Ragbrai- Day 4
Ankeny to Knoxville, Iowa
Click on the towns listed in blue below for links to them.
Towns Visited- Bondurant, Mitchellville, Colfax, Lambs Grove, Newton, Reasnor, Galesburg, and Pella
80.4 Miles
2457 vertical feet
used by permission from Rich Ketcham and GeoBike
WEDNESDAY- The storms Continue
Conditions- Rain- Hard Rain- Some Hail- Headwinds- Hills- Misery.
Before we start, here's a picture of the Schmidt's house at night for the celebration.
To be sung by the famous Beach Boy's Song--
Tryin to get some sleep-
Countin all the sheep
Lets all get our bikes and cycle through the water deep- In Bondurant.....Bondurant...
With all the water, wind and hail just through it with a sail to Bondurant....
Really, though, we had another real tough one today. It was genuinely miserable in the AM. There was so much rain, we couldn't take early morning pics for fear of damaging all of the 3 digital cameras that your Ragbrai crew totes daily.
We slept in the garage, knowing that if we took down the tents before the rain, we could leave on time and stay dry. The rain never came... It was waiting for us just after we left Ankeny. And it came with a vengeance! We climbed hills and fought wind and when a sudden squall which contained Forrest Gumps stinging rain, big fat rain, and rain that came from all directions hit us. We then saw the most unusual bike of all. It had a basket on the back with a little dog in it and was ridden by a very old lady with a black pointed hat, a crooked chin and a pointed nose. When she said "I'll get you, my little pretties", we waited it out and ate bagels. Life's not all that tough! It would stop raining for a few minutes and then blast us with another storm. This went on all morning. The Highway Patrol is always out there directing traffic around us and providing us safety at intersections, no matter what. In Newton, home of Maytag, I met the constantly out of work Maytag repair man, Gordon Jumb. Here’s Big Gordon, outside and here’s a shot of Aaron with him. The Maytag factory is just out of town. This old factory is now office space. Here's a picture of a lady advertising her bannanas on the Newton square. And here's team mallet head. The weather worsened, again, and announcements were made that we should not leave Newton until a storm passed which contained golf ball sized hail and 60 MPH winds. We were convinced and found a coffee shop and drank cappucino for quite awhile. Here's a picture of drenched Newton. And here's another.
The weather finally broke for us and we were able to make our way through the headwinds to the South. Here are some pretty interesting restrooms on the way. A high point of the day was putting on our clean and dry socks in Reasoner. Some kids were sitting there welcoming the riders repeatedly saying, Welcome to Reasoner, our Grandpa's the Mayor, Have a safe ride!" Just outside of town is the Jazz band from Prairie Creek, Monroe HS. This fine ensemble is directed by Jim Young whose whole family was in there helping out. Bruce had taught most of this family in their younger years! They are raising money for a big trip. As the miles ticked away, we stopped for free lemonade given to us by pack 17 from Des Moines. Norm met two teachers, Cheryl & Diane, from Wisconsin.
Here's another high wheel rider, just after the winds and rain quit. Someone nearby was moaning and groaning to him about the conditions and he replied, "my heart bleeds for ya!". Here's Dick, our Hawg Ragbrai Rookie from Boulder. And here's a Ragbrai celebrety, even if only from behind, Dr. Sheila Widnall, former Secretary to the Air Force and now a professor. Team Air Force is with us every year.
We got to Pella, where they have a beautifully manicured park, and tackled the final miles of this arduous trek. Here is the large sign telling us about “Summer Fun in Pella”. Well, maybe, guys, but do something about those winds! FLASH- (and we do mean flash). I have for 6 years of Ragbrai heard all about the famous "loin cloth man" who rides for short distances and then is gone. Well, I still haven't ever seen him (not that I want to) but Norm did! Here he is in town!They’re windmill is spinning, too! And here’s one of the many bands on the way, this one in Pella.
Many riders did not make the entire ride and as we speak at 8:00 PM, the square is VERY quiet. I guess the smartest of the entire Dave's Ragbrai Page crew would have to be Tara, who called her husband in the rain and said, "GET ME OUTA HERE!". Actually, she's going to get her Master's degree Friday as well.
Tomorrow is a 60 mile ride. We hope the wind shifts to the North with the
front passage.
Links for Wednesday-