Day 47: Audubon to Swede Point Park

July 26, 2025

Another humid day on the bikes. We started out on roads traveling due East and the hills became more gradual. After lunch in Jamaica, we finished on very nice concrete rail trails (Raccoon River Trail and High Trestle trail) in central Iowa. We took the usual breaks (beer & ice cream) and lunch along the way. The prairie flowers were a welcome distraction, and the trestle over the DesMoines River was amazing!

The end point for the day was Swede Point Park. So, prepping dinner is where the day got interesting. In removing the pot of boiling noodles from the cook stove, it fell, hit the table and spilled onto Scott M’s legs and down to one ankle. He immediately rinsed the affected areas, but the damage was done. He realized he had some second degree burns so we explored options to get him to the nearest hospital. I spoke with the campsite host about a ride to the hospital and she called the park ranger on duty. The ranger then took the initiative to call 911. Fifteen minutes later, the ranger and an ambulance showed up and took Scott M. to the Boone County Hospital. His wife was still in Omaha, so she drove 2 hours to meet him at the hospital. After emergency care and bandaged up with 2nd degree burns on both legs, he returned to camp just after midnight with the intent to ride the next day.