96 Guest Blog: Ragbrai from the Driver's Seat, Part 4

More from The Deb, our driver! 

Day three: Emmetsburg to Forest City.  

Rrryan was my copilot and that was quite a bit of fun.  

In the morning an ugly quick storm arose, and I was glad to be in the driver's seat.  We took the driver route for a change* and stopped for breakfast and to resupply at the Algona Hy-Vee.  I don’t think the Hy-Vee was prepared for the onslaught of drivers and breakfast was chaotic, but fun.  It seemed more like a truck stop in the middle of nowhere…Thanks Rrrryan for breakfast…  

We drove up to Bancroft where I think I have become the honorary mayor and Chamber of Commerce.  I actually got to park with the official drivers that day, but with cell phones very sketchy, we wandered over to the route to look for the Team.  I think I greeted about 5000 riders that morning, cheering them on, letting them know there was a party in town, etc.  

I let someone go the bathroom in someone’s yard, what did I care?  

So many people thanked me for having us in "my" town.  

While I was standing there I met a friend from home! We did some riding with a 70+ year old guy in Bella Vista from our church over the last few years, and he stopped to visit with me for a while.  It was pretty neat seeing someone you actually know outside of your own team.   

We parked next to team SPAM bus, leaving a nice gap in between.  Awning and chairs out, we were ready for the team to stop.  SPAM had that awesome blender in the back of the bus and we discussed what may make a cool SPAM drink.  I was a bit jealous of not having a team flag to put out, but the Ark is the Ark.  Can we get a flag for next Ragbrai?  

Enough of Bancroft**, Ryan and I headed out to Forest City.  I figured the Ark shitter*** needed dumping so we found a state park.  They charge a day camping fee to dump, but Ryan learned how to dump the shitter.  Good job there!  

Boy oh boy, that host family was a bit far out, so we planned on how to drive everyone out to the Ark and decided to grill dinner.  

Good idea, it worked, and I felt a bit sad for the host when he came out to have a few beers with the team and everyone was beered(?) out.****  It was a beautiful home and a lovely view from Forest City.  No disappointment with not going back to town in Forest City.  

*Wait, she hadn't been taking the driver's seat? Geez. That lady hates rules. I think we have learned that an vital skill in a driver is being a bit of a rengegade.

**Notice that she doesn't actually mention us at all. 

*** Class. Pure class.

****Never!