Next week, I will begin what will hope to be my seventh full Ragbrai experience. Before I hit the road, I thought it would be fun to look back at some of the fun times we've had over the years.
2009
Our first Ragbrai in 2009 went from Council Bluffs to Burlington, IA with overnight stops in Indianola and Ottumwa. At a distance of 442 miles and a total of 22,806 feet of climb, it was the hilliest Ragbrai that we've ever experienced. Our second and third day ever of having ridden Ragbrai had us climb 5096 feet and then 4470 feet. The hilliest and third hilliest days of Ragbrai we have ever done.
It was the year Erin and I became engaged, as I put together a big engagement party at my mother's place it Ottumwa. See the opening picture.
It is hard to describe now the awe that I felt on the first morning as we took off from Council Bluffs. We had just taken down a soaking wet camp (from dew) and there was a pretty thick fog. I was mesmerized by the number of bicycles all around me.
The fog hasn't quite lifted
Mike and Cara Corey, and Cara's dad Ron on our way to Ottumwa (to surprise Erin)
Newly engaged, we celebrate with Cory and Jake in Ottumwa
It was just Erin, myself and Dad that rode the whole distance in 2009.
2010
Our second Ragbrai ride was the the second longest clocking in at 451 miles total (the patch says 442, which is inaccurate). This was the year I kept a journal. On Friday evening before we got on our charter with Lake Country Cyclists, a tornado went right by dad's place in Indianola. He witnessed it coming directly at his house, but it turned and they missed the damage. Having missed his house, he was able to still go on Ragbrai.
Missouri Dip in Sioux City, IA
Lonnie joined our small crew for the 2nd year. Erin and I thought it would be fun to wear the same shirts the entire week. Here you see us wearing the Novinger Coal Miner Days 5K shirt. We were big into races back then.
In Storm Lake at the end of Day 1
In Algona at the end of Day 2
In Clear Lake at the end of Day 3
On the campus of Hawkeye Community College in Waterloo, end of Day 5
One of the highlights of the week for me was swinging from this amazing rope swing. Not too long after I had left, someone went off nude and they had to shut the whole thing down. They had it roped off, were charging $5 to get in, and then you had to sign a waiver.
The 2010 Ragbrai was also the one that contained Potter Hill. It was brutal, as only a small percentage of riders could make it to the top without walking their bikes. From what I understand, walking your bike up the hill was tough enough.
I was very proud of having climbed that hill.
We finished in Dubuque for another fantastic year. It was the year of my favorite jersey, which I still have and will wear this year.
Lonnie almost matches.
2011
At 450 miles, 2011 was the third longest ride I have done (although it may as well be tied for 2nd since 2010 was 451) and the second hilliest at 20197 feet of climb. The first two days were brutal, climbing 4298 from Glenwood to Atlantic, and then 4719 from Atlantic to Carroll. These two days were the 2nd and 4th hilliest days of Ragbrai that I have ever done.
Erin took a break from Ragbrai in 2011, and would continue the streak until her return in 2014, as she was putting a lot of focus on her dissertation.
Jason, Ralph, Lonnie, Chuck, Don, Larry, Bitz
Prior to Ragbrai 2011, I created several ideas for a video that I would create. This script was more detailed than my entire journal of Ragbrai itself. The videos I took were only during the first two days. Apparently, I gave up on the idea.
So, instead of any decent photos, I have a bunch of crummy videos that could not be used for anything.
One of only four photos taken during 2011.
2012
Setting off on the 2012 Ragbrai together: Jason, Mike, Lonnie, Ralph, Chuck, Don, Bitz, Larry (not pictured: John)
There were nine of us that started the longest (at 471 miles) and hottest of all of my Ragbrai rides, and only four of us that finished. The heat took out three, and a storm in Marshalltown the last two. It was myself, Don, Larry, and John that made it the whole way. Turns out Don and Larry are the oldest of this crew, too. They are rock stars.
Opposite of 2011, I captured both videos and pictures and had a much better plan in place of creating a big video. I also journaled a lot more and wrote down some very good advice for my future self:
Do not bring reading material. You will not read it.
Do not bring MP3 player & headphones. You will not listen to music during the week unless it is on stage.
Get pedals and shoes that are more Ragbrai friendly (which I have sense done).
Pack a laundry bag.
Pack things in watertight bags.
Sweats and hoodie for air conditioned places and cooler evenings.
A small bit of laundry detergent for hand washing clothes.
You do not need a tripod or selfie stick. There are several thousand people all around you willing to take your picture.
Do not use a front bike bag. You do not use it. Get a mount for your phone. (Front bag is gone now, and a mount for my phone is in place!)
Do not pay for tent service. Putting your tent up is not that big a deal. This saves money and gives you more freedom to pick a spot.
Bring clothes pins, hammer, Swiss Army knife, and zip ties. (I forgot clothes pins on B.A.K. but not on Ragbrai this year!)
