SATURDAY NIGHT. After a four hour bus trip we arrived in Sergeant Bluff, just east of the Nebraska line. It looks like a town of about 5,000. All of the schools are now loaded with tents and bikes and riders. We met a nice couple, Gwen and Paul from Stuart, Iowa. He is a CAD engineer and she is a teacher.
I probably forgot the exact years, but he has been on 26 Ragbrais and she 17. Not much happens in Stuart. They used to have a beautiful Catholic church, but an arsonist burnt it down and apparently it has been decided not to rebuild. Our bus was full of riders from California, Arizona, Texas, Missouri, and of couse, mostly Iowa. We had a self appointed cheerleader - Chantal from Missouri. She is bubbly and cheerful. Good for aching muscles and dragging bikers.
The entire town of Sergeant Bluff is embracing the riders: spaghetti dinners and more supporting churches, Boy Scouts, Prom night, football teams, and lots more. All of them are packed. We are sitting at a bar/restaurant called Aggies that has a big sign up - FREE WIFI. But it seems it is not working. The owner Cathy Bishop has helped us get it going and I am finally able to post. you will see her picture in a nice yellow shirt.
It is a definitely a slower paced lifestyle here than Tampa and one that could grown on you. Guess that is part of why I am back for the third time and John for his seventh. Plus the organization that has grown after 34 years makes everything pretty easy for
the riders. Most Iowa towns have a large square and Sargeant Bluff is no exception. The center of town today is loaded with tv and radio crews to get the news coverage for the start of the ride and the downtown core blocks has been temporarily equipped with a large stage and music going on from 3 in the afternoon until about midnight
It is about 6:30 now and the airconditioning feels good. Probably hit over 80 today. The town is filing up with buses and people. The excitement is building for tomorrow morning's start. There appears to be only one other bar in town Eddies Lounge. It is quite old and we have some pictures from there. Bottle beers were only two bucks. More coming soon. I hope.
3 comments:
Interesting website with a lot of resources and detailed explanations.
»
Your are Excellent. And so is your site! Keep up the good work. Bookmarked.
»
He says a shallow face creates shots with more backspin and shorter flight. travel There are players who prefer to work their way around a golf course. That would make his next tournament the Accenture Match Play. Name it.
Post a Comment