Day 2 Monday, July 21st, 1997- Red Oak to Creston- 55 miles and 2,560 vertical feet of climbing.

Conditions- Morning - Severe Thunderstorms- Rain- Wet Roads - Thousands of Soaking Riders

Afternoon- Clearing- Hot- Humid-Hillacious!! Temperature- 95 or more, but no headwinds!!

We Started our day in rain showers and you won't find many pics of the first 25 miles since I was reluctant to get out the digital camera. It was interesting to note that whenever lightning struck near us, everyone sped up suddenly. We were charged! Breakfast was at Chris' Cakes and we had fun catching the pancakes as they flew through the air.

In Corning, we visited Johnny Carson's birthplace , although he probably does not remember it since he left it for Nebraska at age 2, and then went out to the square where Jean O'melia, Ruie, Norm, and Bruce decided to start some jive action to the disco sounds of "Stayin Alive". This was appropriate. There was a long Kybo line. By the way, "kybo" is a Ragbrai word, ask me sometime.

You all have been sending me some great pictures of your own. Here's a real neat one sent by Irving Stone with his wife riding a tandem.

Just out of Corning, Iowa, we were visited by a very unusual flying vehicle. It wasn't an ultralight, it wasn't a parachute (would that be ultrachute or paralight?) Anyway, it was an awesome vehicle. Here is a shot. Here is another one. We later found out that the owner operator is the founder of our own Superior Hawgs, Denny Mills, the commander of the Ragbrai Air Force. Here is a great closeup shot of Denny's craft that he sent me.

One of the nicest, politest, and most friendly groups on the ride is our own United States Air Force. These riders have formed a team of about 135 riders. They were always ready to help. They camp with their Humvees and helped us with water in the areas where it was not readily available. Here's Norm getting hosed. I have received quite a bit of E-Mail from the Air Force team including a note From Rick George who is in communications at Offutt AFB, Nebraska. Rick tells us that he was the driver of that water tanker that saved our lives so often. He was selected for the job from hundreds that applied, but won't be doing it next year. He's going to be on his bike!

At about 3:00, we arrived at our campsite in Creston, Iowa. Our Boss Hawg, Larry, found us a spot in the piney woods right behind Southwestern Community College. The folks at the College have been excellent and provided us with a direct connect to post the page.

Here's Norm with some of the intwepid pwotectows of Cweston, Iowa.

At the end of the day, we all had our marks of the morning on the backs of our shirt all the way down, so to speak. Mudflaps would be in order!