 day!🇺🇲 Please stop in and see our windmill in the middle of our main street!💯
Of all the towns, Green Mountain impressed me the most. Just 113 people or so, five combined to be the committee. They are trying to save their windmill. I wanted to stop and get breakfast here, from one of the vendors. I also stopped at their main information stand. The young lady gave me beads (red, white & blue, which I wore all day to match my America 250 kit), and a small flag that went in my helmet.
It was America 250 Theme Day, and the beads and flag matched my kit. But originally this was to be Vintage RAGBRAI Jersey Day so I packed my 2012 RAGBRAI kit. I wore my 250 kit on Thin Line Appreciation Day, but we also had a laundry day at Brancel, and my kit was washed and folded. So I wore it a second time.
After leaving Green Mountain and having donated to their Save The Windmill Campaign, I came to Beaman (MP 18), population 161. I did not plan to stop here but had to dismount and walk. And there I saw Stewart from our group, and Sharon, his wife, wasn’t far away. They are not staying with us at Brancel Bicycle Charters this week, so it was great running into them.
They rolled out, and I went to find a water station because I needed to keep my water bottles full today for a Century. I caught up to them on the road. I didn’t ask if they soft pedaled or not, waiting for me, or maybe I rode harder than I usually did, especially on RAGBRAI. But we rode together 10 miles further to Grundy Center (MP 30), population 2,796.
The route had a lot of little towns. Compared to the first two days with 63 climbs, this day only had four, and the two out of Gilbertville I didn’t even count as hills. However, the two overpasses over Rtes. 380 and 20 were probably the toughest climbs we had today. Climbing would not be a challenge today.
Jesup (MP 78) was 12 miles from Gilbertville. At the entrance to town was a Casey’s. I stopped but did not go inside for a Coke Zero. Instead, there was a Do the Dew promotion, and I was handed an ice-cold Blueberry Citrus Mountain Dew. That would be my carbonated caffeine fix.
Once in town, I came to a stand selling smashburgers. Grabbed my one for $8 and absent-mindedly bought a lemonade for $5. Every kid’s lemonade stand product was better and was only $1 or $2. Plus I had a Mountain Dew in my pocket.
As I rolled out of town, I was 81 miles into the ride and only six miles from the finish straight ahead. But I was watching my Wahoo, which showed a right turn onto the Karras Loop. This would add a 17-mile loop to make it a Century. I turned. I never thought about doing anything else. I felt great. In fact, the next 23 miles were the best my legs felt all year on any ride. Some days you feel it.
I did the loop and was back in Jesup. I texted our group to see if any were in Jesup. They weren’t. I would ride with them to Independence, or if any were going to ride the loop, I would add another 17 miles. But no answer, so I rode into Independence and completed my Century. I think it was my 55th Century.
The Karras Loop is a 17-mile loop that breaks off about three miles after Jesup (MP 79). If you’re not feeling it, then ride six more miles to Independence. But if you are feeling it, add the 17 miles on the loop. You will pick up a special “Karras Loop” patch and some free snacks (I think).
At the campground after everyone arrived, we couldn’t easily get a consensus on dinner. With the heat that plagued us the first couple of days now gone, it was pleasant enough for a short bike ride without worrying about sweating through your clothes. I rode back to the Casey’s at the edge of town for some gas station pizza. It was the best I had in Iowa.
MILEAGE: 104.5
MILES WITH PWCC: 10
