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by Rod Schultz
6:12 a.m.
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Wake up. No need for alarm clocks as the steady clinking of tent poles around you takes care of that. Pack down tent, sleeping bag and prepare for the day’s ride. Wipe morning dew off of bike seat and fill up water bottles. Stretch…
6:32 a.m.
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Take in a deep breath and hit the road. Follow crowd out of town and guess how many miles until we see food stands with smells of pancakes and sausage or breakfast burritos filling the air. Smell…
7:15 a.m.
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Enjoy a hearty breakfast 8-miles in at a local fire station. Catch mid-air pancakes launched by the local vendor’s springy spatula. Talk with people at table and ask how someone from Delaware heard about RAGBRAI. Stretch…
9:43 a.m.
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While rolling down a hill I see smoke wafting across the road. Yes, it is from a large grill next to a pink school bus with the words “Mr. Pork Chop” on the side. Keep rolling for now. Peddle…
11:03 a.m.
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Wonder if the roadside tent displaying homemade pies is worth stopping at. Ponder…
11:18 a.m.
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Chug up a hill… carry on a conversation with the guy next to me while he walks his bike… Realize I should have stopped for a slice of pie. Regret…
12:13 p.m.
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Ride into Iowa-ville, park the trusty bike, find a porta-pot, buy lunch at a local charity tent, and sit in the shade in the town square listening to a local band. Strike up a great conversation with someone from Team Skunk. Reapply SPF 30 to the nose and knees. Relax…
12:59 p.m.
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Hit the road, talk with three other cyclists, admire a tandem bike painted to look like a Holstein cow, complain that the wind is coming from all directions, and press on. Passed by riders from Team Air Force, who are much too driven. Ride alongside Team Tiny, a one man team, and ask how he can ride a kid’s BMX bike with gears. “I want to be different” is the reply from this 70-year old rider of short steeds. Observe…
1:32 p.m.
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Ride by a rest stop full of people flying down a homemade Slip-and-Slide that Joe the Farmer set up in his yard. Looks enticing but I keep on going. Ride…
2:21 p.m.
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After experiencing a great day of conversations along the scenic Iowa roads, I pull into our final town, coasting in to admire the scenery and locals cheering me on. Screaming kids cool me off with their garden hose. Yes! I follow the signs to the main message board center. After finding our instructions to our campsite I call home to tell the loved ones I’ve arrived. I find the campsite area in “Tent City”, check in with friends, share a cold beverage of choice and prepare for a shower at the local site. Unwind…
4:13 p.m.
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Following some lively conversation I walk around the area to the local bike shop section to buy a RAGBRAI t-shirt and an inner tube. I gave my tube away to a broken down rider earlier in the day. Enjoy some lively music and then find a big dinner tent to devour a heaping plate of pasta and a slice of pie served by a lovely older lady who still can’t believe how many people are in her town. The rest of the evening is spent at the local festivities or hanging around the campsite enjoying the tall tales of the daily ride. As the sun settles on the horizon, so do my eye lids. I sleep like a rock. Recharge…
Get as crazy or relaxed as you want. It's your ride! On Wednesday you are thinking "Why am I doing this?" By Saturday you are planning for next year.
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