Look into creating a team or joining a team. I like The Motivators. This team should consist of individuals who can coach & encourage others having difficulty while conquering hills/weather/fatigue etc.
I had forgotten about the last piece of advice. The idea came from encouraging people up hills and coming up with a speech in hindsight that I could have delivered to my dad and Lonnie on the fifth day after a storm took down their tent and soaked all their stuff. It would have motivated them to keep going. Someday, I will bring this idea to fruition.
Here was the highly unedited and way too long video I put together of 2012. I've learned my lesson on keeping videos like these under 5 minutes, and preferably, under 3.
My 20th blog post ever happened to be about Ragbrai 2012! I'm not sure why I didn't post any pictures.
2013
"Rabrai is over and it was the best ever. I suppose I only have four others for reference, but it was pretty awesome. I'm sitting here relaxing and listening to Radiohead when I should be blogging about this instead." - Tuesday, July 30, 2013 Journal Entry
Dad, a fellow Lake Country Cyclist, Lonnie
Ragbrai 2013 was unique to the previous years, as my core group shrunk down to just Dad, Lonnie, and me riding with Lake Country Cyclists. Don and Larry were still on the ride, but they were with a different outfit. My friend Jonathan and his sister Becca were biking it, too, with my friend Sarah (Jonathan's wife) as their driver.
My Karras Loop patch with John Karras himself.
Here I am with some goats. Because why not? It's Ragbrail
When I look through the pictures of Ragbrai 2013, I took a LOT of selfies. Many of them included a picture of me in front of each pass-through-town's sign. I'm not sure why I thought that would be a good idea. We all live and learn.
Outlaw, Chops, Scrappy, and Stilts
Don and Larry!
Ragbrai went through Des Moines in 2013. I hung out at the craft beer tent in downtown Des Moines for hours with friends Cory and Simpson. Although they had ridden that day, I couldn't wait long enough in any of the towns for them. They simply could not catch up.
I had an extremely brief paragraph and four other pictures of Ragbrai 2013 in my blog post, My Busy Summer. One of those pictures includes Cory.
Simpson and I riding together from Des Moines to Knoxville
Here we are in Fairfield after some Indian Food.
I recall walking up to the square in Fairfield, IA and almost passing out from low blood sugar. I began sweating profusely, and went into a gas station really quick to down some sugar in the form of soda and cookies (I think). It gave Jonathan, Sarah, and Becca a little scare, but it soon passed.
By the time we got done with the Indian Food Buffet downtown, we had forgotten about it. Not really.
A fifth Ragbrai conquered.
2014
Chops and I with chops
I was able to blog about Ragbrai 2012 much more extensively! However, there are definitely elements missing from that blog. Take these videos of Jonathan for example, where he plays Taps at three different campgrounds. Try and follow me here... Chops with chops showing off his chops.
Jason and Erin on Ragbrai again!
My fifth century ride on Ragbrai (I skipped it in 2009).
Wonder what I was doing in there?
Chops being a good guy and riding with me on the day after my concussion.
We're close enough to done for a finish photo. What's the matter, Chops? Bike a bit heavy?
Dennis, our driver, made Ragbrai 2016 the actual best Ragbrai I have experienced. It will be hard to top this.
2016
Left to Right: Jason, Ted, Erin, Alyce, Dale, Cory, Sharon, Mike, Dave, Jonathan, Juan
Our move to Topeka hindered us from doing Ragbrai 2015. Even for Ragbrai 2016, we did not fully commit, but only went for the Thursday and Friday rides of the week.
Cory, Simpson, and Juan rode Wednesday from Leon to Centerville and camped there for the evening. Mom took Ted, Jonathan, Erin, and me over to Centerville to join them Thursday morning. While Jonathan, Ted, and Erin beat us all to Ottumwa, I rode with Cory, Simpson, and Juan almost the entire day.
Here we are on the ride from Centerville to Ottumwa. Bloodys!!!!
Before Erin took off for Ottumwa ahead of us, we all had some Turkey Toms to pass around.
As Mike pays attention to whatever is being said, Cory is distracted from the inflammation in his taint.
Two miles from home, we're all taking a necessary break at the Iowa Craft Beer Tent
Around the corner from the Iowa Craft Beer Tent, I threw my shoulder out of socket on a slip in side. This had just happened during my first softball game in two years just two weeks prior. I tried to coach people to get it back into place, but to no avail. Instead, I instructed someone to go up to the roadside and ask for a doctor.
Within 10 seconds a doctor pulled down the driveway exclaiming, "I'm a doctor. BUT. I'm a drunk doctor."
Once we explained that it was just a shoulder out of place, he said that wouldn't be a problem. A few instructions later, it was back into place. The crowd that had accumulated cheered. Someone else has the picture of the doctor and me.
