A Personal Reflection from RAGBRAI 2026
My daughter and I are heading out on another week-long adventure together.
This year marks her sixth RAGBRAI and my twelfth, and somehow the excitement never gets old. Every year brings a different route, different weather, different people, and new memories waiting to be made.
For the past six years, we’ve traveled with the Bicyclists of Iowa City (BIC) Charter, and I honestly can’t imagine doing it any other way. There’s something special about loading our bikes onto the truck, tossing our gear into the luggage trailer, and climbing aboard a bus filled with more than a hundred people who all share the same anticipation. It’s a long ride to western Iowa, but the adventure really begins the moment the bus pulls away from Iowa City.
Like many cyclists, we procrastinated a little this year. We waited until the week before the ride to tear down our bikes, pack them into their travel boxes, and sort through everything we’d need for seven days on the road. Despite years of experience, there’s always that lingering thought that we’ve forgotten something. Fortunately, RAGBRAI has a way of solving those problems. Every overnight town and pass-through community offers opportunities to pick up forgotten necessities, and fellow riders are usually quick to lend a hand if someone needs it.
I’ve lived in Iowa my entire life, but RAGBRAI changes the way I experience the state.
Normally, Iowa is something we drive through at highway speeds. During RAGBRAI, it slows down—way down. Our average pace is around 14 miles per hour, giving us time to notice the small things that usually pass by unnoticed: front porches filled with waving families, church volunteers serving breakfast before sunrise, conversations with complete strangers, and stretches of countryside that seem to go on forever.
This year’s route begins in Onawa, then carries us through Harlan, Guthrie Center, Boone, Marshalltown, Independence, and Dyersville, before finishing in Dubuque along the Mississippi River.
Many people outside Iowa have probably never heard of most of those towns. Even many Iowans haven’t spent much time in them. That’s part of what makes RAGBRAI so unique. Every community has its own personality, traditions, and stories, and for one day, each becomes the center of the cycling world.
As much as I enjoy discovering those small towns, I’m always reminded why I enjoy living in Iowa City. I appreciate the balance it offers—the ability to enjoy live music, theater, comedy, Hawkeye athletics, great restaurants, and all the conveniences of a larger community while still being able to return home to a quieter neighborhood at the end of the day.
Sometimes the best way to appreciate home is to spend a little time away from it.
Iowa Looks Different at Bicycle Speed
One of the things I love most about riding across Iowa is that it slows everything down.
Our mornings still start early. The alarm goes off around 5:30 a.m., and by 6:00 we’re packing up camp, loading the bike, and rolling out for another day’s adventure. While the schedule is early, the pace of the day is anything but rushed.
Passing through Iowa’s small towns on a bicycle, you notice things you would never see from the driver’s seat of a car. The historic architecture that still lines many downtown squares. The locally owned shops opening for the morning. People sitting on their front porches or in lawn chairs at the end of their driveways, waving to every rider who passes or striking up a conversation with anyone who wants to stop for a minute or ten.
After ten or so miles, you begin rolling into that first pass-through town of the day. Before you even see the breakfast tents, you can smell them. Pancakes on the griddle, bacon sizzling, fresh coffee brewing—it doesn’t take long to work up an appetite on the bike. Of course, there’s always the temptation to skip straight to the famous breakfast pie… and for some riders, even an early morning beer. That’s part of the RAGBRAI experience too.
What makes the ride special isn’t just the food or the miles—it’s the people.
When you slow down to about 14 miles per hour, Iowa becomes much more personal than it ever does at 70. You have time to stop and talk with the volunteers who make each community come alive for a day. You hear stories about how their town came to be, the local café that’s been there for generations, the annual festivals everyone looks forward to, and what it was like growing up in a place where nearly everyone knows your name.
Those conversations are what stay with me long after the ride is over. They’re a reminder that while every town has its own story, they all share the same sense of pride and hospitality that makes Iowa such a special place to call home.
By now, the bike was ready. The gear was packed. The route had been announced. Everything we had been preparing for over the past several weeks was finally here.
Seven days.
Nearly 400 miles.
Eight overnight communities.
Countless conversations, pie stops, hills, laughs, and memories waiting to happen.
This was our RAGBRAI 2026 story.
The Journey Across Iowa
Day 0 – The Adventure Begins
Day 0 is always filled with anticipation.
