The final day

With this year's final town being so small we knew Team Cuisine would face many challenges getting us back to reality so we, Lynn, got creative. We cut the route short just outside of Waterville and headed south, off route, to Marquette Iowa to meet with the bus and truck. The route itself was nice and hilly again, which always happens when you get to the Mississippi River valley, but it was a gorgeous day. Once we got to our turn off to go off the official route we were no longer protected by ragbrai but the road was nice and traffic was light since everyone else was at the official finish town, which later we heard was an hour plus traffic jam going in. Once we all met at the truck and loaded our bikes it was a "quick" bite to eat. All 20 of us left on the bus rolled into a small diner and overwhelmed the poor staff. Once breakfast was over it was time to load onto the bus for the much quieter ride home. I'm not sure we crossed the Mississippi before most of us were sleeping.

With the 4 hour trip behind us we rolled into Red's house, the Irish Inn, and unloaded the truck and just like that it was over for another year, well other than the DC Roundtable where we sit and tell stories with the DC crew that would be spending the night at the Inn and that is one of my favorite parts of the week.

Another year done and I'm already missing my Team Cuisine family.

Day 6? Already?

With Thursday off I had some fresh legs Friday morning and I am glad for that. The hills were the ones I've come to expect from Iowa and we haven't seen many this year at all. Friday's climb was almost 3000 feet and most of that was in a 40 of the 60 miles but it was what I love about the ride. The views in the hills, especially in the northeast part of the state, are breathtaking. There was one downhill on a newly paved road that I hit 45 mph and it was a total blast!

One of Friday's pass through towns was Decorah which is the town I got married in almost 20 years ago. The town has changed quite a bit with hip new restaurants and a couple of well known craft breweries but the church and pizza place we had our rehearsal dinner at were still there so I was glad to see those. If you're ever in the Decorah Iowa area don't miss Mabes Pizza.

Dinner was Tandoori chicken, an Indian rice dish, homemade tzatziki, a green salad and an eggplant dish that had some heat to it. Plus we had homemade naan and that was pretty awesome.

Saturday is the final day and we have an interesting challenge with the route and the end town so when I'm off the bike and on the bus I will recap the last day.

House captaining

I know this is a day late but there was some connection issues so I couldn't get this sent. Today's should be up later tonight.

Yesterday was my first attempt of being a house captain for Team Cuisine. This is something you are eligible for after 4 years on the team. This was all new to me but I was to get to the house with the chefs ahead of the team to answer any questions the host may have and solve any issues that come up.  My day was interesting.

We started with a breakfast buffet, so things were starting great. We got to the house in Cresco and the work started. Talking with the host about where we can sleep/shower while unloading the truck. All expected so far. A few more issues came up throughout the day but all were dealt with but since this was my first attempt as captain and I wanted to do it right I was a bit stressed. After my speech before dinner and after clean up I sat in the yard and listened to our traveling band, the Spokesmen, and relaxed a little, especially since we had the hostesses' father sir in I could finally relax. Mern was an old guitarist that had not played with a band for 25 years and he was a little nervous but his version of Okie from Muskogee was pretty good.

Dinner was 2 kinds of paella, one with chicken and Spanish chorizo and the other was octopus and shrimp, marinated mushrooms, some kale and a broccoli/pepper dish. It was great, of course.

Back

Day something. I think it's 4.

That title may say it all. I am currently in the vortex. The whole west coast could have washed into the ocean and I would have no idea. I never know what time it is or what day it is. It's fantastic.

So today was another shorter day. 57 (60 from door to door) miles but the threat of rain got the whole team up and out early. It was another day of leaving before 6:30 AM. I was prepared for storms and all we, me, Christine axdgpnd Art, got was an annoying sprinkle that wasn't worth the rain gear. There was not as much stopping today with a breakfast stop at Farm Kids, a group of locals that make breakfast bowls & burritos that are amazing, aand a lunch stop at pastafari, a pasta/pesto/zucchini bowl that really hit the spot. There was one beer stop to make sure to get a stamp for the free t-shirt but we rolled into the host house in Charles City shortly after noon. For as bad it could have been, today actually turned out to be pretty awesome, wet, but awesome. It amazes me what passes for a great day on ragbrai.

For dinner tonight we had steak night! Grilled sirloin, homemade parker house rolls, salt crusted potatoes (as a true irishman that was my favorite), Caesar salad and for desert a dark chocolate and beet brownie thing. Again, another home run.

Tomorrow is my first attempt at house captain which means no riding tomorrow for me and since I have no idead, other than we get to have a nice sit down breakfast at one point, I will fill you in tomorrow. For now, it's off to Charles City main square for some more music but I will not hold my breath it will be as good as last night.

Music worth sharing

After dinner last night our Team Cuisine touring band, known as the Spokesmen, set up with a special guest, Mark Seremek from Brookfield Illinois who is riding in his first ragbrai, who sat in on harmonica and guitar allowing Jeff Teppema a chance to play fiddle. Of course Tom Tallman and Red handled the low end to perfection. They sounded almost like actual professionals but were a good warm up for what was to come.

After the instruments were loaded back on the truck we hopped in a car and went downtown Clear Lake to see the Wailers play. They were the highlight of all ragbrai music acts and I've seen Great White!  They really had the town hopping and even kept the drunk riders entertained.

It was a good end to a day that had some challenges.

