95 Guest Blog: Ragbrai from the Driver's Seat Part 3

The Deb, the driver, continues her journey with part three of her driver-story. Apparently, Steven isn't the only one who is disappointed with the beavers lack of "going out at night to the town" enthuisasm. I will say, though, until you have experienced the day-after-the-going-out-at-night, you can't make this calculation correctly. But, I think we can make an effort to at least try this year. 

Day Two.   Okoboji to Emmetsburg.  

I awoke to the sight of a bicycle dam outside the Ark…  Ah, it was going to be a short ride to Emmetsburg and I had already done some of it thanks to my inadvertent detour the day before!  

The plan for my day was to arrive in Emmetsburg, then Jeep back to Graettinger to party with the Team.  I found that meeting in the mid town was actually pretty fun.  

Ok, so it was 28.2 miles from Okoboji to Graettinger so I moved quickly because didn’t want to miss a few beers with the team.  I was able to manipulate the Ark in a gas station and gained lots of confidence in my driving (I am sure The Dale would have cringed and hit the Jack if he had seen me, thank goodness he didn’t.)  

The host family had placed signs for the three teams in various places in the yard and I was able to get power (110) so there may be some relief.  I thought we would certainly go into town and party with the Irish, good beer I was pretty sure…  

I arrived in Graettinger, walked into town and waited, and waited, and waited.  Finally Team Beaver arrived and we had a good time.  Nice to feel part of the team.  Isn’t this where my battery died?  Oh, I didn’t know in Graettinger that as an official driver, we had a place to park, another rookie mistake. 

Ok, then it was only 12.6 miles from meeting town to Emmettsburg, so I hurried back, scoped out the party area and waited and waited and waited.  

Team Beaver, spent from a long day of biking the 40.8 miles, didn’t want to move at all from the Ark.  No in town party tonight, Casey’s pizza it was, a bit disappointing for the driver I might add.  Good thing I had the Jeep; Casey’s was overrun by partying Ragbrai riders making merry in their parking lot.  What more could they ask for, pizza and cold beer right there?  There was quite a bit of beer carnage there.  

Ok, enough of that.  I think the bagpipers were the highlight of the evening, and I think only Goldie knows for sure what was under that kilt…  Do tell…..