After the long bus ride across Iowa, the first order of business is setting up camp. The tent comes out of its bag, gets assembled for what feels like the hundredth time, and suddenly our home for the next week begins to take shape. Next come the bikes. They travel across the state packed safely in boxes, so it’s time to unpack them, bolt everything back together, air up the tires, and give each bike a quick once-over to make sure it’s ready for nearly 400 miles of riding.
Once camp is set up and the bikes are ready, it’s finally time to wander through the RAGBRAI Expo.
If you’ve never been, it’s hard to describe the atmosphere. Every vendor seems to have something you didn’t know you needed until you saw it. Jerseys with this year’s route, colorful socks, cycling gear, nutrition products, local organizations, bike accessories—it’s all there. Add in the food vendors, live music, and thousands of excited cyclists, and the ride suddenly feels very real.
There always seems to be one purchase that becomes “essential” every year.
For me, it was new cycling socks.
The plain gray socks I’d been wearing for years suddenly didn’t seem to fit the occasion. After wandering from booth to booth, I finally found three pairs that had enough personality to earn a spot in my cycling drawer. Sometimes it’s the little traditions that make each RAGBRAI memorable.
Tomorrow, the real adventure begins.
Day 1 – Finding Our Rhythm
Morning comes early on RAGBRAI.
By the time most people are just waking up, tents are already coming down, sleeping bags are being rolled up, and thousands of cyclists are preparing for another day on the road.
My daughter, as usual, takes off like a bat out of hell.
Within minutes she’s cruising around 18 miles per hour, and I have to remind her that this is a week-long ride—not a race to the next town. Eventually we settle into our familiar rhythm, spinning comfortably along at about 14 miles per hour as cornfields and soybean fields roll past on both sides of the road.
One of the things you’ll notice during RAGBRAI is that there’s never a shortage of opportunities to stop.
Roadside vendors appear every few miles offering bananas, coffee, pie, protein balls, breakfast burritos, homemade cinnamon rolls, and yes… even ice-cold beer before 9:00 in the morning.
We usually pass them by.
Over the years we’ve developed a routine of eating an RXBAR before leaving camp. It keeps us going long enough to avoid the long breakfast lines and reach the first pass-through town before stopping for a proper meal.
Somehow breakfast always tastes better after you’ve already ridden ten or fifteen miles.
I honestly don’t remember what we ate that first morning. I hadn’t quite settled into my routine of photographing every meal and memorable stop yet. That would come later in the week.
The miles passed comfortably…
…well, after my afternoon nap.
Small towns blended together with pie stops, conversations, and stretches of open road before we finally rolled into Harlan, our first overnight town.
Lunch that day was a bowl of pulled pork mac and cheese—a meal that tasted considerably better after spending hours in the saddle than it probably would have any other day of the year.
Once we found the BIC campground, everyone gradually trickled in throughout the afternoon. Stories from the day’s ride started immediately while we waited for the rest of the group to arrive.
After getting settled, it was time for one of the most appreciated stops of every day: the shower trucks.
There really isn’t much that compares to washing off a day’s worth of sweat, sunscreen, road dust, and whatever else Iowa roads decide to leave behind.
Every overnight town hosts concerts and entertainment well into the evening, but we’ve discovered over the years that after riding all day, staying awake until a 9:00 or 10:00 p.m. concert can be a challenge.
Instead, we usually spend our evenings wandering through town, talking with local volunteers, exploring the community, and asking one simple question:
“So… what shouldn’t we miss while we’re here?”
Those conversations often become some of the best memories of the entire week.
Day 2 – Hills, Headwinds, and Homemade Pie
Day 2 greeted us with a steady headwind. I remember hearing it was blowing somewhere around 12 to 14 mph, and for cyclists, that can make for a long day. Fortunately, RAGBRAI has a way of reminding you that the ride isn’t just about the miles—it’s about everything that happens between them.
Our first memorable stop was Elk Horn, a community proud of its Danish heritage. We couldn’t pass through without visiting the Museum of Danish America, where we took a few minutes to admire the giant Nordic troll and the beautiful Nordic Swan sculpture. It’s one of those places that reminds you every Iowa town has its own unique story waiting to be discovered.
