RAGBRAI Day 1

Off to an early start at 5:45 am, beating the warm temps we reached Harlan at 10:50 am - then another half hour tootling around town to our camp site. So far, so good, loving RAGBRAI!! I was worried most about the masses of people but that really has not been bad...so far, we haven't had lines for anything! Today was like riding the county line south of Irene for about 60 miles - rolling hills, so it wasn't bad.

The Shuttle Guy is taking really good care of us once again. Today camp is in the back yard of a host family, right across from the aquatic center and just a few blocks from Harlan downtown where all the action is. This year a new addition to the Shuttle Guy, they brought in coolers of iced beer - they're not sure how they are going to charge - probably free will donation!

I thought RAGBRAI would be so many people we wouldn't see anyone we knew but last night in Missouri Valley we saw the Biking Vikings, Donna and Kyle's group two different times! Today I saw Jack and Pam from Sioux Falls. And Tim from Sioux

Tomorrow is the most challenging day of the week - 82 miles and LOTS of climbing. Thanks for the weel wishes and prayers - keepp them coming our way!

RAGBRAI – Here I Come!

Yipppeeee! In a few short hours my husband will drive my daughter and I to Missouri Valley for the start of RAGBRAI . I can’t believe I’m doing this, and a few times I have paused to ask myself, “why am I doing this?” Then I remember all those reasons why I signed up last January. Here is my top 5:

5. Its only one day more than Tour deKota. I’ve done the full week of TDK twice, so I believe I can make it through RAGBRAI although it will be more challenging as it is a hillier route than the TDK’s I’ve ridden.

4. Good time of the year for me to get away from work as it is the last week before the students start orientation and classes.

3. I didn’t ride the whole week of TDK – so I had to find another week long ride and this was close! Actually I haven’t heard anyone say TDK was FUN this year so I’m glad I had a reason (like my daughter’s wedding!) to not stick it out the full week.

2. Spending a week with my oldest daughter on a bike, what could be better! Well, maybe only one thing better would have been the youngest daughter, husband, and son-in-law sagging for us!

1. When people find out you ride bike, they always ask “have you been on RAGBRAI?” When you reply “no,” that usually ends the biking conversation because RAGBRAI is the only bike ride that non-biking people relate to! Also, it just feels like I need to do RAGBRAI to validate that I am a true biker or maybe it’s more like someone who like to combine a party with a bike ride! I’m sure that is the same reason Lance started riding in RAGBRAI!

Seriously, I have to remember that there are still people who haven’t heard of RAGBRAI – which seems unbelievable to me! But just this last week I was talking with a friend about planning a baby shower. I had told her before that I was going on RAGBRAI and wasn’t sure I would be at the shower depending on the date. When the date was picked and she called back I told her I would be on RAGBRAI and her reply was “Is that like an ALL day bike ride?” Like ALL day was an awfully long time to be gone riding bike!

Well, here we go. I’m signing off for the week. Prayers for safety and tail winds for Ashley and I are most welcomed!

Nirvana

The Hooterville Mayor recently made a reference to living in God's Country. I couldn't agree more, this is a great state, great area in the southeastern corner, especially my little town of Wakonda and the surrounding area! Complete strangers will give a biker their car! But that's another story best told by Ride Vermillion.

Anyway, I was thinking of what a great week it has been and how you don't need to live in the big city to find entertainment and good food. For example, Sunday evenng we made the 12 mile trip to Viborg to see the movie "Sex in the City" in the state's oldest movie theatre. While ticket prices recently went up to $5, you can't beat the prices of their concessions. We had a package of Nibs, peanut M&M's, a box of Junior Mints (we were really craving sweets!), and a bottle of water for a grand total of $3.25.

Last night was pizza night at the local Wakonda Hotel & "Pit" - home to chef extraordinaire, Torey. The newlyweds and youngest daughter took us out - we loaded up on 3 varieties: veggie, ham and salami, and the four meat. Very yummy....this will probably upset Tez, but we prefer Torey's pizza to the famous Charlie's pizza. Now if Torey only made that yummy garlic cheese bread they have at Charlie's!

And to top it off, we have great roads for riding bike with low traffic and friendly motorists - it's Nirvana!

Weekend in Lanesboro, Minnesota

There is no such thing as a coincidence; a couple of synchronistic events lead to a great weekend! Allow me to explain. Charlie and I were planning to go away for the weekend but didn’t have any definite plans. I wanted to include some bike riding and was looking on-line at some of the bike trails in southern Minnesota. Synchronistic event number 1: after emailing Mary Jean late Wednesday evening to ask how she liked the Midwest Scenic Bike Tour, she replied first thing Thursday morning and had wonderful things to say about the ride. She mentioned that Lanesboro, Minnesota was her favorite stay over town. We now had a destination for our trip! A quaint, small town with wonderful bike trails along the Root River.
Synchronistic event number 2 involved finding a B&B with a room opening. Just as I was beginning to think that every room was booked I found a room at the Coffee Street Inn. The owner said someone had just cancelled for the weekend and a room opened up for two nights! Chatting with some of the other B&B guests confirmed that all the rooms in town are usually all booked on weekends by April.
Some highlights of the weekend:
Beautiful scenery; rolling hills along the Root River valley.
The Amish colony of Harmony. We didn’t tour the colony but saw several of the buggies traveling the roads near Harmony and saw their beautiful quilts and baskets for sale at the Farmer’s Market on Lanesboro.
Riding the Root River Bike Trail. My favorite was riding the side-by-side recumbent with Charlie!
Riding the bike trail to Whalen for rhubarb pie!

MaMa Mia - the Movie Comes Out Next Week!

We saw the musical MaMa Mia this past winter in Las Vegas and I absolutely loved it! What a fun, feel good play, set to the great music of ABBA. I can hardly wait to see the movie with Meryl Streep and Pierce Bronson which comes out on July 18th. But with RAGBRAI starting that same weekend and the MS Ride the week after RAGBRAI, I probably won't get a chance to see the movie right away....but it will be something to look forward to!
In the meantime I'm overdosing on ABBA music. Besides repeatedly playing my ABBA's Greatest Hits CD, I've been listening to all ABBA music on Sirius Radio Channel 3, which started on Monday of this week and is playing for a limited time.