First Day

---

Star Date 24072010CE. Sioux City to Storm Lake - 69 miles
I am poised to go where I have never gone before, on a 7-day bicycle ride across Iowa. I am traveling with a group of like-minded adventurers called the Fountainheads. This is not from the Ayn Rand book but simply taken from the fact that we are all from Kansas City, The City of Fountains. At 67 I am not the oldest or the youngest but more than likely a little above the average age of the group. Most of our hearty riders have done this ride numerous times. Even the other two newbie’s are seasoned riders. I am the only one who is truly new to multiday long distance riding. At the same time I feel I have done a good job training for the ride. I have ridden over a thousand miles this year and trained on hills as well as distances up to 40 miles without stops. We start in the morning here in Sioux City and I am anxious to get started.
Well, by the time I found the starting point, the day was more like 78 miles, but who’s counting. The morning was cool and the sky a clear blue. I must admit I had a few butterflies but after finding the route and a number of riders I felt more at ease. Ragbrai is unlike anything I have ever seen. Ten thousand, yes, ten thousand riders. As someone said, you don’t really need a map. Once you are on the course there are riders in front of you and behind you as far as the eye can see. This was the third longest and the hilliest (total climb) of the seven days. After passing through the little town of Leeds, at about mile 6 we begin approximately 15 miles of rolling hills. In a car most of these wouldn’t even register but on a bicycle constantly climbing up and down 200-400+ ft. of elevation is not fun. It finally flattens out and we ride another 5 miles into our first stop, Kingsley. Food is a primary component of Ragbrai and it comes in every type. Beer, yes beer at eight in the morning can taste pretty good. Butter dipped corn on the cob, waffles, Bloody Mary’s. Rock & Roll on loud speakers, ah, this is the life. The two constants on the ride are food and beer. No need to wait to get to a town. There are roadside stands large and small selling pies, home made cinnamon rolls, water, beer, bananas and more exotic fair like a pork chop on a stick, Rastafarian pasta, turkey legs and wonderful smoothies. The stands are largely fundraisers for local service organizations but there is the occasional unique one like the one selling brownies and taking offerings to buy a lady a leg that she lost in an auto accident. Mr. Pork Chop is just in it for the money. Made it to Storm Lake about 4:00 but that included a short nap under a tree about 2:00 after eating my 4th piece of cherry pie served up by a group of breast cancer survivors. We spent the night with a local couple, sleeping in their finished basement. The morning will tell, but for now I am pleasantly surprised at how good I feel. Tomorrow is the longest day.

---

Photos

So long Sioux City
officially on the road

Wow
beautiful start

First stop
Spin Pizza does Ragbrai

CAT & Scott
theme for the week

Pie?
first of many pies stops stop