Not far from the museum, the Elk Horn Fire Department was serving breakfast, and it quickly became one of my favorite meals of the week. Their “Danish Scramble Bowl” was piled high with scrambled eggs, sausage, peppers, onions, and salsa. After battling the morning headwinds, it tasted absolutely incredible and provided exactly the fuel we needed for the miles ahead.
Back on the road, we rolled into Exira, where we found another RAGBRAI tradition that never disappoints—homemade pie.
This time it was a slice of fresh rhubarb pie, paired with a can of Bulltown Brewing’s Non-Alcoholic Grapefruit Radler. I’ll admit, I’m usually not someone who reaches for a non-alcoholic beer, but this one completely changed my expectations. It was crisp, refreshing, and exactly what I needed after riding through the morning wind. I’ll definitely be looking for it again.
The afternoon eventually carried us toward Guthrie Center, but not before making one more memorable stop just outside of town. We sampled a Honey Rhubarb Cider from Paha Cider Company, another great reminder of how many outstanding craft beverage makers Iowa has quietly built over the years. One of the things I enjoy most about RAGBRAI is discovering small local businesses that I probably never would have found otherwise.
By the time we reached Guthrie Center, the summer heat had settled in, so we escaped into the cool air of the town hall for a while. What started as a break from the heat quickly turned into one of the most enjoyable conversations of the trip.
Several local ladies welcomed us in and began sharing stories about growing up in Guthrie Center, laughing as they reminisced about adventures from their younger years. Before long, we were laughing right along with them.
Those conversations lasted much longer than we originally planned, and honestly, I’m glad they did.
Looking back, those unexpected moments are what make RAGBRAI so much more than a bicycle ride. The scenery is beautiful, the food is unforgettable, and the miles are rewarding—but it’s the people you meet along the way who leave the biggest impression.
Day 3 – School Spirit, Pie Stops, and Pork Chops
By Day 3, we had settled into a comfortable routine.
The early mornings no longer felt quite so early, packing up camp had become second nature, and the miles seemed to come a little easier. That’s one of the things I enjoy about RAGBRAI—you stop thinking so much about the logistics and simply enjoy the ride.
Our first stop of the morning was in Perry, and, naturally, it involved pie.
By 10:00 a.m., we were already enjoying two incredible slices: blueberry rhubarb and blackberry almond crumble. If you’ve never ridden RAGBRAI before, eating pie in the middle of the morning might sound unusual. For riders, though, it’s practically part of the nutrition plan. Besides, after riding for a couple of hours, pie somehow feels completely appropriate.
One of the fun traditions during RAGBRAI is the daily theme, and this year Day 3 was School Spirit Day.
My daughter proudly wore her brand-new Iowa State jersey, while I represented my alma mater, Mount Mercy University. It’s one of those little things that makes the ride so enjoyable—everyone gets into the spirit of the day, and the creativity riders bring to each theme never disappoints.
A little farther down the road, just outside Ogden, we came across another classic RAGBRAI stop.
Goats.
Of course we had to pull over.
There were plenty of riders stopping to pet them, take pictures, and enjoy a cold drink before getting back on the road. Moments like that aren’t on the official route map, but somehow they become some of the memories you talk about long after the ride is over.
After about 60 miles, we rolled into Boone around 1:30 in the afternoon. We had plenty of daylight left, which meant it was time to relax, explore the town, and most importantly… eat.
Lunch consisted of a loaded giant baked potato for my daughter and pork chops on a stick, prepared by the Boone County Pork Producers for me.
I originally planned on having one.
Instead, I had two.
They were cooked absolutely perfectly—juicy, flavorful, and easily some of the best pork chops I’ve ever eaten. After a long day on the bike, I don’t think there was a better meal I could have asked for.
By this point in the week, I was beginning to notice a pattern.
Every town had something different to offer. Some were remembered for incredible food. Others for the people. Others for unexpected roadside attractions or conversations that lasted much longer than planned.
That’s one of the reasons I keep coming back to RAGBRAI.
You never really know what the highlight of the day will be until you’re living it.
Day 4 – Waffle Day, Rolling Hills, and Iowa Traditions
By Day 4, one thing had become very clear.
Anyone who says Iowa is flat has probably never ridden a bicycle across it.
The first three days had been a steady parade of hill after hill after hill. None of them were mountains, but together they had definitely earned our respect. So naturally, we decided it was the perfect day to wear our BIKE IOWA waffle jerseys.
