I am happy to report that my sister and I made it through our first RAGBRAI experience! I realize I am about two and a half weeks late with this post, but as the saying goes… better late than never!

A few notes from the ride:

It was HOT! Our first day started off rather pleasant.  We made it to the first meeting town and my confidence was at an all time high. We were making good time, cruising past people and I wasn’t feeling sore at all. That all changed at about one o’clock when the sun came out of hiding and was beating down on us with full intensity.  For the next few days I was sure the 100+ degree heat was going to get the best of me. There was one incident where I became slightly lightheaded,  but it was nothing a refreshing smoothie (I had more smoothies on this ride than I have in my entire life) and a little H2O couldn’t cure. I made it through the ride without taking the support van. Success!

Iowans are awesome. I would have never made it through this ride without the gracious support of all the small town Iowans along the way. After peddling for miles in the blazing sun, the mouth-watering  food, the water, the encouraging cheering, the giant speakers with music playing at every intersection (courtesy of the state patrol officers),  the sprinklers and children with their squirt-guns, and of course the 200 ft homemade slip-n-slide are what kept me riding!

Mini Kinnick Stadium! When I was told we were nine miles from Coralville I rode as fast as I could up and down all those hills! Arriving in Coralville was my favorite. They built a mini replica of Kinnick for us to ride through! People in the stands clad with black and gold pom-poms cheered as we rode in to town. They even had a statue of Herky and the mascot out to greet us! It was a great way to end our 75 mile “college spirit day” and the perfect place to end our RAGBRAI adventure!