That was fun. A different ride today as I joined RAGBRAI for the day. I don’t know the official counts but it was busy all day long with bikes on the road. It helped that many streets we cycled were closed to automobile traffic. I was riding without my panniers so that made the riding considerably easier.

I could feel the humidity when I left the hotel a little after 5am. I decided to try the baggage truck which meant a 2.5 mile ride to the main camp. I was surprised at how many bikes I saw on the road already riding with lights.

They were busy loading the first truck so they told “truck #1 5:40”. There were lines for the porta potties and it looked like still others getting camp taken down.

Smooth riding and we seemed to pick up more and more riders along the way. Slaton was the first host community. However, through the entire ride today people set up the equivalent of lemonade stands at most every spot. Some were aggressively calling out, others worked colorful signs. Some were for particular causes and others might just be individual. I didn’t stop to take photos in part because I kept riding with the horde of cyclists.

Downtown Slaton. Here it did get crowded enough we got off bikes and walked through.

Repair stands at Madrid, another community we went through.

Selling a little of everything.

Pork chops?

Welcome to Polk City

They closed off US 69 leading into Des Moines. This was a big operation with Iowa Department of Transportation trucks and crews at cross streets and law enforcement directing traffic on selected large intersections. This brought us in and through downtown Des Moines.

Poof! We went right past the capitol, so time for a photo.

Des Moines state capitol.

This brought me to the main camp. There was some of everything here including portable ATMs.

I found my truck and after checking twice, found my bag. Glad I did the baggage service. After this I got some lunch and cycled out to a motel. From here RAGBRAI heads east to the Mississippi and I head west to the Missouri. Today was warm, but I rode early and quicker than normal, so beat most of the heat.