My daughter had officially declared it Waffle Day, and who was I to argue with that?
Our first stop was in Gilbert, where the famous waffle truck was already drawing a crowd of hungry cyclists. Breakfast consisted of a cinnamon roll waffle topped with bacon and peanut butter.
It probably wasn’t the breakfast a nutritionist would recommend before riding another sixty miles…
…but it was absolutely delicious.
Sometimes RAGBRAI isn’t about making the healthiest choice. It’s about enjoying experiences you probably won’t find anywhere else.
With breakfast behind us, we continued toward Nevada, where our traditional “beer stop” took a slightly different turn.
This time it was root beer.
After several days on the bike, something cold and refreshing always seems to taste better than it should.
While in town, we wandered over to the local fire station and were greeted by a familiar face.
Smokey the Bear.
Of course we couldn’t pass up the opportunity for a photo. One of the fun things about RAGBRAI is that you never quite know what you’ll stumble across in each community. Some memories are planned. Others simply happen because you decide to stop for a few minutes.
Not long after leaving Nevada, another unique roadside attraction appeared.
The geographic center of Iowa.
Located in the middle of what was essentially a farmer’s bean field, it isn’t exactly the kind of landmark you’d expect to become a memorable stop. But that’s part of RAGBRAI’s charm. Riders will happily pull over for just about anything that tells a story or creates a memory.
And honestly…
How often do you get to stand in the exact middle of an entire state?
As the afternoon heat settled in and Marshalltown drew closer, we made one more stop at the Iowa Craft Brewers Tent.
I wasn’t about to pass up another Bulltown Brewing Non-Alcoholic Grapefruit Radler. After discovering it earlier in the week, it had quickly become one of my favorite mid-ride refreshments. Crisp, refreshing, and surprisingly flavorful, it was exactly what I needed before the final miles into town.
We rolled into Marshalltown around 2:00 p.m., hungry once again.
My daughter chose pulled pork mac and cheese while I went with a brisket Philly.
Neither of us walked away disappointed.
By now, we had settled into the rhythm that only RAGBRAI seems to create.
Ride.
Eat.
Talk.
Laugh.
Repeat.
Each day looked similar on paper, yet every town somehow managed to offer something completely different.
Looking back, Day 4 wasn’t really about waffles.
It was about embracing the traditions that make RAGBRAI uniquely Iowa—sharing meals with thousands of fellow riders, stopping at places you’d never notice from a car, laughing over themed jerseys, and discovering that sometimes the best memories are the ones you never planned to make.
Day 5 – One Hundred Miles, Pie, and Knowing Our Limits
Day 5 is always one of the biggest days of RAGBRAI.
This year, riders had three choices: the standard 81-mile route, the 104-mile Karras Loop, or the ambitious 250K route in celebration of America’s 250th birthday.
Naturally, we talked about doing the 250K.
For a while, it actually sounded like a good idea.
Then reality set in.
After four straight days on the bike, with Iowa’s rolling hills and July heat already taking their toll, we looked at each other and decided the 104-mile Karras Loop was ambitious enough. Sometimes the smartest cycling decision is recognizing your limits before the road does it for you.
Besides, 100 miles on a bicycle is no joke.
The day began the way many RAGBRAI mornings should…
…with pie.
Our first stop was in Grundy Center, where I found another slice of rhubarb pie. I know, I know… I probably should branch out and try some different flavors. But since I couldn’t find my all-time favorite—gooseberry—I happily settled for my second favorite instead. Some traditions just aren’t worth changing.
Back on the road, we rolled through Reinbeck, where incredible metal artwork lined part of the route. The craftsmanship was amazing, and it’s another reminder that RAGBRAI constantly introduces you to talented people and places you would probably never discover otherwise.
A little farther along, we stopped for what technically wasn’t pie…
…but it was close enough.
A slice of Key Lime Coffee Cake, cut and served like pie, was more than enough to satisfy the afternoon sweet tooth. Around here, we’ve learned that if it’s homemade and served to cyclists, nobody asks too many questions about what category it belongs in.
As we continued toward Jesup, another familiar sight appeared.
The Red Bull truck.
My daughter has a friend who’s a huge Red Bull fan, so every time we spotted one along the route, stopping for another photo became mandatory. By Day 5, it had become one of those inside jokes that makes each year’s ride unique.
