Hour after hour, the riders kept coming. They biked out State Street to pitch their tents in all the open spaces in Mason City. After riding 100 miles, the 17,000 riders Midway through a week of RAGBRAI--the Register Annual Great Bike Ride Across Iowa--were tired of course but also energized by their achievement. Support vehicles of hundreds more people carried tents, bedding, clothing, lawn chairs were waiting so that riders could have a shower in the portable wash facilities they brought along. This was the first year in 37 that a 100-mile stretch has been included.
As I write this, it is still dark, but at daybreak they will be up to ride the final three days. Each year riders come from Iowa, across the country and the world. I talked to two men from Chicago. A woman from Colorado passed by.
Besides the parks and school yards, about 60 people camped across the street from our Prairie Place apartment building. The birds, squirrels and rabbits must have been surprised. Some small birds took refuge in the rafters of our deck.
RAGBRAI is not a competition to see who comes in first. It is a collegial community, where people make friends for a lifetime, leisurely, strenuous, and so well organized. No guns, no litter left behind. Respect and friendliness. Riders begin the week by dipping their bikes in the Missouri River and ending by dipping them in the Mississippi. Each year a different route is chosen. This year it was across the Northern most part of Iowa. As they kept coming past they waved at the welcoming residents of Mason City. From late afternoon well into the evening, there was music downtown on a main stage and two other stages as well. People casually walked or biked back after pitching their tents. Dozens and dozens of food sites were available all over town.
Last week temperatures were 100 degrees plus. Today he temperature in the morning and evening was 76 degrees, as if to remind people they were in "River City" of "Music Man" fame. When night fell, there was lightning and sprinkles. All was peaceful.
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