RAGBRAI Day 1 Sioux Center to Cherokee ( 54 miles)

Alarms went off at 5:45 and we all got moving right away. The RV was ready to go before 7AM and Joe and Theresa walked to the corner to wait for Carl and company. We left without breakfast nor coffee! After waiting for 15 min, Theresa called Carl to leave a message and then she and joe took off. We knew it would be a hot day so we were anxious to get going. Bikes were flowing in all directions out of town. Folks lined the street sitting in lawn chairs to cheer on the crowds. This was a big event for the small town of Sioux Center and the main event for the day, week and year no doubt. The stream of bikes could be seen topping every hill in the distance. Theresa was relieved to be riding her Classic Bock which is a good 20lbs lighter than the Green Machine. 

Joe is learning a new craft.

The first 10 miles clicked off effortlessly to Orange City which is famed for being of Dutch Heritage. Intrigued by a cobbler shaving wooden shoes, Joe and Theresa decided to stop and take in the town. 

Dutch Puppies are a sinful delight!

 As Joe was discussing the craftsmanship, Theresa heard someone calling her name. It was Janice Sitzes the 4^th member of the TNR RAGBRAI team. We all chatted with a town ambassador who recommended the Dutch Puppies (a delightful pastry of waffle on a stick dipped in chocolate and topped with whipped cream). Joe quickly nick named it a gut bomb because he knew it would hit hard on our empty stomachs under the sun. Joe checked out a calliope that was playing in the town Square examining closely the inner workings of slotted folded cardboard that drove the music. This was a cute little town that brought all their floats and had folks dressed in Dutch outfits and wearing wooden shoes. And we thought we were hot! Yikes.

As far as you can see a stream of cyclists.

We once again joined the steady flow of cyclist on to the next eating frenzy. We passed on the next town which was only 4 miles from the last and continued on to Granville. We paused only long enough to get water and check in with Kevin. The reception on ATT was so bad Theresa could barely hear Kevin and vise-versa. She did pick up that the RV was parked at the Fairgrounds and that he was able to get 50 amp hook up! Woohoo! Lots of AC tonight! Kevin was biking upstream, with Zin in tow, on the route to meet us at the last town about 18 miles from the finish. His start was around 10pm so the heat of the day was already pressing. Joe and Theresa were only 14 miles away from the meet up town so they took their time as they now headed south into 10mph head winds into Marcus. Once in town, Joe and Theresa walked all the way to the other end of town knowing that would be a good advantage point to see Kevin. Ready for some lunch they got hamburgers, and found some soda as well that hit the spot. Finding a place in the shade, Theresa tried to call Kevin but it was just not going thru, so Joe called (he has Verizon) and got in touch with Kevin who estimated he was 5 miles out. When Kevin rolled in he looked like he was spent. Theresa fetched a soda and Pulled pork sandwich for him as he waited in the shade. He had not eaten at all that morning and was beginning to bonk so the sandwich started getting the feeling back to the limbs. Zin was watered and making friends with lots of bikers.

Zin's new best buddy!

Despite offers from both Joe and Theresa, Kevin insisted on continuing to pull the dog! We once again headed south into the winds with Joe and Theresa trying to set up a vortex draft for Kevin and Zin. It was hard to stay together with the crowds of cyclist all around us. Down hills the trailer acted as a parachute dragging Kevin further back and uphills the weight of the dog and trailer was like an anchor dragging on the sandy bottom of the lake. Finally at the top of a hill Joe and Theresa pulled off and extracted the trailer from Kevin's bike and hooked it up to Theresa's Bock. Kevin was spent. Joe stayed with him and Theresa got going with Zin in tow. We had turned East now and got a bit of a tail wind so the trailer became more of a sail. There was a big down hill into town followed by a short uphill which She sauntered right up anxious to reach the RV. The Fairgrounds where on the other side of town 1 mile from the main tents and all the vendors. One more hill up to the fairgrounds and she hunted down Smitanic. Quickly she got Zin inside with the AC and water. Just as she was unhooking the trailer Kevin and Joe pulled in, they were surprised that they did not catch Theresa (so was she). Beers were consumed and Kevin rested a bit still beat up by the heat of the day. Later it was off to cold showers then dinner at a grill across the street from the fairgrounds to carbo-load.

All agreed it would be an early bedtime as well as an early rise tomorrow for the planned 62 mile ride in 104 degree heat! Zin may sit this one out in the RV not sure if Kevin will join her!