RAGBRAI 2004

RAGBRAI stands for the Register's Great Annula Bicycle Ride Across Iowa. It is a seven day eating event for people with a cycling disorder! Of course, before one can ride across Iowa, one has to get to the western end to start. Barry & Mayilyn graciously offered the use of their motor home both for our transportation and our support vehicle on route.

During the trip out there are really only two things to do, drive or sleep.

We planned to arrive a day early to recover from the trip. This is our day 0, the prologue where we went to the Missouri. Unfortunately, the weather and terrain prevented us from dipping our wheels.

In camp the day before the start of the event. Here is Team Outspokn and some of the more unusual things we saw in camp.

That first evening there was an opening parade. Of course, we had to properly prepare for it!

On any given day, something over 10,000 cyclists will participate. This always gives rise to lines, especially around meal times. This is breakfast, the first riding day.

Every day the ride went through a number of towns, most had some sort of entertainment for the cyclists. Her is a group called "Nuns on the Run". Imagine a group of middle aged (I'm being charitable here) nuns doing the Macerana - you'll get the picture!

At the end of every day, the entrance of destination town would be decorated to welcome us. This is Lake View, IA.

One of the most popular food vendors on the route each day is Mr. Pork Chop. Somehow when one is on RAGBRAI, it doesn't seem the least bit ususual for one to have a pork chop for breakfast.

This is a typical pass-through town on RAGBRAI, a grain elevaton, a couple of houses and a ton of cyclists.

In the evenings, each destination town would have entertainment. Some, like the bandk in Ft. Dodge were especially good.

Most of the days are around 70 miles long. One day there is an optional loop to get in a full century. This is Lou and Candae as they headed out on that loop.

A few miles from the end of that century, Candae crashed hard. This is Candae & Lou after the ride.

Did I mention there were a lot of people and that sometimes meant waiting in line?

Back at the motor home after another 70 mile day.

Did I mention this was an eating event? The last pie stop on the last day.

Finally, the Mississippi River.