Wow! It's over. We were just preparing and making all those arrangements. It went fast. For me, it was enjoyed, too. If you didn't read the first pages, I was in an accident and at the last minute had to back out of Ragbrai this year, making it the second ride I've missed since 1994. The pictures in this finale page were provided by Lee Fitch. Neither Aaron nor Lee took pictures for us on the last day, but that's typical. Folks are too busy doing the transition from Ragbrai to City life to stop or even slow down and take pictures.
The Beekman's were making ice cream with an antique engine and selling it along the ride. Pretty cool. That was ..... uh Monday? Not sure.
But anyway, I always talk about why we do this ride, why it makes us count the months for the next year's ride all year long.
Iowa is very pretty don't get me wrong. But I've ridden the Pacific Coast Highway and much of the Netherlands, and it's all unique. I'd love to rediscover my family's roots in New England or go to the Pacific Northwest, but this one's about a slice of society that no longer exists anywhere and quite frankly, I hesitate to tell you about this. They may not even know how unique they are. Look at these Hawgs with the Iowa State mascot. Tara's not real happy about this particular institution of higher learning, but Iowans are Proud! When we approach a town in Iowa, it's real obvious that the people in each town have been having meetings and plans about how to show us that their town is the most perfect place in the whole state.
So I don't even have the right to report on this ride. I wasn't there, right? Wrong! I was on this ride. I thought about all of you riders every minute. I even watched the map before going to physical therapy and figured out where I would be? And most often I had an answer. Cell phones helped here, too.
But why do we ride Iowa? As I've said before, it's not even about riding a bicycle, it's about being around a large group of people having alot of fun. Mardi Gras has thousands of the same, but these people care about each other. Some come to party, come come to watch, and most, but not all come to ride. But we all care about each other. Over the years, I've reported of the people at a house that put a note on the door that said that they were downtown working a booth but to come on in and make ourselves at home. Or the policeman the realized I was in trouble when I left my laundry in a five and dime downtown and it was to close in two minutes and the cop gave me a police car escort with flashing lights while I followed him on my bike and we made it. Or the elderly lady with her entire family clan at the highway intersection who yelled across the street "Where are you from?" I said proudly, "Texas!" She then said "Tell that George Bush to go back there and stay there!"
Ragbrai is full of local heroes like this, year after year. I've been on 10 of them and I have to tell you that being kept away from one of them makes you realize how much you love these people, those on the ride, in the towns, and even the ones who are just coming to see the towns.
I love to wear my Ragbrai T Shirts during the year and I always refer to Ragbrai in my teaching in Spring, Texas. I try so hard to tell people why Ragbrai is so special, but until they've done it, they have not a clue. I missed you all this year, but I'll see you in in 358 days!
Dave
More pics are below......
