6 posts tagged “ragbrai”

I've finally uploaded the last of the Ragbrai 35, 2007 photos. I hope to add comments or descriptions on some of them with time but, don't be surprised if I don't. Ragbrai is done and I've moved on already. Here's one of the recent photos I uploaded.

Go Army Team

We Finished. Ragbrai 35 2007

Jul 29, 2007
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This is just a quick post. Will update later.

Update. OK, I have been uploading pictures that I took while on Ragbrai. I still have lots more to upload. I hope you like them.

Here's my post comments.

It was really great to have my sister on Ragbrai this year. It was her first time so she didn't exactly know what to expect. It was a bit harder that she had expected. She said I tend to glamorize the ride a bit, but she still had a lot of fun.

The last two days were a bit hilly and took a toll on Shari and me. I wasn't able to train for hills because I tore a tenon in my foot before the ride, but I was still able to ride my bike. It would of taken a lot to keep me from going on Ragbrai.

Shari was a little slow, but that is to be expected. I was also slow on my first Ragbrai. When your a little slow you tend to come into the last town a little later, which cuts into your rest time and entertainment time. I think it also wears you out more in that you spend more time on the bike. So what usually happened is we would come into town a little late, get our bags, set up camp, make calls to home and friends, find something to eat, shower and if there was any time left we would chat a bit and than hit the hay for the next day, because we were worn out from the long ride that day. Somehow we managed to find time to explore a bit and when ever possible get on the internet and send a couple of e-mails.

We got up every day at 5:30 am.

Friday, was party night and boy did we party. We listen, danced and jumped to two live bands. I made friends with a couple of Miller girls and guys, and in return they gave me a couple of free beers. I tried to win the Miller Lite team bus in a raffle, but alas someone else took that big thing home. I could be heard saying what am I going to do if I win that bus?

We had sunny hot 90 plus degree weather every day, with one night of rain. Suntan lotion was a constant companion for Lynn and Shari. I only used it minimally and then a little more after a couple of days. My tan was getting burnt after a couple of days. By the end of the ride it was hard to stand out in the sun and we would always seek shade wherever possible.

Other than Friday night, I think our best time was when we rode through Amish country were we took some time to eat ice cream, root beer floats, and take a horse and buggy ride. It was also interested to see how they lived from a little closer view point. There are no pictures from that area, because we choose to respect their right not to have their pictures taken. We also got to see a little boy high on a hay wagon controlling the horses while an adult or father gathered the hay and through it up on the wagon. One think I noted is there were a lot of little children and that the Amish people that I met didn't talk much.

Throughout most of the ride Shari, could be heard saying "And why would I want to come back again next year?"

I hope she found her answer.

As far as next year goes I plan to take a vacation with my wife. It would probably take a lot of prodding for me to change my mind.