COMMUNITY JOURNALISM: On the road at RAGBRAI, Day 4 (updated)

Editor's note: David Sojka of the Bicyclists of Iowa City agreed to send us daily reports from the Register's Annual Great Bike Ride Across Iowa, which will make a stop in Cedar Rapids on Thursday. The ride started  Sunday. Here is David Sojka's report from Day 4:

6:43 a.m.: Early start to beat the heat again at 5:30. Already some headwind and I am hoping that does not get stronger. We  ride 77 miles today after 82 yesterday. I am salting my bananas.

8:39 a.m.: We are 33 miles in, 44 to go. Had a good "Farm boys" breakfast to keep me going. Listening to my body today, it wants to know what the heck I am doing.

10:07 a.m.: That was a fun 20 miles. An unwritten rule on RAGBRAI is that you be nice to the elderly and kids that come out to greet us. If not the RAGBRAI gods will give you bad karma. About 30 residents from the retirement home in Story City were out to greet us. Right after we turned east, the wind shifted from out of the southeast to out of the southwest. A little tale wind. All because of the retirement center folks.

1:49 p.m.: Done riding for today. Some big hills the last 17 miles before the finish at Marshalltown made for a challenging finish. Many of us thank the farmer 10 miles outside of Marshalltown for the hose with cold water to run over our heads. We will do 84 miles tomorrow to Cedar Rapids. Get the Kolaches ready.