RAGBRAI Day Plus Two

I'm still trying to readjust to a life where we're not treated like rock stars.  I rode my bike to work today, and boy, being on the single bike after the tandem was an adjustment! RAGBRAI enthusiasm (and the fact that I'll be riding the single bike more as I train for a sprint triathlon in October) has us looking for a new single bike for Lyle, and we were over at the local bike shop today sizing frames. 

Last year I gained five pounds on RAGBRAI, but this year, with the heat exhaustion and all, I actually lost three.  Lyle gained a couple, but we expect that both of us will be back to our pre-ride weights within a week or so.  (It would be fine with me if the trend continued though!)

We've got the bike off the top of the car, the laundry done, and our thank you notes written.  I'll pick up prints tomorrow and drop them in the mail for the people who so delightfully enhanced our RAGBRAI experience this year.

We also owe all of you who followed the blog and commented, emailed, called, texted, etc. a heartfelt THANK YOU!  Knowing that a lot of you out there were following our exploits definitely helped us press on a few of those tougher miles.

As the RAGBRAI posts wind down, I'll keep using the blog for its intended purpose - reporting on adventures where we're out there "doing" stuff.

RAGBRAI Day Plus One - Pics

All the pics are posted on Facebook, and I made the album public, so (if I did it right) you don't have to be a Facebook member or a friend of mine to check them out.

Links:
Ragbrai 

http://www.facebook.com/media/set/?set=a.3348446477906.2119941.1471151695&type=1&l=431001ebb9

National Motorcycle Museum

http://www.facebook.com/media/set/?set=a.3348630082496.2119944.1471151695&type=3&l=98d56ca443

RAGBRAI Day Plus One - Home

Made it back, our awesome dogsitter did awesome by us again.  Storm looks like he had a great week.  We are happy to be back to our own space and our own stuff, but it will feel weird to get up tomorrow and not pedal.

RAGBRAI Day Plus One - I81

It's amazing how far and wide RAGBRAI's influence ranges... about an hour from our house, we saw a minivan loaded up with bikes on their way home too.  Check it out.

RAGBRAI Day Plus One - Sonic

Made our stop in Pittsburgh and then rolled on to Irwin for gas and food.  This must be the roadtrip part again, because it's cherry limeaid time.

RAGBRAI Day Plus One

We're rolling out of scenic Goshen this morning after about five hours of sleep.  People are surprisingly grouchy when you drag them around on tours of booked up hotels in the middle of the night, that might be worth remembering for future reference.

We've stopped on the way out of town for ice for the cooler, and most importantly, I've traded my cycling sunglasses for my ever-present Oakleys. 

RAGBRAI Day Seven - I80

It's the middle of the night and there are apparently no rooms available anywhere.  Last year this was easy, but this year we're on our third hotel with no luck.

Finally found a place in Goshen, IN.  It's 3am, a few hours of sleep and we'll be on the road again.