Day 7 - The Final Day of RAGBRAI 2009

The riders decided that since it was the last day, they wanted to get an early start. It would be crazy at the finish. But Curtis couldn’t find his bicycle! He knew it was too big for Blaze to carry off, so he was a bit concerned. While he went out to the trailer to look for it, the guys rushed it into place for the big surprise. At the beginning of the ride he complained that he could never wear the official team jerseys back home in West Texas because they were “too gay.” He made the remark a couple more times, so the guys asked Cathy and me to help decorate his bike. We recruited Nancy's help and slipped away to a back bedroom to make tissue paper flowers, giggling the whole time. We made it look like a parade float with flowers, streamers and bells all over it.

The helmet did not escape either. A few more flowers and ribbon curls made a fashion statement reminiscent of Victorian-era bonnets (sorry, the costume historian in me came out for a second). I was really proud of that.

Curt took the ribbing good-naturedly, and actually rode about 15 miles of the final route with the decorations on his bike. But he did have an editorial gesture that Brian captured for posterity!

According to Cathy, her experience was that in the past, the final towns have been a chaotic mess as all of the riders and their support teams converged on the final spot where the cyclists dip their front tire in the Mississippi River (remember that they started by dipping the rear tire in the waters of the Missouri River last Saturday). But in Burlington, it was wonderful.

The bikers rode into town and made a final left turn to ride along the riverfront park, until they reached a boat launch where the final dip took place. It was a festival atmosphere as everyone rode in.

We parked the motorcoach on the outskirts of town and Cathy and I headed to see if we could find our group. Phone coordination told us they were about an hour out, so we had some time to kill. There was a restaurant right on the route with a few tables out front. Just as we walked up, one opened! It was like being on the 50 yard line at the Super Bowl! We enjoyed a Bloody Mary as we watched the riders come in. Cathy and I felt we’d successfully reached the end of the journey, too.

Unlike other days when everyone scattered, every team rode the final mile together, so it was colorful and festive. The riders were euphoric –they’d made it! And the support teams and the local spectators cheered them on.

One thing Cathy and I found amusing…the bikers rode to the Mississippi, but then they walked their bikes along the riverfront after that. When I asked someone why, the answer was, “My butt is SO sore!”

Once the ride was completed, the team and charter buses were waiting to load the bikes and luggage. Some went straight to the FedEx station to crate and ship their bikes home. FedEx had two semis waiting at the check point.

Others checked in with their tour companies who carried their bikes and gear back to the starting point while they rode chartered buses…and napped all the way back across Iowa!

The river was in sight for Team OWBNID. Just down the hill through town and one more left to be at the dipping sight.

Finally our group made the final turn, with Captain Bill in the lead. We had everyone on the restaurant deck cheering them on. Then we all headed to the Mississippi.

One by one, they descended the steps to the river and dipped their front tire in the muddy waters. I can only imagine what each one was feeling.

Finally, following a lunch of Emeril’s Baked Bologna on Crystal’s homemade white bread (after every meal, Gerry made the comment that we’d worked so hard throughout the trip that on the final day, we’d probably serve them bologna and white bread), our group separated, Jerry, Brian, Tahressa and Ed took the trailer with the bikes and headed back to Texas with an overnight stop in Arkansas. Dan and Bob were going to meet up with family in Arkansas. And Bob drove Bill, Cathy, Curtis, Scott, Gerry and me back to Gretna.

On the way back we passed this silo with the sign on it. I managed to get a picture and it certainly says what we all feel. Bob Covalik made the trip so great thanks to his motorcoach and generosity of time and energy. He toted stuff from the RV to the houses - food, pans, ice chests and cooking gear. He kept the coolers full and iced down. He parked the motorcoach into the tightest spots, then backed the trailer into place since neither Cathy nor I could do it. He entertained us with wonderful stories. And his generious spirit inspired us all. I don't know what Bob the sign in the picture was for. But if he was half as special as our Bob, he's something else!

The adventure is over. The memories are forever. We met so many amazing people – host families, bikers, people on the routes. And saw some spectacular sights.

Iowa is a beautiful place. Not just cornfields, as I’d been led to believe. But even those were surprisingly scenic, stretching on for mile after mile over rolling hills. I thought Texas was a rural state, but not like this. The heartland of America is a true description. And a part of my heart is left there. Guess I’ll have to go back and get it next year.