Before I forget – three more funny team names:
• Tall Dogs: We’ve Got a Leg Up on the Competition
• Fungus Amungus: We Grow on You
• the Skunk Team: Tails Up – We Don’t Need No Stinkin’ Motto.)
Today’s route brought the intrepid RAGBRAI riders across the finish line in Clinton, Iowa. Soon RAGBRAI XL will be in the history books.
To get there, the Merrow Team overcame a few logistical challenges. Annie had to meet up with her ride back across Iowa with another team, which had to find each other in Clinton in order to reach her car in Sioux Center, the RAGBRAI starting point. Just to be sure that she wouldn’t miss this ride, I had to pick her up at the last day’s mid-ride meeting town, aptly named Lost Nation, and truck her the final 40 miles to Clinton.
With cell coverage iffy, the chances of being lost in Lost Nation were good. Our meet-up plan B was to find each other at the post office, based on the theory that every town has one. There was a moment of panic when it seemed like little Lost Nation might not have merited a Post Office, but there it was and soon there they were.
I would have to say that that Lost Nation did seem a bit lost…more down at the 
heals than some of the meeting towns. They put on their best welcoming signs and water booths. (The little library had a sign for water and free wifi. The librarian said they get credit toward funding by how many people come in. We came in several times.)
With Annie safely in Big Red, Arthur pedaled on the remaining 40 miles toward the finish line.
Once in Clinton, we found Annie a shower, sorted all the gear, and used our two bikes as dollies to walk it to her ride meeting point about a mile away. We made our goodbyes, and I turned my attention to finding Arthur.
I pedaled on up to the bike route, watched the riders coming in (one team of twenty in two tight columns from Simpson College in matching black and white shirts – impressive!). I joined the riders for the brief stretch to the finish line, feeling a little sheepish that people lining the streets were clapping for the riders and I was an interloper.
On they went, right to the banks of the Mississippi, where custom is that one is supposed to dip the front wheel in the river.
Soon Arthur rode in, looking pretty pleased with himself. I couldn’t get him to dip, but he did relent and hold his bike over his head in the customary celebratory salute.
The City of Clinton was not to be outdone with its food vender booths and bands. Clinton’s logo motto was “Where the Rubber Meets the River.”
Seven days and 450 miles, such camaraderie, so many adventures, so much pulled pork, so much beer.
Did I mention the one called Moose Drool, a brown ale that Arthur really liked!
It was time to pack it in, get out the maps and head east. We found Big Red, turned toward the Mississippi, and in a blink of an eye we were in Illinois.
We have fetched up tonight in a quiet, shady campground in Knoxville, Illinois. Tomorrow we will head for Indianapolis to visit with an old chum. Then two long days’ drive back to Connecticut. I will weigh in again with some reflections and of course, any adventures that the eastward trek. Thanks for coming along on this adventure.
In the meantime, I want to thank my blog coach and faithful editor, Will Brady. He is the reason that there are pictures and links on this blog, and they added so much. Thanks, Will!
Editor's aside ~ Thanks right back. It was fun to be along for the trip by proxy, and I didn't have to bicycle anywhere. BTW ~ The last picture on this page is a total guess. Sue didn't say which campground they are staying at, but when I googled Knoxville IL, only one cropped up ; and I have a soft spot for frogs]
IMAGE CREDITS: (1) Lost Nation Library/City Hall - Wikipedia; (2) Moose Drool beer, made by Big Sky Brewing Company; (3) Galesburg East Best Holiday Trav-L-Park, Knoxville, IL.
Awww, shucks! Mine's the pleasure. The commentary is all Sue's however. I was more a copy editor, not editing for content.
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