Have you ever been experienced?

I am not sure how it is that I can describe the Ragbrai experience.

There are the tremendous people. You see some of the nicest gestures from all sorts of people along the route. You will see complete strangers helping one another without hesitation. They will ride up next to you just to strike up a conversation and you may end up with a lifelong friend. I talked to one guy that was doing the ride with his wife on their 10th anniversary of meeting on Ragbrai in 2001.

There is the outstanding food. Not only will you see some great local fare with options like the little Danish diner in Elk Horn but there are also some great family run mobile food trucks (or buses) that serve everything from pork chops served in a paper towel (Mr. Pork Chop), a pesto pasta served with grilled salmon (Pastafari), Smoked Turkey Legs (Mr. Tom Turkey) or the homemade pies that you will find all along the route.

There are the all out parties. Each town you go through opens up their doors to all of the businesses and throw a good old fashioned Iowa street party. Bars open early, bands play in the streets (and even singing nuns in Manning) and food and pie are readily available. At the overnight towns there tends to be a large street fest, usually with bands. That is where you can catch acts like the Nadas, Grand Funk Railroad, Hairbanger's Ball & .38 Special.

Of course I suppose I should talk about the bike riding because this rolling party would just be a state wide party if it isn't for the bikes. I know that most serious bike riders consider Ragbrai just a bar crawl on two wheels, but it's hard to not take a 7 day ride that averages 60-70 miles a day somewhat seriously.

Overall these are my first thoughts about the ride that seems like took place eons ago. I will be back as more memories come to me.