We’ve shared many of our off-bicycle adventures with you in the past few posts (The MLK assassination site, Clinton Library, Sheels, the country’s second oldest DQ) and Roger’s brilliant ode to Buddy Holly . We didn’t get to see Mt. Rushmore or the Badlands of South Dakota this trip but we did visit the Roger Maris Museum in Fargo, ND.
Who? Well he still holds the single season home run record of 61 set in 1961 as a NY Yankee. Of course as I write this Aaron Judge (also a Yankee) is closing in on the record in 2024.
Before the start of the Midwest Tandem Rally we went to downtown Des Moines and toured the state capitol.
On Labor Day we started to make our way home. At lunchtime we happened upon Pella, Iowa. You may have heard of it because of Pella windows, but it’s also home to the largest working grain windmill in the country.
We had a quick overnight stop in the childhood home of Mark Twain, Hannibal, Missouri. There is a lot of love for the hometown hero in this town. But almost everything is closed on Mondays!
We got up at sunrise to continue our trip home – here is the view of the Mississippi River that we enjoyed from our room.
Just before we pulled into our last (24th) night of the trip in Paducah, Kentucky we passed Metropolis, Illinois, the home of Superman! Talk about an unexpected highlight.
Yes, this small town of less than six thousand people boasts the largest Superman statue in the world.
Who is in better shape: Superman, Eve, or Paul Bunyan?
And now, Tour de Tornado Alley by the numbers:
- 3500 miles driven (every one by Roger, who likes a good road trip)
- 500 miles ridden on the bike
- 140 miles ridden in Iowa
- 80 mph, the posted speed limit in Oklahoma
- 68 miles ridden in Kansas
- 63 miles ridden in Minnesota
- 62 miles ridden in Arkansas
- 53 miles ridden in N. Dakota
- 43 states we have ridden in the lower 48 of the USA
- 35 miles ridden in Nebraska
- 34.3 mpg in the new minivan
- 34 miles ridden in S. Dakota
- 31 miles ridden in Wisconsin
- 24 nights on the road
- 23 karat gold in the dome of the Iowa state capitol
- 18 feet, height of the concrete Paul Bunyan statue in Bemidji
- 16 bike rides
- 15 states visited
- 15 feet, height of the bronze Superman statue in Metropolis
- 11 different hotels
- 10 years we have been retired
- 9 miles ridden in Oklahoma
- 7 top 40 hits for Buddy Holly from 1957-1958
- 6 miles ridden in Missouri (we keep track of this stuff!)
- 5 new states added to our total on this trip
- 4 days at the Midwest Tandem Rally in Ankeny, IA
- 1 wonderful trip
- 0 rides canceled due to rain
We are spending a few weeks at home before we head out to the west coast for an extended period of time. Our goal of 5000 miles on the bike for 2024 is still (barely!) within reach and hopefully the weather will cooperate for the next few months. I’ll check in on our next trip from SoCal in October.
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Eve and Roger's Cycling Adventures 
You two are amazing! Awesome “by the numbers”! Just a suggestion for your South Dakota ride, the George Mickelson Trail is a 106 mile rail tral through the Black Hills. We’re on our way east after 4 rides on different sections of the trail.
Safe Travels!
Thanks for the suggestion. We did ride in South Dakota on this trip. In lovely Sioux Falls. We are aware of the Mickelson Trail…it’s way west and it could happen some day!!
Loved, loved, loved reading this post – especially the “by the numbers”. Looking forward to seeing you soon.