Day 3. Wind, wind, wind and more wind

As I mentioned yesterday I would be setting myself up for failure by staying up to late before the short day and I actually behaved myself by going to bed before midnight. I'm glad I did. With sustained cross winds of 15-18 miles per hour and gusts of over 20 today was challenging enough. I rode out late with Art and Christine from DC and that was the best thing I could have done. They were in the same boat I was with the wind and we stopped quite often. With 3 beer trucks along the route, Christine and her constant search for her beer shirt(if you stop at 10 if the 13 beer stops throughout the week you get a cool beer shirt) we needed to stop often and it was perfect.

One of the pass through towns was Britt which is home to the national hobo convention each year so there was a hobo museum and actual hobos wandering around. Who knew that was still a thing?

Tonight's overnight town is Clear Lake and that is great for 2 reasons. The lake, which I was swimming in 10 minutes after dismounting my bike, and the Surf Ballroom. If you are unfamiliar with the Surf Ballroom it is the last place Buddy Holly, Ritchie Valens and the Big Bopper played before their fateful flight. The ballroom is steeped in tradition and still active to this day. Today marked my 6th stop there and I would never pass by without stopping in. It is awesome and still gives me chills when I walk in.

Dinner tonight was grilled pork loins that were stuffed with rice and covered in a cherry raspberry sauce, a fresh green salad, grilled carrots & broccoli, potatoes & parsnips and a Dairy Queen ice cream cake for Dr. Mike Minor's birthday. Again, another incredible meal. 

Tomorrow is another 50ish miler but rain is in the forecast. I have my Pancho so we'll see how that fares.

Day 2. Century day

I have mentioned to people before that I have ridden 100 miles in one ride before and I have been called many variations of crazy. I really do enjoy doing these "century" ride so I'm beginning to agree there might be something wrong with me.

The traditional 100 mile day for the last 3 years has been to ride with Lynn. For those of you who know me well you know I can talk and talk and talk. Lynn is a kindred soul in that respect. I'm not sure either of us heard what the other said all day because we were just talking over each other. She does get ragbrai MVP so far for finding the soda fountain in West Bend where we had chocolate malts. It was heaven.

After a late arrival and a visit from Aunt Jo, an Algona native, for dinner and a visit from aunt Sharon, Uncle Arnie, aunt Dyann and uncle Don it was an incredible night.

Dinner tonight was lamb stuffed cabbage, beet salad, a cabbage salad and some apple tart. As usual it was incredible.

Tomorrow is only a 50 mile day, the shortest of the week, so that means I will be going downtown to listen to terrible music and staying up too late to make the short day miserable. It's my tradition.

Day 1

There are days on ragbrai that might be harder than others. Weather, hills and wind can always be a huge factors well as sleep the night before. Last night's sleeping on a floor in a bank was not ideal for me so it was a pre-5 am rise meaning we were on the road by 6 am. That could make for a long day but instead today was the most perfect riding weather I've ever had on ragbrai. At noon it was only 79 degrees and the wind was whipping but it was an amazing cool breeze that made today perfect.

Our house tonight sits on the country club in Spencer and there are trees for my hammock!

Tonight's dinner was grilled, spinach & shrimp stuffed corvina, yellow and green squash, a cucumber salad and a potato dish that was my highlight of the night.

My wife and daughter came down from Okoboji to join us for dinner and it was great to see them even though my daughter was bored of me very quickly.

100 mile day tomorrow so it's time for bed in the hammock. All is right with the world.

Travel day

Saturday is a double edged sword. It's great to catch up with everyone on the 8-10 hour journey to the other side of Iowa but there's also the 8-10 journey to the other side of Iowa. I'm glad to be off the bus and in a Team Cuisine first we are staying in a bank tonight. I feel like I'm in am Ocean's Eleven movie. We are very close to the town square and with the lack of green space there's no room for a tent or hammock tonight so I guess I'll have to sleep indoors tonight.

We are on our own for dinner tonight because the chefs don't meet us until tomorrow so it is a tubed meat on a stick or a walking taco for dinner tonight.

I guess tomorrow I will have to get on the bike and pedal. Wish me luck!!

Just a few days to go!

As I start to pack and get all my gear together for this year's ride I am getting a little more excited.  My favorite week of the year is almost here!! The emails have been flying around between my Team Cuisine family, some of them are even serious but not many.

Monday started the preparation for Team Cuisine.  Early Monday we will start the removal of all of the supplies from the Irish Cottage (aka Red's wife's house) and each day we will work on a little more to prepare us to take 24 riders, TOB, 2 support staff and 3 chefs across the state if Iowa.  It still amazes me how well this team works together but I guess people will do whatever is asked to be fed a gourmet meal every night!!!

This year's route is a northern route and the hills look like they will be a little easier on the legs this year and with the mileage around only 400 miles and a day off to be a "house captain" this year it should be one of the more enjoyable rides yet!!  We also get to go through some Iowa towns that are special to me and my family.  Algona is the hometown to most of my wife's family, Clear Lake has the Surf Ballroom where Buddy Holly, Big Bopper and Ritchie Valens played their last show and Decorah is the town my wife and I got married in.  It really is like they designed the route just for me this year!!

Well, I need to get back to my training which at this point is eating a lot of food and staying up past my bedtime.  I'll post again this weekend with some good stories about the long bus trip out to Orange City!!