65 Day 4 Fo to Ma: Where Will the Night Take Us?

Still There!

So, maybe, you are supposed to pay the Mason City YMCA $10 to use their showers and pools. And, maybe they collect that money at the front door, but also, maybe they forgot to lock the side door. And maybe you could justify this sneak-thievery because you are a long-standing paying Y member back in DSM, so it's probably cool? Right? 

Yeah, I snuck into the YMCA. And took advantage of one of the best things ever on ragbrai. A little mid-week dip in a pool. And, not just any pool, a freaking salt water pool. Yes! Yes, and yes! A small group of beavers decided to return to our aquatic roots and take a swim and then a schvitch in the salt water hot tub before cleaning up for the evening. It was an amazing way to end our arduous day in the saddle. 

Models!

We all got cleaned up and set up for the evening, but there really wasn't any question about where we would eat dinner. 

Mistaken Identity

Directly across the street from the YMCA was a Pizza Ranch. Now, in my normal life, I don't go to Pizza Ranch for the following reasons: 

1. The food is terrible.
2. The clientele are worse.
3. I hate buffets.
4. They don't have booze.
5. They are usually in small towns. I live in a big town.
6. They are owned by God-botherers and Republicans*

But on ragby I make an exception. The idea of just getting all the food I want, including fried chicken, for just like 8 bucks is too good to pass up. So, we headed there for some food and western-themed fun. We did hide out in the conference room in the back, though, where we would be safe from other people. 

I think Too Much might have eaten just a bit too much food a bit too fast because he started acting kind of crazy....

He was kind of freaking out.

Then, clearly, we had to head next door to the VFW. In my normal life, I love VFWs for the following reasons: 

1. They are cheap.
2. They have lots of seating.
3. There's lots of cool old cats hanging out who like to chat.
4. They usually have a dance floor. 

And, I like them for the same reason in my ragby life. As we were walking in though, Team Air Force was walking out. When we arrived in side we found a massive space with about 6 people at the bar and us. 

On the plus side, they did have a DJ. A charming fellow with a long comb over and a Hawaiian shirt named "Alan" who was spinning classic cover CDs like "All Your Favorite Hits XIXIII" and "Other Songs You Might Have Listened to in 1986." 

My feelings: awesome! A whole dance floor to ourselves and a DJ who was desperate to please us? Pinch me.

Me and my home-boy Alan, rocking the VFW

The other beavers, not so impressed. They didn't want to rock out to a cover version of "Footloose" twelve times. Even after the bartender put a bunch of salt on the dance floor so we could really get down! 

Soon, a beaver-leaver conspiracy was afoot, and I didn't have the heart to continue on alone, so with a heavy-heart we headed back across the street. Poor Alan, he was crushed to see us go. 

Note: I did get a few slick knee slides laid down before our BL. 

As we were heading back towards the YMCA, though, I noticed a familiar shape on the horizon. A tall figure, a not-so-tall figure, and a puppy standing around outside the RV. 

What was this? 

Visitors! And the best kind of visitors. The Tiger and Holiday had driven up a long-missing friend: Thunder! 

Note: the Thunder had spent the last 19 months in immigration exile. His poor bride, my bff, suffered dearly for not having him around and having to organize a large scale letter writing campaign to get him back where he belongs. Iowa. 

The Thunder is "me mate" and I adore him. And he's a hard-core long distance bagger, who has yet to bag a ragby. I was literally overjoyed to see him. 

Though, there was a question lingering in my mind: would they be staying, and would I have to sleep with that fucking, restless (sorry Holiday, mommy only doesn't like sleepign with you on ragby) dog again!? 

In the end, Thunder, Tiger and Miss Holiday decided they had better drive back so the Tiger could get to work, but I couldn't believe how cool it was to get to see my darlings and my long lost mate in the middle of ragby. 

It was a totally surprise twist to a day that had already been a hurricane of fun. 

Oh, ragby.