JS and I rode the first three days of RAGBRAI. We signed on with the Pella Cycling Club. The charter bus picked us up at Irwins at 10:00 am on Saturday. This guy steps off of the bus and proceeds to tell us we have 7 minutes to load we did it in 3. He was impressed. The bus was loaded with all of the other Pella group. I knew alot of them because I work with them. There were a few new faces and my Tri buddy and his girlfriend had made the trip from Illinois and were already on the bus.
JS and I found our seats in the back and we were on our way. I have no idea why but I think that we were marked as "trouble" from the start. Maybe it was when they asked our name I said "Julie" then they asked Julie and she said "Julie" We soon became known as Jules Jules. It was a nice bus ride over to Missouri Valley we chatted with each other, other people, Did some crossword puzzles and watched a tape of the tour de france.
After we got to Missouri Valley we found the "blue" Pella bus and set up our tents. After that it was the drill sargent again, we found out that his name was Mike, "We will be riding to the Missouri River in T minus 30". Then T minus 29......Who could want to be late for that...so after we changed clothes off we went.
Erica, Dan, JG and JS Dipping back tire in Missouri River RAGBRAI 2008
JS and JG Dipping back tire in Missouri River RAGBRAI 2008Then back to Missouri Valley and food. I will say that I was not impressed with the shuttle service of Missouri Valley we had to wait forever to get a shuttle to the Expo and decided to walk back to our tents instead of waiting for the shuttle. Did I tell you we were across town from the expo so that was a 2-3 mile walk back. Not impressed at all.
Day 1 Missouri Valley to Harlan Mileage: 59 Miles Climb:3797 feet
Going through Beebeetown, Underwood, Neola, Minden, Shelby and Tennant
I had set my alarm for 6:00 well at about 5:25 all you could hear was ZIP ZIP ZIP ZIP ZIP ZIP...tent zippers opening and people getting ready for the day. JS and I soon realized that we didnt really need alarms, the zippers worked just fine each morning. Everyone got ready to go at 6:30 we all gathered for a prayer since it was sunday. This was the only day that the group started out together. I figured a prayer never hurt anyone.
JS and I started our trek to Harlan, we stopped at Chris cakes for breakfast. Each day we had something different to eat for breakfast. One thing about RAGBRAI is that you are using up alot of calories so you can afford to eat a little more than normal.
JS taking a pic of people riding by as we wait in line for Chris Cakes.It was a beautiful morning very nice for riding. We took our time and it took us about 5.5 hours to get to Harlan. When we decided to go on RAGBRAI we said that we were going to go slow and enjoy the country side and people.
2 Jules having fun, notice that JS is the brunette and JG is the blond we decided to switch hair color for the pic.
More of the Pella Group in Shelby feeding their faces with good homemade food.
Shelby had a sign for people to autograph, Dan and Erica leaving their mark.In Harlan we stayed on a country club driving range...no no one was practicing. The manager of the Country club was a peach. She came and told us that she had sandwiches that we could purchase. In an air conditioned Club house. She was very accommodating. Dan, Erica, JS and I all went to check out the pool. It felt good to take a dip in some water and we had to check out the slide. JS and I only stayed for an hour or so then decided to take a shower and take advantage of the club house. We ended up finding a corner somewhere and lying down and resting for awhile.
We found out that Dan does not know his directions, JS wanted to correct him but I told her to bank it for later..JS I still don't think that he believes us when we tell him that I told you to bank that bit of information about his lack of navigation skills.
We checked out uptown but didn't find anything to interesting so headed back to the club house and stayed there until it was time to go to bed. I guess that we should have been ready for what came next since it was so humid out. At 2:15 am I woke up for some reason and it was just still,very freaky. I could then hear the winds coming and the tent starts to just shake. I called out to JS to see if she was awake and threw on some clothes. About that time a police car came by with the lights flashing telling us to get up and seek shelter that there was tornado and thunderstorms coming. Dan yelled at me and I told them to get up and get out. So basically the group ended up in the maintenance shed of the golf course for about an hour. Luckily Harlan was on the edge of the storm and we didn't get much if any damage. The ZIP ZIP ZIP of the zippers came way to early that morning.
Day 2 Harlan to Jefferson Mileage: 83 miles Climb: 5,239 feet
Going through Kimballton, Elk Horn, Exira, Larland, Coon Rapids, and Scranton
We knew that this was going to be a tough day. It has been a while since I have ridden 82 miles and with all of the hills it was going to be a challenge. Away we went todays breakfast was Biscuits and Gravy in Kimballton. They were good. I have a garmin computer and i was seeing some 8-11 percent grades on some of these hills. JS and I had gotten into a comfortable routine. I ride faster on the hills so I would ride my speed then once I got to the top I would slow down and wait for her to go "WHEE" as she flew by me on the down hill or if there was not a downhill I would just peddle slowly until she caught up.
The name tags on our bikes said 2 Jules on a bike. So JS would get alot of comments as she rode up the hill "Where is the other Jules" she would just point up the hill. Or people would just stop and talk to us as they rode by going "Hi 2 Jules". The men in our group said they could always tell that it was us because we were the only two on the ride with pink seats. So they would look for the pink seats. I think that it was just an excuse for them look at womens butts.
We stopped at Pastafari for lunch. Some of the best pasta that I have had in ages. All freshly made. On this stop a corn leaf got alittle friendly with JS. We had to use the restroom and there was this beautiful corn field well since we are both farm girls...no problem. we each picked a row and away we went. I heard her burst out laughing. As she was picking up her stuff she bent down and a leaf decided to go up her nose. For no reason just because it wanted to I guess.
