Day One of Ragbrai XXXV
Ride To and Pre-Ride
Most of these pictures were taken by Lacey (Thank You for sending them to me). The others were taken with the camera of the day so the quality is not as good.
Here we are riding out in the RV to meet the whole team at Tish's Restaurant in Council Bluffs, Iowa. We have a little dog chow and some great conversations during this eight-hour drive.
After a great night of eating, drinking and visiting with all the dogs that came together to ride this year, we had a good night sleeping at Tish's Restaurant. In the morning we had a great breakfast before getting ready to split into two teams to start our Pre-Ride up to Rock Rapids on Saturday.
TD and RocketMan gave out the instructions for the whole team on Saturday morning. They were giving out the rules we all need to know on our ride up to Rock Rapids.
Here is Team One ready to get into the RV for the first let of the ride today. Team Two started out from Tish's Restaurant and rode the first 23 miles. Team One would ride in the RV for the first 23 miles and then get out and they would ride the next 23 miles. The RV would wait for team Two. When team two got to the RV, they would put their bikes in and ride the next 23 miles in the RV. We call this Dog Jumping or Leap Frogging up the road.
Team Two stopped in this bar across the street from the RV. When we entered the bar, the owner behind the bar said "Are you RedDogs"? We said yes how did you know? He said we were in this bar back in 1999!!! He remembered us. It was a great stop.
Who else could this be, but our fantastic RV Driver. She is not only the best RV Driver on Ragbrai, but she is also a High Diven, Bar Dancin RV Driver - How many of you, have a person like this to drive your RV. This is my favorite pose, because she was just ordering me around like this: "Now Stand over there, no over there. Back up - do you have the whole RV in the Picture? Was it a good picture? But you know........... I kinda liked being bossed around!!!!!! Lov ya Lacey.
Good Friends, great Dog chow, how much more could you ask for! A whole week of this! I'm in Heven.
Here is Team Two pulling in after their 23 miles on the road. Lacy took this picture as we pulled in to the RV to put our bikes in and ride in the RV. Team One just got out and started their ride up the road. TD did a fantastic job planning the route and setting up the rides.
Ahhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhh - First Bar, first Dog chow ............. It doesn't get any better than this!!!!!
The last 44 miles, both teams (Team One, and Team Two ) rode together into Rock Rapids. But not before stopping off at Hugo's Bar in Lamars, Iowa. This is where it all began for the RedDogs!!!!
Hugo's Bar - Drinking, eating, and having fun with people - that is what RAGBRAI is all about.
Another shot of the RedDogs in Hugo's Bar.
I see TheWabbit, HighDivenBarDancinRVDriver, Denz, RocketMan, Capt.Kurt, LoneStar, and LouDog mixen it up.
The Wabbit, Erin, Jr, and BooBoo havin some fun in one of the bars together.
LouDog was another great addition to our team. LouDog is on the left, then Wabbit (tattoo), Denz, and Capt. Kurt.
Here is Team One in the RV riding up to their drop off point. They look to be having some Dog chow and someone must have told a joke or something funny because LouDog is cracking up.
Another great addition to our team this year is AmyDog (Center). On the left is SaltyDog, and on the other left is Jr. How come they always get the cool girls and I never do??????