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.

Let the madness begin!!!

This will be the scene every morning for the next week. I look forward to being one of these crazies out on the road. I will try to keep up with postings as I ride, but for now here I go!!!!!

Is it Sunday yet?

I have everything checked, re-checked and re-checked again. I have everything, if I don't I am sure that in that vast cornfield known as Iowa can provide it for me. The plan is to pack up the van tonight and head out nice and early tomorrow so that we are in Glenwood before dark. I am sure that the plan will run without a hitch.

I have no idea when I will be posting along the route, I may just write when I find something funny to share, but I will be in contact soon.

Mixing my two loves.

Not only am I going to be riding my bike for 7 days there will be plenty of music to keep me occupied at night too. I have found out that not only will I get to see Grand Funk Railroad and .38 Special as part of the RAGBRAI festivities but now I found out that Snoop Dogg will be playing just outside of Des Moines the night we will be in Altoona (about 15 miles away for those non-Iowans). Talk about perfect, mixing a bike ride with seeing concerts, this is turning out to be a great week.

18 days!!!!

So I have a blog now. This is something that I have thought about for years and since I will be doing the full 7 days of RAGBRAI (Register's Annual Great Bicycle Ride Across Iowa) the first time I figured this would be the best time to start (thanks for the idea David!). In the coming weeks I will post my excited ramblings as I prepare to embark on my trip as well as blogging from the roads of Iowa.

Keep in mind I am a butcher by trade and not an English major. Things will be misspelled and grammatically incorrect all over the place.