Eventually we rolled into Independence, this year’s fifth overnight town.
Since this was RAGBRAI LIII (53), the community had fully embraced the number by adopting Herbie the Love Bug as the town’s theme. It was creative, fun, and exactly the kind of small-town personality that makes every overnight stop feel different from the last.
Dinner definitely wasn’t focused on healthy eating.
My daughter went with loaded nachos.
I convinced myself I was making a responsible choice…
…right up until I ordered a smoked sausage on a bun piled high with pulled pork, cheese sauce, barbecue sauce, and jalapeños.
Apparently somewhere along the ride I had developed a very flexible definition of the word “healthy.”
After riding one hundred miles, though, I wasn’t feeling too guilty.
As the evening settled in and we relaxed back at camp, one final temptation rolled our way.
A group of kids wandered through the campground pulling a little wagon filled with homemade pie. I chose key lime.
Really…
Who can say no to kids delivering pie directly to your campsite?
Needless to say, another slice found its way onto my plate.
Looking back, Day 5 perfectly captured what RAGBRAI is all about.
Challenge yourself.
Know your limits.
Laugh at yourself once in a while.
Eat the pie.
And never pass up the opportunity to support a small-town fundraiser—especially when dessert comes to you.
Day 6 – Biscuits, Surprises, and the Sweet Taste of the Finish
By Day 6, everyone knows the end of the ride is getting close.
The conversations begin to shift from “How many miles do we have today?” to “I can’t believe tomorrow is the last day.” After nearly a week on the bike, you’ve found your rhythm, settled into camp life, and somehow the routine you’ve built all week starts feeling completely normal.
Fortunately for us, Day 6 was one of the shorter rides of the week at just 42 miles.
That meant there was plenty of time to enjoy the little things along the route.
My daughter had been talking about one breakfast item all week long.
Lemon blueberry biscuits.
So when we rolled into Winthrop and found the food truck making them, there really wasn’t any debate about stopping. A warm, flaky biscuit covered in lemon blueberry sauce has a way of convincing you that calories simply don’t count during RAGBRAI.
And honestly…
She was right.
They were absolutely worth the wait.
As we continued toward Manchester, I jokingly said to my daughter,
“Wouldn’t it be funny if the Iowa Craft Brewers Tent was at your aunt’s dad’s farm?”
The odds of that seemed pretty slim.
Turns out…
That’s exactly where it was.
I honestly couldn’t believe it.
Of all the farms in Iowa, the official Iowa Craft Brewers stop had landed on my sister-in-law’s family farm. It turned into one of those surreal moments where the ride suddenly felt a whole lot smaller. Sometimes Iowa really is one big small town.
Just outside Manchester, another surprise caught our attention.
A giant homemade Slip ‘N Slide.
Now, I’ve been politely—but very firmly—forbidden by my wife from attempting those anymore. Apparently my history with Slip ‘N Slides isn’t exactly filled with graceful landings.
My daughter, however, had no such restrictions.
She jumped right in, flew down the hill with a huge smile on her face, and cooled off before we climbed back on our bikes. Watching her enjoy it was probably more fun than trying it myself anyway… although I might still argue that point.
The next memorable stop came in Earlville, where the community had fully embraced a Friends television show theme.
Naturally, the local coffee stop became Earlville Perk, complete with the famous orange couch.
We couldn’t pass up the opportunity for another photo.
One of the things I appreciate most about RAGBRAI is seeing what each town comes up with every year. Some themes are historical. Some celebrate local traditions. Others simply make you laugh. They all add personality to the ride.
Not long after Earlville, we made our second brewery stop of the day at a farm just outside town, where I enjoyed a refreshing peach cider.
By this point in the week, I’d become a pretty big fan of Iowa’s craft beverage scene.
Besides…We were committed to earning our #EarnedIt shirts.
Eventually we rolled into Dyersville, our final overnight town.
Before doing anything else, we made a beeline for one of our favorite RAGBRAI traditions.
The bright pink Outside Scoop ice cream truck.
Years ago, while riding through Indianola, we stumbled across this local ice cream shop almost by accident. Ever since then, we’ve kept an eye out for that unmistakable pink truck every year.
Every year’s flavor of choice?
Dutch Letter ice cream.
It was every bit as good as we’d remembered.
Some traditions don’t need improving.
