On the Road Again

So Mark and I have joined up with this rag-tag band of bicycle travelers who started in Lusk, Wyoming, a week ago Friday (July 15).  Being lame late-joiners means we have to admit that we have only ridden from PERSIA (Iowa), not Wyoming, when people see our loaded bikes and inquire.  But I have to say, starting from "Persia" still sounds like pretty far away!  So it's okay.

Mark and I had planned to start riding from Iowa City on Friday, getting as far west as we could to catch Ragbrai and our group.  But on Friday, we found out we could get a ride all the way out to join the group the following day, so that's what we did.  Saturday, Pat, Mark, and I jumped in the Suburban (still no AC) and headed west.  It also happened that Tricky Al, who had ridden from Lusk, was ready for a few days of rest.  So Pat dropped us off and picked up Al, and it all worked out great.

We got to Persia about 2 p.m., a town I remember well from a trip years ago that we made in the dark in which the hills appeared to be vertical cliffs towering to the heavens...and there were many of them.  The crew informed us it hasn't changed a bit!  Mercifully, Mark and I missed this part, as it's to the west of Persia.

The gang: Toby, Lauree, Mike Hajdu, KY Jim, and, as he always introduces her, his lovely wife, Shauna.  They had some kind of cannonball drink waiting for us, and the festivities ensued!  Dancing, drinking, singing, talking, and general revelry were the order of the day.  It was great to be back!

Hajdu, KY Jim, Mark, Pat (obscured), and Toby

Tricky Al and I

Jim, Shauna, Pat, Mark....peace out, Pat!

Glad to be on the ride.

Dinner in Harlan

Great food!

Date night at the Harlan Theater

Our wonderful hosts, Rocket and Karen.  

At some point, while still light out, we took off for Harlan, a whole 15 miles away.  A nice cloud cover and gentle rolling hills made the ride a pleasure.  It was a good introduction for Mark and I, who had ridden nary a single mile with bags on our bikes yet this year.

In Harlan: date night for Mark and I, with dinner and a movie.  Shauna, Jim, Mark, and I ate at a great Chinese/Thai place, and then Mark and I went to see the last installment of Harry Potter at the Harlan Theater.  Great food and great movie!

The movie let out and everyone was getting out of the bar at the same time.  Toby and Lauree stayed at a place next door with homemade banana bread but 23 steps to climb.  Mike, Jim, Shauna, Mark, and I headed to an old friend of Jim's house, Rocket.  They met on Ragbrai years ago when Rocket decided to take Jim's bike out for a spin.  Rocket and his wife Karen were wonderful hosts and we had showers laundry, and a good night's sleep.  Thanks, Rocket and Karen!

A good time was had by all. :-)