RAGBRAI 2016 DAY -1

Well I am sorry to say this year's RAGBRAI is not starting out at all well. My very dear cycling buddy, double-century training partner, bike tour director extraordinaire, and goofy fellow RAGBRAI fan, Debbie Brubaker, had to bow out and will not be joining me on this year's Iowan adventure. Her wonderful mom was hospitalized last week. Debbie is staying behind to help her now that she's back home. The very good news is that mom is doing much better. Continued healthy thoughts go out to her!

The next small blow has to do with wretched Southwest Airlines. Last night they inexplicably cancelled today's 7AM flight. Well, the explanation (if you can call it that) was they did not have a flight crew for this flight. What??!! My sister flies SW quite a bit and has reported similar fishy, phoney, f-ed up SW flight shenanigans.

The very good news is that my fellow Moore-On Paul was on it in finding another flight, contacting the Sacramento Moore-On contingent (there are 4 of us), and arranging a 2-phone/3-way phone call last night with me and Southwest to ensure I successfully changed my flight. What a great guy. Very good in a crisis. I do not know any of the Moore-Ons well, but so far Moore-On Jim (bike/bag transport) and Moore-On Paul are wonderful so far!

Here are photos of Moore-On Jim and his trailer. Also how our bikes are packed up in nice cushy egg crate. Jim left Sacramento on Monday and is waiting for us in Iowa. Our original flight would have landed us there at 3:15 today, but alas our rescheduled SW flight will land at 1 AM on Sunday, which is Day 1 of RAGBRAI. Not ideal, but when doing RAGBRAI, one must be flexible and chill. As they say, "If you are not having fun, lower your expectations!" So I am going to use my newfound hours today to perhaps catch the new Star Trek movie! Making some lemonade from lemons here. (I will not worry about pitching my tent at 2 in the morning, then getting up early for a 50-mile/2614' climb ride...)

I'm quite pleased with my new $15 backpack which I will use for RAGBRAI. It is smallish, but still holds everything I want for the plane tonight and all the little things I forgot to pack in the duffel bags I gave to Jim for the road transport. Plus camping life in Iowa roughs up one's bags and such. This little $15 special can take some beating and I won't mind. Plus it will be easily recognizable! 

That book is also coming to Iowa. It's an upcoming selection for my neighborhood book club. I'm told it's a fun read!

RAGBRAI 2016 Day # -13

Sunday, July 10, 2016

Today Jett, Debbie and neighbor Tom did a 71.5-mile training ride for RAGBRAI. We intended to climb Cantelow, but realized out mileage would have been closer to 90 miles, which is too far for us. Today was actually the most miles any one of us have ridden in 2016.

I usually have many more base miles under my belt by July, but this year due to work (too much), weather (too many heatwaves) and visitors (Janie/Dan and Stacy), it just has not happened...

Here's me and Jettie at Steady Eddie's in Winters. We always share our favorite lunch: turkey/cranberry/cream cheese on a croissant. Delicious!

Here is the view from the Causeway between West Sacramento and Davis. Nice to see water so late in the summer. The egrets were awesome.