RAGBRAI 2009

So, we did it. Justin completed four days of RAGBRAI and I one. One was enough for me, although I think that I could have gotten my sore butt on top of my bike for one more day. It was the hills though that were tough.

Justin always told me how much fun it was to bike, stop in a town for a beer, bike, stop, bike stop.....all 78 miles. And that is what we did. It was clearly an experience and one that I want to repeat again next year. So, are there any takers out there??? How much fun would it be to get a team together. Start thinking of a name the more creative the better. It truly is a party on two wheels.

My friend Julie took a disposable camera and I am waiting on those pictures to be developed. It should be fun to see what comes out of those pictures. Without the immediate gratification of a digital screen I don't know what to expect.

We started on Wed. driving to Chariton, IA only to realize that I, forgot the tent. So, Julie and I had to sleep in the back of the Rodeo, which turned out to be a blessing in disguise as it rained over an inch on Thursday morning. Justin got rained out of his tent and ended up in the passenger side of the car. Thursday morning we tore down camp, and climbed on top of our bikes to meet up with the route. Our first stop was in Bethlehem, IA for homemade donuts being peddled by a third grader. The boys got a delicious chicken sandwich.

Next, we stopped at Crazy Connies for Bloody Marys and beers. Along the route we found a state park that was serving micro brews...sure we said and had two there.
A little longer down the road we found a town with a beer garden. It was time for lunch so we grabbed walking tacos and beer. Our last stop along the path was a roadside homemade ice cream stand Beekman's. Justin and I had raspberry/chocolate ice cream. I saw a raccoon in a trap and got heckled by a little girl who thought I was crazy for thinking that the raccoon was kinda cute and should be let out. Apparently she thought the inhumane tiny trap was fine for it.

About that time it was looking like a storm was brewing so we decided to take the last 13 miles in one fell swoop and ended up in Ottumwa.

That my friends was my day in a nutshell on RAGBRAI 2009.
Maybe Justin will get on to share a bit about his experience. He's been a little lax on the blogging.