I did a little work when I got up. I swear the emails never stop coming!! Then I hopped on my bike for another power test for the week. This test consisted of some hard one minute intervals. Who knew a minute was so long?? It is when you’re trying to go as hard on your bike as you possibly can. It’s funny because Facebook reminded me that 7 years ago today I took my new bike out for my first ever ride. I think I went 13 miles but I had a plan that I would bike for the next year and ride my first RAGBRAI the following year. Who knew seven years ago where deciding to buy that bike would take me? Coincidentally last year on this day was my longest...and hardest ride ever! 122 miles and over 4800 feet of climb. To date this year I’ve ridden my bike over 2100 miles! Never did I think I’d be riding this much when I bought that bike 7 years ago!! So many people have taken up biking in this pandemic. It make my heart happy! Maybe they’ll all be on RAGBRAI next year!
After lunch....nothing fancy just some avocado toast and an apple, Gabs and I headed to Mounds State Park. Today on RAGBRAI we should have been going to Maquoketa home of the Maquoketa Caves State Park and we would have been celebrating 100 years of Iowa state parks! So it was fitting that we went to do some hiking and exploring! One thing I love about the Iowa state parks is that you don’t have to pay an entrance fee. In Indiana if you’re a resident it is $7...which isn’t bad but I took Iowa free parks for granted. I decided to buy a year pass today because it pays for itself after a few trips and I can support the parks that way! We went on some trails I haven’t been on in awhile. We didn’t see too much wildlife...just one squirrel who was racing us down the trail. We did meet a group on one of the more narrow trails and they had a dog. I could tell from a distance they weren’t too sure about their dog and how it would act with Gabby. She moved off the trail a bit and Gabby and I proceeded, but this dog was growling and generally unhappy about Gabs presence. When we got even with them the dog lunged and jumped on Gabs. I’m very proud of her for not overreacting! She pulled back when I pulled and we got away unscathed. I think that dog needs some obedience classes! After almost 2.5 miles of hiking it was time for a swim. We headed to spend some time in the river.
Gabby made some new friends with kids playing in the river! She splashed with them and let them pet her. After we finished swimming we headed back to the car via some other trails. Overall we put in 4 miles of hiking. It was not too hot of a day and the trails were mostly shaded.
When we got home I mowed the lawn and Gabby was lazy in the air conditioning. Figures! She never pulls her weight! I had dinner early and then later I went for a quick 30 min run. Still got to get my miles in even though we hiked!
When I got home I decided to eat my RAGBRAI treat. Now it wasn’t a Thelma’s ice cream sandwich but it was pretty close. I went to Macino’s Sweet Shoppe and got a homemade ice cream sandwich. It was a lemon white Chocolate chunk cookie with Blueberry cheesecake ice cream. It was HUGE and I ate it all!! It was also delicious!
I mean when you bike, hike, and run all in the same day you deserve a treat right? Well I think so anyway.
Since we did so much activity today we are going to try the tent again tonight. Gabs is currently sleeping so that may not help!
Tomorrow is the last day of RAGBRAI. We were supposed to be riding from Maquoketa to Clinton...my old stomping grounds with the route taking us through my hometown. So I’ll have to do something big to celebrate tomorrow!
I’ll leave you with a few more pictures of our hiking adventures from today. Wish us luck in the tent. I’m tired...I just hope Gabby is tired enough to actually sleep! 
I’ll leave you with a few more pictures of our hiking adventures from today. Wish us luck in the tent. I’m tired...I just hope Gabby is tired enough to actually sleep! 
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