Day 6 was Waterloo to Manchester, Iowa, a relativly short day but the weather finally caught up with us and the team left Waterloo in the rain and road in the rain most of the day. By the time the team made it to Manchester they had been wet and cold and wet and then dried out a bit, no the best of days but to the veterans it wasn't the worst they had seen either. The shower felt good that afternoon and they were so glad Dave and Heather from the Trout Fish Hatchery we were staying at had plenty of floor space so tents weren't needed this night. We all went into Manchester for the festivities and grab a bit to eat and I must say I ate the best brisket I've ever had in my life from "Sugar Rays BBQ" stand. The music was playing with a good band and a couple of not so good bands but after a few brews it didn't sound too bad. Tomorrow would be the last days ride, Manchester to Dubuque and dipping the tires in the Mississippi river. This day was short also in being only 48 miles, but there was some elevation on the last day, including a mile plus long hill over 6% call potters hill and it took it's toll. The team said there were more than not riders now walking their bikes up this grade, but team Pokey Spokes road all the way to the top and that's means the entire team. I guess the main thing that helped most of them was the fact that those walking really cheered them on and chanted "You can make it....you can make it!" and they did. Bev and I had parked a few miles from the dip zone at Doug and Jean Cheever's place where once again our gracious host had soft drinks, beer and munchies waiting for the riders to arrive. We visited a bit with the host, the team showered and we hoped into the motor home and headed back to Des Moines.
Bev and I had stopped at an RV camp about half way between Manchester and Dubuque to dump our tanks and fill up with water in the tank, and while doing so refill the fridge with bottled water which I had extra in the Jeep we were towing. While unloading the case of bottled water from the Jeep I had to take out Brian Steen's duffel bag and yes you guessed it, I forgot to put it back in the Jeep and took off towards Dubuque and meeting the team. Brian was ready to take his shower when he asked me "do you know where my bag is?" and that's when we realized I had left it behind at the RV park we stopped at. Bev gave them a call and thank God it was still sitting on the ground and luckily it was on our way back west and to Des Moines, so we picked it up and I was very relieved needless to say.
We dropped Brian Steen and his son Nate off where we had picked them up a week earlier, said our goodbyes and headed to Marks house and a dinner that was waiting for us. Meeting Brian and Nate was a pleasure and a couple of guys I hope to see again someday. We arrive at Marks about 9:00 p.m., ate dinner and most went to bed beat after a long week of bike riding, eating weird and different foods and snacks and drinking plenty of beer along the way.
Bev and I had a wonderful time and it was indeed our pleasure to have breakfast ready and snacks and dinners when we did and plenty of beer on ice when the days ride was finished. We visited many small Iowa communities and met many folks and were treated like royalty by our host families, no wonder this is one of the premier rides in the United States each year.
Tomorrow a.m. we take the Jeep to Davenport (3 hours east) pick up my brother Dave and head back to Des Moines hook up the Jeep and head to Texas to visit cousin Walt for a Day or so. My Brother has agreed to hitch a ride and do some painting in our house and Lisa's in exchange for a few weeks at the Anderson resort and spa in Phoenix. It will be our pleasure to take care of Dave and help him to enjoy Phoenix for a few weeks in exchange for some painting of our rooms.
RAGBRAI XXXVIII is now in the books and it was good.............................................
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