Day 25:

So arrived late last night into Des Moines, around 3 a.m. I woke up early this morning and went to the bike shop first thing. The selection of bikes to choose from isn't great, but made a few calls about a bike made more for touring. Had a new derailleur hangar and derailleur put on the bike so hopefully this will at least get me to Des Moines. Heading up to Algona with my mom. She is giving me a ride up there with my bike. John made it to Algona from Windom. Tomorrow we are hoping to make it to Des Moines, 150 miles away.


Miles biked today: 0

Day 24: Play the cards your dealt

Today we woke up at 5:00 am. We knew that there was going to be head winds today and we wanted every advantage to try to make it to Lake Okoboji. Even at 5 am the wind was still there. It took us 5 hours to go the first 47 miles. We decided to stop for lunch. The only place we really found to set up shop for lunch was a meat market/ grocery store that had a small table with two chairs. The lady working there agreed to let us come in and eat there and get out of the nasty wind outside. So we made up some Peanut butter and jelly sandwiches and dug out anything we could find in our bags. After lunch we found a much needed park and took a short nap. Then it was back into the wind. The wind was even stronger and we were averaging 6- 8 miles per hour. Very Long, tough and exhausting. So we made it to the next town and decided to stop for the day. The town was appropriately called, Windom. First stop was Dairy Queen to lift the morale. We then headed to a Super 8. We were not planning on staying there but the lady working agreed to let us loiter there for a little while in the lobby and use the bathroom to get cleaned up. We later grabbed some pizza. Then it was off to the nearest city park to set up camp. By this time John and I were nearly falling asleep on our bikes. We both agreed that this was probably our toughest day of the trip although we only biked 74 miles. The wind really takes it's toll physically and mentally. So we were heading to the city park and I was going up a small hill. My chain was skipping a little. Then disaster sruck! I could no longer pedal. My chain was dragging on the ground and my derailleur had snapped off at the hangar. This was the same thing that happened in Idaho. I set my bike down and threw my helmet. At this point I was devastated. So close to home and my halfway point and my bike was broken. We asked someone driving by if there was a bike shop in this town. They responded no and then we asked if there was one in a nearby town? Not that they knew of, nowhere within 75 miles. So it is 10 o'clock at night. I call up my parents to let them no what was going on. We decided that the best thing was for them to come up and pick me and my bike up to get it fixed in Des Moines. So I make it back to Des Moines at 3 am, a very long day 5 am - 3 am. My plan is to look at other bikes built more for touring in Des Moines. I am not too happy with my bike and how it keeps breaking down.


Miles biked today: 74
Miles biked Total: 1920

Day 23: Long and Steady

The weather finally broke and the weather seems to be back to normal. Today was an epic of a day at 145 miles. We woke up at 5:00 am this morning and got after the complimentary Continental breakfast. We started out the morning with a gentle crosswind out of the west. Eventually we started heading south east which helped us. The west wind ended up being a cross/tail wind at this point. The first crash of the trip took place today. I was out front and John's pannier bag got caught on my back right trailer wheel. I felt resistance on it and heard the sound of his pannier up against my wheel . He then broke free and went straight towards the curb at 15 mph. Luckily he went flying off his bike into the grass and had a pretty soft landing. There was a moment of silence and seriousness as he got up and checked over his bike. But then we both broke into laughter over the situation. We continued on and stopped in a small town at the public library to use the Internet. Luckily I was with John because I ended up passing out in the front lawn of the library. If I was solo there is a good chance I wouldn't have woken up until the next morning. Our camping situation was pretty funny. Who would have guessed Olivia, Minnesota claims to be the Corn Capital. I thought that honor went to Iowa.


Miles biked today: 146
Miles biked total: 1846