I was very skeptical of my ability to ride with Erin, Ted, and Jonathan the next day (Friday) from Ottumwa to Washington. Ultimately, I decided to ride the first few miles and turn around if my shoulder hurt too much. Turns out, the shoulder felt better by leaning on handlebars. And to think, I was really close to calling it quits.
It was tough, but Chops and Outlaw were Day 6 Champions. The sign was just for us.
Always stop for the Iowa Craft Beer Tent!
Ted is well rested here. He had a long nap waiting for our arrival.
I convinced these guys to go much slower and enjoy the ride on Friday. That we did. When we arrived in Washington behind Erin at the Hy-Vee, we purchased a 4-pack of Tallgrass Top Rope IPA and drank them in the parking lot while we waited for Mom to come get us from Ottumwa. She was such a big help.
2017
So... Ragbrai is next week. This year, Juan and I will be the only ones riding the whole week. Erin, Cory, and Mindy will be joining us Thursday and Friday so they can experience Decorah. Mom is planning on taking their camper up to Decorah on Sunday and staying the entire week.
Looking down at our campsite while hiking along the Red Beds Trail. The Tower is behind us.
Days 9 and 10: On the road to Devils Tower
We said goodbye to Joe and Sara Jo on the morning of Day 9 after breakfast at Heydey, which was a walk to the top of the hill from their house in Seattle. Our destination that evening was the KOA campground in Missoula, the same one we camped at on our trip out.
First stop was in Ellensburg, WA to visit Jason White and to eat lunch at Iron Horse Brewery
Break from the road at Wild Horse Monument looking down at the Columbia River/Wanapum Lake
Completing our Idaho experience at the Crafted Tap House + Kitchen in Coeur d'Alene
I convinced Erin that I can't really say I have visited a state until I have had both a coffee and a beer there. We had already had coffee in Idaho Falls, ID on the drive out, but we had yet to have a beer. So, we stopped for an early dinner and some beer at the Crafted Tap House + Kitchen in beautiful Coeur d'Alene where the Ironman was about to take place the next day.
By doing so, we had to forfeit any more fun time in Missoula.
We had a quick breakfast at the KOA campground before our long drive to Devils Tower the next day. There were two major stops. The first was for lunch at Bridger Brewery in Bozeman, MT.
Oooooh! Rooftop seating? Count us in!
You may have to click on this picture to get the full size so you can best enjoy the mountains in the background.
The second major stop was in Sheridan, WY at the Wyoming Rib and Chop House. I ordered and ate the best pork chop I've ever had.
The best pork chop I have ever eaten.
With the long stops, we knew we would be arriving at Devils Tower in the dark to set up camp. Indeed, the KOA office was already closed, but an envelope with my name on it was hanging outside with all the information we needed.
Dusk photo of the moon and Devils Tower
As we set up camp, other campers were watching Close Encounters of the Third Kind at the outdoor theater. They play the movie there every night since it is the campground where it was filmed.
Day 11: The Tower
I awoke before sunrise and enjoyed some pretty views and a cup of coffee before Erin got up. After experiencing Devils Tower, I believe we did everything right and couldn't have asked for a better time. Here are some of the things we both did and recommend:
Stay at the KOA campground where Close Encounters was filmed.
Get up at the crack of dawn to begin hiking, and hike from the campground along the road. You will walk past the entry station where people in vehicles will pay a fee to enter the park.
Just a little ways beyond the bridge, turn right onto the first trail you come upon. This will take you up to the Red Beds Trail loop.
Hike the Red Beds Trail in a clockwise fashion until you reach the Visitor Center up at the top. You will see a LOT of deer.
Now switch to the Tower Loop and hike that in any direction you would like. You will see plenty more deer and several breathtaking views of the tower and the land beyond.
Get back on the Red Beds Trail and continue in a clockwise fashion. The deer will start to disappear since it is getting to those peak hours of foot and vehicle traffic.
Return to the campground and be sure and wave at all the cars that are lining up and waiting at the gate, which you so intelligently bypassed.
Get into your car that was parked at the campground (because you camped there or because you parked their strategically) and travel home.
Devils Tower gave us plenty of opportunity for pictures. Please enjoy the several pictures and captions that follow.
Sunrise at the KOA campground. Our new Base Camp 6 and the rental car we drove over 4000 miles.
The sun is so high for it being so early!!
There are so many different perspectives of this behemoth.
The steep decline from the trail away from the tower.
Just off the Red Beds Trail, and now on the Tower Loop
Coming down the back side along the Red Beds Trail.
In the shade of the Tower not to much after Sunrise.
We had breakfast after our hike, and I sent out several postcards from this place. It was magical.
Then began our 11-12 hour ride home. Although it was sometime past 1:00 AM when we finally got home, we were very much ready to be there. The beds and air conditioning were appreciated on a much higher level.
