Okay, it is early on Day 5, so I'm posting because it is wet and rainy and I don't want to wait in the pancake line with Brent and Darrin. (Note: they are playing "Pour Some Sugar on Me" in the beer garden next door - this makes me smile.)
It rained off and on throughout the night. I was hoping it would clear up before we got up, but no such luck. I laid in my cozy tent until 5:45 a.m., then packed up all my gear as best I could inside the tent before I ventured outside. Happily it was not raining, but everything was wet and I was cold. Not a great way to start a new day of 78 miles with 3200' of climbing.
I mentioned that my neck and butt were sore. I got another massage last night, but I'm still hurting out there on the bike. The massage guy asked me if I was stretched out too far over my handlebars. Maybe I am. I sure look like it from the photo I posted yesterday. Today I am noticing how far I stretch to shift gears. I will look into getting a bike fit soon. The guy who sold and fitted me to this Fuji doesn't have a great track record for bike fittings, we later found out.
Medical (TMI) Alert - do not read this if you do not want to know what ails me!
As for my butt.... I have never experienced much bottom trouble (I've had other troubles along the undercarriage, but not the rump.) So last night in the privacy of my tent, I got out my flashlight and my compact mirror and took a look-see. And holy crap I have a bad case of essentially diaper rash. This is another new thing for me. I seem to be experiencing lots of "first times" lately... So I'm fairly miserable down south, but at least I know what the problem is. Brenty has dealt with this off and on forever, so he has all the tested recommendations. Let's hope and pray this goes away. I have much more sympathy for crying babies now.
Whiner Alert - do not read this if you do not want to hear my gripe and moan!
Okay, the fun factor for RAGBRAI has definitely taken a dip for me today. In addtion to my aching neck and ass, it is raining, it is cold, we have hills, we have winds, and we have another 50 miles to go. Yesterday I felt like complete crap most of the day. I could not climb well. I felt like I was bonking. Today I find my front brake is sticking. We finally worked on it and suddenly I feel like I'm riding better. Do not tell me I rode 75 miles and climbed 2800 feet yesterday with the brakes on! My last bit of whining has to do with my cell phone. It is extremely aggravating to have such limited and fickle cell phone coverage. AT&T is on my $hit list. Sorry for the whining, but I did warn you!
A couple of photos from today (I don't expect you'll see many more) and I'll sign off and find my crew.
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