As the evening settled over Dyersville, it started to sink in that tomorrow would be our last ride together for another year.
The bikes had carried us across nearly the entire state.
The week had gone by far faster than either of us expected.
And while we were both looking forward to dipping our tires into the Mississippi River the next morning, neither of us was quite ready for the adventure to end.
Day 7 – Coming Home
Day 7.
Really?
How did the week go by so fast?
It feels like only yesterday we were unloading the bus in Onawa, setting up camp, and wondering what the next seven days would bring. Now, somehow, we’re packing everything up one last time.
The first order of business wasn’t loading the bikes.
It was saying goodbye to our faithful old tent.
Our “Taj Mahaul,” as we’ve affectionately called it over the years, had reached the end of its RAGBRAI journey. After twelve rides across Iowa, it had more than earned its retirement. The rain, the wind, the countless campground setups and tear-downs had finally taken their toll. It wasn’t just a tent anymore—it was part of our family’s RAGBRAI story.
That old tent had sheltered us through twelve RAGBRAI adventures together. It had survived thunderstorms, windstorms, humid July nights, and more campground setups than I could possibly count. It wasn’t just camping gear anymore—it had quietly become part of our family’s tradition. There were a lot of memories packed into that old tent.
With camp packed up, we rolled out of Dyersville toward one final stop that simply couldn’t be skipped.
I’ve visited before, so I wasn’t as interested in the newer baseball complex that’s been built around the site. I headed straight for the original field—the one made famous by the movie.
“If you build it, they will come.”
Standing there still feels a little surreal.
There was a long line of people waiting to hit a baseball and run the bases, so we decided to simply watch for a while before climbing back on our bikes. Sometimes just taking in the atmosphere is enough.
Our final Iowa Craft Brewers stop came in Epworth, where we proudly picked up our #EarnedIt shirt after completing another week of brewery stops across the state.
It seemed like a fitting way to celebrate the week.
From there, our focus shifted toward one thing.
The finish line.
We didn’t make many stops between Epworth and Dubuque. My daughter was ready for the week to be over, and our pace reflected it. Before we knew it, we were rolling into Dubuque just two and a half hours after leaving Dyersville.
Only 34 miles remained on the final day.
Compared to some of the earlier rides, it felt like a victory lap.
Then came the tradition that every RAGBRAI rider waits for.
The final tire dip.
Just a week earlier, we had dipped our tires into the Missouri River in Onawa.
Now we stood beside the Mississippi River, dipping them once again—this time with nearly 400 miles behind us.
It’s a simple tradition.
But it never gets old.
After a few photos and a moment to take it all in, we headed to the charter parking area to gather our gear.
One of the nicest parts of our RAGBRAI tradition is that my wife drives to the finish each year to pick us up. Instead of waiting several hours for every rider to finish before the charter bus heads back to Iowa City, we’re able to load up the bikes, toss our gear into the vehicle, and begin the drive home together.
It’s one of those small acts of kindness that makes the end of a long week just a little easier.
As we drove away from Dubuque, I found myself thinking about everything the week had been.
Hard.
Hot.
Funny.
Exhausting.
Delicious.
Unexpected.
Rewarding.
The miles, the pie, the small towns, the volunteers, the conversations, the hills, the laughter with my daughter—they all blended together into another unforgettable RAGBRAI.
And then, after spending a week living out of bags, eating wherever the next town happened to be, and sleeping in a tent, we pulled into our driveway.
There’s a certain feeling that only comes after a week like this.
Unlocking your own door.
Taking a long shower.
Sleeping in your own bed.
Making coffee in your own kitchen the next morning.
Those simple things suddenly feel like luxuries.
RAGBRAI always reminds me why I love Iowa.
But every year, it also reminds me how much I appreciate coming home.
A comfortable home isn’t something we think about every day.
It’s something we notice after we’ve been away.
Maybe that’s why I keep coming back to RAGBRAI.
Yes, I love the ride.
Yes, I love the people.
Yes, I love seeing another corner of Iowa.
But somewhere between the Missouri River and the Mississippi River, I’m reminded that the greatest part of every adventure isn’t just the journey.
It’s having a place you’re excited to come home to.
Hard week.
Quick week.
Fun week.
I can’t wait to see what RAGBRAI 2027 has in store.
Sometimes the best way to appreciate home is to spend a little time away from it.