We will be a rolling cash machine through every small town on the route, including several unincorprated villages and many towns of 600-900 people. Every civic group, Boy Scout, Girl Scout, homemakers club and church youth group will spread their wares of sweet corn, hot dogs and apple pies before us in a 500-mile long banquet. Riding 70 miles a day I don't think I'll have to worry about gaining too much weight.
I've wanted to do this since I first heard of RAGBRAI 30 years ago. This March I happened to see something about it. I dropped an email to my pastor friend in Colorado who was in the Army with me simply asking if he wanted to do it this year. He said, "Let's go for it." Three months later, we're on our way.
Where in the world do 15,000 sleep in towns of 900 people? We'll commandeer the local park and school grounds, mostly. RAGBRAI hauls the gear in a couple 18-wheelers. Riders search for and collect their own every night and then find a place to plop.
Every host town has big plans through which to siphon off some more money with a big community feast and concert at night. One of the required pieces of equipment recommended by previous riders is ear plugs, which I have faithfully brought. I think those are to enable me to sleep later than the earliest risers would wish me to.
It's not a race, but a ride. We have 12 hours to tour the rural roads of Iowa every day and are supposed to be at our destination town by 6 p.m. At least that's when the sag wagons and ambulances will get there. Anyone on the road after that is on their own.
With the floods in Iowa this year, there were questions about continuing the RAGBRAI tradition. But this event has become so huge and important in Iowa it is a symbol of hope and a tangible expression of confidence and belief in the state's inner strength and ability to overcome.
Do you have a 30-year dream you're still holding onto? I hope you find the impetus to do it soon! I've mentioned the movie The Bucket List before and that is a good motivation for many to do the things you've longed to do while you still have a chance. That could be a selfish activity like sky diving by a certain birthday, or it could be meeting that neighbor across the street; or learning to play the piano or bake chocolate chip cookies.
Just before I left I learned my uncle in Wisconsin has terminal cancer. It was just discovered and the prognosis is a tough one.
Ride while you can.