After getting things situated away we went. About noon is when I could tell that it was going to be a long hot day. However it was not until we were headed into Coon Rapids that I knew we were getting ditzy. we were going coasting down a hill and I noticed a big hill ahead and then I realized we didn't have to go up this big hill. So I thought that I would inform JS...the conversation went something like this.
JG: "We don't have to climb the big hill"
JS: "yep" I thought she had said "HUH" so
JG: "We dont have to climb the big hill"
JS: "I heard you"
JG: "oh I must be going deaf"
JS: "Why would we go left"
(dumb look on my face)
JG: "I said I must be deaf"
JG: "Oh I thought you said we needed to turn left"
*hysterical laughter insued*
We actually turned right not left. We stopped in Coon Rapids for a while to eat and rest up.
Then as we were in Coon Rapids more stupidy insued. JS needed an ATM I followed her and set my full water bottles on the sill and waited for her. As we walk away I pick up my water bottles...
JS: "dont you want your water bottles"
JG: "Yah I have them"
JS: "No you dont they are still on the ledge"
I look at my hand and i had picked up a bottle cap instead of my water bottles
JG: "Yah I guess that I will need them"
*hysterical laughter*
We saw some more pella people..."Heys Jules Jules"
As we were leaving JS stated that we only had 10 miles to go...
JG: "No we have 27 miles to go"
JS: "No only 10"
JG: "Nope 27"
*JS looks at map*
JS: "OH I missed a town"
no laughter this time more like groaning. JS here - LOTS of groaning!!
After Coon Rapids the road leveled off not so many hills. What we did notice was the destruction that the storm had done. There were some corn fields where some of the corn was flattened. Grain bins tore apart. Trees down everywhere. Made me glad that we were in Harlan and not Jefferson the night before. I could tell that JS was getting tired so on the hills I would slow down and ride with her up them. I have had much much more time to practice then she has. JS did a fabulous job on all of the hills. That night we stayed on a baseball field. It rained for a bit just after we got in then cooled off. We went and checked out the town then back to the campgrounds and bed. It was a great night to sleep....ZIP ZIP ZIP.
Hey..JS here, it's JG who's still a little delirious. I do believe the hill and deaf conversation came after Coon Rapids as we were heading into Scranton. Luckily we really did only have 10 miles left at that point!! JG-Me delirious NEVER!!
Day 3 Jefferson to Ames Mileage: 57 miles Climb: 1,377feet
Going through Grand Junction, Dana, Ogden, and Boone
JS and I had noticed that Mama Ralphael's Had designated it Bike Iowa Day so we both wore our Bike Iowa jerseys. Breakfast was at Mama Ralphaels breakfast burritos. My goodness, eggs, pancakes, make your own burrito, biscuts and gravy. It was a feast and of course I ate to much but it was good.
JG and JS in Bike Iowa Jerseys. (I didn't wear those shorts riding! I had to get my wet icky chamois shorts off!! JS)After yesterday this ride was a dream flat as can be. We enountered alot of trains today but we both like trains so it was no problem. We ran into Taylor Web in Ogden.
Ogden cheerleaders
The pink seats came in handy we could always find our bikes.After Ogden was Boone in between Ogden and Boone was the one hill so I was going to stay with JS on the hill but she told me to go so I did. She again did great.
JS at the top of the hill. Good Job JS!! Burn baby burn...that's what my legs were saying..JSToday we rode and talked to people. When we enountered a head wind JS would just tuck in and I would ride a steady pace. Dan and Erica caught up to us just outside of Ames so we all rode in together. Ames sent us through campus and handed us bandanas with Cy on a bike. This night our group was staying at the 1st Christian Church. JS and I were however headed home. However we had to wait for Bill to get off of work. So we were there for awhile. Took showers went to the food court then went back to the church and waited for Bill.
I had alot of fun. here are a few of my favorites.
food: I dont like pie but there was a religous group that made the best homemade ice cream. I would guess that they were either Amish or Mennonites.
JS - definitely the Apple Dumpling I had in Coon Rapids...YUMMY!!
Team: Team Where's Waldo. a group of 7 and each day someone dressed up as waldo and put the "I Am Waldo" sign on their bike. while the others had "Where's Waldo" signs on their bikes.
JS - I also like Waldo...but you have to like the Air Force team! :)
Best Moment on Bike: The "why are we turning left" conversation. (JS notice I didnt mention the Air Force Guys :))
JS - OK, I'll have to say the Air Force comment. One guy had "give-aways" tucked in his shorts. My comment to JG..."We have to find the Air Force guy with the balls in his shorts!" her reply - "JS, I think all the Air Force guys have balls in their shorts!" my reply - "I need to find the one with 2 on the left and one on the right"...by the way, I never did find him! JG here, believe me we looked at every Air Force Guy that went by.
Best conversation with Group: The explaination of regular butt butter compared to the "Europeon" butt butter
Best town mascot: The coon rapids road kill Raccoon. What a funny stunt.
JS - I think that was the only town mascot. I was kind of disappointed with the pass-through and overnight town themes. They didn't seem to get too crazy with them. Cy was in Ames...but that's a given!
JG here did I tell you that Cy does not like it when you say "Go Hawks"!:)
We both had a great time as Bob Hope use to say "Thanks for the memories!"
Until Next time PEACE JG
