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RAGBRAI 2010





Day One (for us)



Charles City to Waterloo



82.2 miles





With yesterday's roller coaster of stress and redemption behind us, Thursday would be a day to relax on the roads and in the towns of Central Iowa. The spirit of RABGRAI had saved us, at least for a day, as our gear was on its way to Waterloo inside an ancient school bus. Larry was already working to secure our gear transportation for the next two days, phoning and texting anyone and everyone for leads. But for now, I was looking forward to showing Michelle what I'd been talking about since we'd started dating: RAGBRAI, the mother of all group rides.


On our first date in March, we talked at length about bicycles. Michelle was planning to visit an upcoming bike show in Madison, Wisconsin, where she would come home with a new Trek road bike. Little did I know that evening at a bar in Rockford (it was a nice bar), we would eventually fall in love riding the roads of Illinois and Wisconsin. We were full of plans for big fun on bikes, and RAGBRAI was on our must-do list.



Charles City to Waterloo



The Road to Waterloo





Michelle, like me, is quick in gearing up for a ride. In short time we were on the road, leaving town for a southern route to Parkersburg. Michelle's initial reaction to her first miles on a RAGBRAI route seemed similar to mine in 2008, which is sheer awe of the mass of riders all going the same place. In May, we had ridden in Chicago's "Bike the Drive, which

attracts about the same number of riders as RAGBRAI (if the "unofficial" riders like us are counted), but the route is on Lake Shore Drive, closed to traffic and three or more lanes in each direction. RAGBRAI is mostly two-lane county roads where automobiles are part of the experience. ​



Larry and Chris pulled out of sight shortly after we began our ride, leaving me and Michelle to enjoy the sunny skies together. We stopped in Clarksville for food and drink, then continued on to Parkersburg. We sat along a sidewalk, enjoying the sights and sounds of RAGBRAI, which included a group of locals selling puppies in their front yard. A local lady stopped to chat and told us of the events of May 28, 2008, when an EF-5 tornado devastated the south half of the town. None of the tornado's effects were evident in the downtown area where we sat, but as we continued through Parkersburg, the path of the funnel cloud became crystal clear. Within a transition of about 100 feet, the town changed from old to new. Everything south of a certain block had been destroyed. Trees taller than 10 feet were nonexistent. All the houses were new, the high school was new, and the bank was new. Large photos had been placed along the route to illustrate the tornado's destructive aftermath. Video footage from inside a bank showed why you don't want to be above ground when an EF-5 is bearing down on your town.


The town's rebirth was impressive, as Parkersburg appeared to have recovered. But it is, in many ways, two towns now.



Bike sculpture



I wasn't shooting for photographic effect here. I just hadn't figured out how to operate my new Motorola Droid smart phone (my first). I accidentally switched the settings to black and white and couldn't figure out how to change them back to color.



Pups in Parkersburg



They were for sale to any rider who wished to carry them to Dubuque.



devastation



An EF-5 tornado struck Parkersburg on May 28, 2008. The path of destruction was on the south end of the town. When we passed through here, most of the south side was filled with new homes and a new high school.



Later in the day we stopped by the famous Mr. Pork Chop, where Michelle enjoyed her first true taste of Iowa. I've traveled to many places across the Midwest, dined at the finest chop houses and tasted many versions of pork, but Mr. Pork Chop is so good, rumor has it vegans are willing to make exceptions. I suppose it helps when you're burning 2000 calories a day riding a bike and you're hungry enough to eat the corn cobs that fire the grill, but still...there is no substitute. When in RAGBRAI, Mr. Pork Chop is mandatory.



Mr. Pork Chop



You must eat one.



middle aged caucasions & fanny packs



This is the result.



In Hudson, the final town before Waterloo, we rejoined with Larry and Chris. We had pedaled about 70 miles already, with another 12 to go. While training for RAGBRAI, Michelle and I had ridden a couple of 60-mile routes, but we were now on our longest ride together. Her pace was strong and she showed no signs of fatigue. We hung with "the boys" most of the way to Waterloo, where we found our gear near the South Hills golf course on the (where else?) south edge of town. Larry had made a connection with someone who knew someone with a lead on gear transportation, so we were able to move our gear to a new transport vehicle, a school bus named "Old Blue". Its group of bikers were some of the nicest, most helpful people I've ever met. Anything we needed, they were happy to provide. The spirit of RAGBRAI lived on.


We set up our tents in the main campground near the Isle of Capri Casino, beside the carnival-like setting of the Lost Island water park. There we found mobile shower trucks, which after 87 miles of riding were similar to finding cool water in the middle of Death Valley. For $5 apiece, we bought the privilege of a hot shower inside a converted semi-trailer, with stalls just large enough to turn yourself around in. Larry and Chris and I stepped in line for the guy's trailer, while Michelle endured a longer women's line which moved considerably slower. By the time I was done with my shower, she was still waiting her turn.


Now clean and freshly clothed, we strolled over to the food vendor area, ate dinner and called it a night. The radar map showed rain headed our way.





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Waterloo to Manchester

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