So I took a little writing break and need to get started again. There are still some stories I want to tell from RAGBRAI. It is obvious that my concept of when stuff occurred is WAY off so I took some time to go through our photos, figure out when and where they were taken, and started to piece things together in hopes it would make these posts a little easier to write.
Oh the stories I still have to tell...
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| Walnut, IA had a theme & a big foot |
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| Practice breakfast in Wiota, IA |
Then we rolled into Anita, IA. I'm going to try and paint a picture of what has become the most memorable experience of the entire week. I say this in a completely positive way. The hour we spent here that resulted in this particular story is OUR favorite to tell and we will forever love Anita (and the Huffy's Tavern) for it.
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| French toast in Anita, IA |
We rolled into Anita, Iowa and I was hungry again. The earlier cinnamon roll was what we (I) like to refer to as "Practice Breakfast." A term we coined with other participants in Wiota. Anita was busy. A lot of cyclists were checking out the quaint, historic downtown. Many were in lines for food or other things. I had been eyeing signs for french toast all morning so we found it and got ready for breakfast. It was very satisfying. We enjoyed our food on the back of a big truck with a hydraulic lift as our table. As we were milling around, I heard cheering, so I investigated while Teresa was at her bike presumably getting ready to ride out.
I wandered toward the Huffy's Tavern and saw a fairly large group of people cheering, laughing, and generally having a great time. I walked closer. The cheers got louder. Truthfully, I was hoping for something involving puppies. Golden Retriever puppy Olympics? I hadn't seen a Golden since we left home. Again, I digress. Then I thought maybe wrestling of some sort...it is a bar, so maybe. Mud? Oil? Midget? It was only Day 2 and obviously I was a little loopy and maybe in a slight sugar coma from my breakfast. The crowd parted and I saw it. I blinked. Took it all in, turned quickly, and started hollering for Teresa. I was running in my cycling shoes and yelling for my wife to come quick...and bring a dollar.
My actions told her something was wrong. The plea for money told her I probably found more pie, beer, or cinnamon rolls. It was none of the above. I grabbed her hand, made sure she had a camera, and dragged her back to the side entrance of the tavern. I remained silent as we approached. She could not see through the crowd or glean what was about to take place. We stood behind the group while donations were requested and numbers were chosen. Then the crowd parted and we stepped forward. I smiled. Teresa laughed, pulled out a dollar, and requested a number. We both started laughing as the Vibrator Race began.
I'll let that sink in.
Each vibrator had it's own lane. They were all turned on and set to high. You could hear them raring to go, like race cars at Daytona -- only vibrators. Hot pink, Baby blue, Leopard...it was a battery-operated rainbow. The start barricade was removed and each one vibrated it's way to the finish line. Our chosen number did not win, but we will absolutely always remember the time in a small town in Iowa I stumbled upon Vibrator Races, and we had the time of our life cheering for a six inch juggernaut to beat the others down the track.
I'm not going to be able to top that story, ever. -- AND THERE IS VIDEO PROOF BELOW!
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| Teresa "was I flirting?" Hess, climbing on top of a fire truck/pizza oven. |
But we did still have almost 60 miles left in the day to ride. Teresa
convinced a guy with a Scottish(?) accent to let her climb on top of a
firetruck (Dang Brother Pizza) and put her feet in a makeshift hot tub in Casey, Iowa. I had to stop and buy a bar-end plug in Stuart, Iowa
(very minor mechanical). |
| I felt I needed to protect myself |
For the first 2 days my chain kept
popping out of gears on climbs. It was getting frustrating so we stopped
in Dexter, Iowa
so I could have a new bike chain installed and get my rear brakes
adjusted (gravel ate those brakes alive). As the traveling mechanic checked my chain with his chain
checker: "A new chain is recommended when this measures .5. Yours is
measuring a .75 and I can actually still move it back and forth." Brad,
the same mechanic that fixed Teresa's bike on Day 1, fixed my bike on
Day 2. Thanks Brad and Bike World.
After another Iowa Craft Beer Tent stop we made it to the overnight town and enjoyed a fun Taco Night with the Swenson's (Kevin & Kelly) in a Methodist Church basement. Great Times!
Side Note: I really enjoyed Winterset and their theme. However, I do
also feel like they missed an opportunity to do a Game of Thrones theme:
Winterset is Coming... Again, I digress.Thanks for reading. There is more to come!
If you are able, please help us support the Navy SEAL
Foundation.Patrick & Teresa are actively raising money for the Navy Seal Foundation. Supporting the Navy Seal Foundation-Frogman Swim
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