RAGBRAI 2013

I have never done it, but a ton of people I know do it every year.  They love it.

I would really like to ride across Iowa, but I think I would really struggle with all the people, and I'd probably choose September weather

Have a great ride!

What happens on RAGBRAI, stays on RAGBRAI. Oh wait, you said family vacation...

We hosted about 30 people in 2009 and had them sign a banner.  The banner is going to be on the RAGBRAI display through 2015 at the State Historical Museum of Iowa with many other pieces but it is called "Riding Through History".  It should be a really neat exhibit and can't wait to see all of the cool old bikes, pictures, jerseys, etc....

That and I get some nice Yuengling's Black & Tan brought over from the east side of the country to share.  I think they are only bringing 4 cases.  That should get us through Saturday and Sunday.  :-)

We have been by the place quite a few times, but never stopped.  hmm

Last day of the work week and getting ready to start the RAGBRAI practice evening tonight as soon as I get home.  Everyone else is off work today and planning on being at my house getting things figured out.  I really want to be there, but I have to get this place ready while I am gone for a week.

I bet my RAGBRAI bike weighs over 30 lbs. easily.  But it is a touring steel bike with rear rack and panniers with enough tubes and tools to get me and the team across the state.  Well that and my speaker setup that runs off of 8 AA batteries and my mp3 player.  No matter how fast or how slow I ride, people usually are hanging around me for the music to get through the day.

A group of BTer's did it back in '09.  It was a blast.  None of us had really met each other before hand but we really had a good time. 

Kiley (Fire in the hole!)

Jeanette

Dennis

Laura (our Sag driver who was the bomb)

Andrew (the hobbit)

And most importantly John who organized the whole thing.  Miss you buddy. 

IF anyone ever has the opportunity, do it.  You and 10,000+ of your closest friends on the back roads of Iowa. 

Nothing like a PORK CHOP in the middle of a hot Iowa day to satisfy your hunger and get you through the rest of the day.

Here is my favorite photo.  Right before we headed out on the first day.

And Poor Boys for the start of the day, or AMOS' Sweet corn, or Beekman's ice cream.  Well that and all the church foods and all the other fund raiser food booths everywhere. 

Or even a nice cold bottle of Moose Drool when you get back to the camp site.

Oh yeah!  All of that.  Or the Pastafarians.  Or some Pie...... I like PIE!

Gonna do the century loop?

The century this year is 107.  I think parts of the family are doing it and others are not.  It will depend upon the day and the needs for me with the support vehicles.  This year it is my Yukon and my camper that the in-laws are driving in support, so if there are issues, I will be getting pulled from the route to go fix or pay for things to get fixed.

Hoping for the best and just got done fixing the last few camper projects last night in the dark, right before they showed up, so I think we are good to go and I hope I get to ride most of it, in not all of it.

That's cool.  In '09, my garmin registered 110.11 miles.  I was dead.

Have fun out there.