Burlington, IA
Bill and I ate breakfast in the room and then rode our bikes to the bike store and WalMart this morning before the others arrived. At the bike store, Bill considered buying a new bike, but the staff was not knowledgeable and the selection slim, so he deep-sixed the idea. He would really do much better on a modern, lighter, bicycle with more gears and handlebar shifters.
We bought a few more things at WalMart and then returned to the motel. The others had arrived and settled into their rooms. They had ridden over on the Team Crude bus so that they could do a laundry and get organized. They did not meet with us or even say hello. Sylvia has booked a room for herself, saying that she wants a night to herself. Her door is closed to all. Kevin and Tim are rooming with a woman from VT named Marcie Young. Diane has joined Bill and me in our suite and is upset that Marcie is rooming with Kevin.
Turns out that Diane is the only one of the gang who rode the whole RAGBRAI route. The others were variously sidelined with hangovers and rode the Team Crude Bus. Diane also climbed Snake Alley with her BOB and some other cyclists. That was quite a feat. She must have gotten really strong. While at Snake Alley, she serendipitously bumped into Tony Baltes, a big guy from Ohio on a huge semi of a recumbent. Early on in the ride planning, Tony debated joining Kevin's ride but decided to ride independently.
We bought a few more things at WalMart and then returned to the motel. The others had arrived and settled into their rooms. They had ridden over on the Team Crude bus so that they could do a laundry and get organized. They did not meet with us or even say hello. Sylvia has booked a room for herself, saying that she wants a night to herself. Her door is closed to all. Kevin and Tim are rooming with a woman from VT named Marcie Young. Diane has joined Bill and me in our suite and is upset that Marcie is rooming with Kevin.
Turns out that Diane is the only one of the gang who rode the whole RAGBRAI route. The others were variously sidelined with hangovers and rode the Team Crude Bus. Diane also climbed Snake Alley with her BOB and some other cyclists. That was quite a feat. She must have gotten really strong. While at Snake Alley, she serendipitously bumped into Tony Baltes, a big guy from Ohio on a huge semi of a recumbent. Early on in the ride planning, Tony debated joining Kevin's ride but decided to ride independently.
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| Diane, (an unknown rider), and Tony Baltes after their successful climb up Snake Alley |
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| Tony Baltes on his heavy-duty recumbent |
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| Bill shows Tony a photo he has just taken |
Tony, Diane, Bill & I went out to dinner this evening, his treat. We all found Tony very upbeat and interesting. Told of how he had a little button making company--Tigereye Design--of 30 employees that grew to 600 employees when both the Obama and the McCain parties contracted with the company to make their campaign paraphernalia. Now Tony has gone with a couple of others to watch the Burlington Bees play baseball.
Diane joined Bill and me in the little suite. She has done her wash, and we are all packing up and getting ready to ride again tomorrow. We will head for Cambridge where there is camping, but may stop short of it in Woodhull depending on overnight possibilities.
I’ve added food and clothes to BOB because I sent some clothes ahead on the Team Crude bus and now have them in hand. I also replenished my lunchbox with power bars, etc. I’ll be dragging on the hills and into the headwinds, but, gee, I’ll eat well and look good in my new clothes.
Talk to you again tomorrow.
