A Long Windy Day

Just a short post today: the good things: no rain, apple-cinnamon-pecan french toast, Dutch Lettters pastries. The bad things: WIND, WIND, WIND. We just couldn't catch a break with the head winds today from Ottumwa to Mt. Pleasant.

Tomorrow is our last day. We're scheduled to leave Burlington around 1pm, arrive at CR by 3pm, and then Jamey and I will drive to Clear Lake to pick up Willa & Cam. Can't wait!

Indianola to Chariton: SUNSHINE!

Finally...after two miserable, long, cold, hilly days we finally get some fun. Woke up to a very dense fog cover this morning, but now we're having fun. We've got sunshine and some tail winds, so we can get a nice pace going. Every one seems almost giddy about the ride. In addition to the fabulous weather, it's a short day. Much needed after two 70+ mile days.

We're in Lacona at the moment, 14 miles from the end of our day.

The most interesting things we saw today:
1) two guys on unicycles
2) guy rollerblading the whole route
3) banana guy - we've seen him every day. He's a guy riding a three-wheel 'bent with big banana peel covering, plus he's wearing a banana costume. Yesterday he had Chiqita girls riding with him. Funny.

"A Less Than Pleasant Ride"

We're in Fontenelle, IA currently - six miles from the overnight stop (Greenfield). Current conditions: WET. I'd say today is not the best day I've had on a bike, but it's not the worst either.

We got started under heavy, gray skies around 7am. I kept waiting for the rain, but a few hours in it looked like we might get lucky and see it blow over. No luck. By the time we got to Corning (the half-way town) and got out of the United Methodist Church's basement, it had started to sprinkle. We did get lucky and got some of the last pie available there (in addition to a heavy plate of mashed potatoes and pasta).

We're ready to get these last few miles out of the way and set up our tent before it gets too wet tonight. Fingers crossed for a dry day tomorrow.

RAGBRAI DAY 1

We made it through Day One: Council Bluffs to Red Oaks.

We left from Cedar Rapids yesterday around 10:00AM, and arrived in Council Bluffs around 2:30-3:00PM. The best story if that our host family moved without informing Lonnie, our ride director. So, we drove up to the house (about seven miles from RAGBRAI central) and no one was home. Neighbors came out and said Wyatt have moved over a month ago. Fortunately, the neighbors were nice. Jamey and I camped on the lawn of Barry and Diane. They were so friendly and generous, and they told great stories. They'd just returned a few hours before we arrived from a week of camping. Jamey and I were commenting that we hope we're just like Barry and Diana in 25 years.

The ride today was nice, a little hilly, but the weather was good. We took off around 7am (after chasing a cicada off of Jamey's bike that wanted to ride along), and we found Farm Boys Burritos around 8:00. Perfect. We shared a burrito, and a new item, Vanilla Mocha (not recommended) and rode on. We were at the last pass through town by 11:30, so we decided to hang out for awhile and find some lunch. Found corn on the cob, kinky fries, and lemonade.

Now we've showered and set up tent and it's time to find the next meal! First, we'll take advantage of the Red Oak hospitality; they've set up a whole carnival for us! Jamey's intent on riding the zipper. I'm feeling more like the Ferris Wheel.

Tomorrow: 77 miles...a few more hills. Yikes!

The Questions

On a recent morning bike commute, Willa asked all of the following questions:

• What if birds had to follow the stop signs?
• Why aren't there road signs for airplanes?
• How do those airplanes actually stay in the sky?
• How do the birds stay away from the airplanes?
• Who invented the first bike?
• How do they make these bikes, anyway?
• Why doesn't everybody ride their bikes to camp in the mornings?
  
• Are we at the top of the hill, yet? (we have a rule: I don't answer questions on an uphill climb)
• Why do you and daddy do RAGBRAI?

Of course, there were probably more that I simply do not remember, but that last one sticks in my head. Why do we do RAGBAI? I gave her an answer then that satisfied her need to know, but the question stays with me. The first time, we did RAGBRAI it was because we lived in Iowa and we biked. It seemed logical that we should join, and being non-natives in this state, it seemed like a good way to get better acquainted.

Now, going into our third RAGBRAI (plus two other rides: SAGBRAW and TRAM), I can think of no better way to spend this week each summer. We leave in two days, and I am just starting to prepare for the preparations (I'm washing clothes at least...). Here are a few 'why-i-do-it's' that float to the surface today:

• Because the details of living for a week on a bike ride are so completely different than the details of our daily existance here, it's possible to leave Willa and Cam for a week with no guilt or regrets (it's also ONLY possible because I have parents willing and able to spend a week caring for them). Each year, I realize how lucky I am to get a week with Jamey free from parenting...free from work, email, voicemail, mowing the lawn, putting out the garbage, washing dishes, etc. etc. etc.
  
• There is no rush, no agenda, no plan other than to get on my bike and go. We get there when we get there. If we want to stop we stop. No obligation other than to keep the pedals moving.
• I love being part of the slow-moving mob of people with a common love of bicycling, yet thousands of differences sharing one road. I've had great conversations with people from all over the US, and sang TV theme songs for an hour one year with a bunch of Brits. I don't remember names or know where these people went after they passed me or stopped in the next town, but that's not the point.
• Each of the towns we pass through has something interesting to offer, and I'm learning a lot about the history and heritage of our state with each new route. Riding a bike between these towns affords a glimpse of the state I never get when we drive through. I stop at the rural churches and at the historical markers. Cows, trees, fields, farms and windmills get noticed with much deeper detail.
• Farm Boys Burritos, Pastafarian, Lemonade Guys ("the special") and this year I might even try Mr. Porkchop if he's ever on the route later than 9am. And pie. I'll continue my search for the perfect cinnamon roll.

Lastly, the sense of accomplishment I feel when I dip my tire into the Mighty Mississippi next week will be incredible - just thinking about it is making me smile already.

Better start the real prepartions!