Monday: I followed GoogleMap's directions to the start of the Great Western Trail. The trail was spooky and damp after long weeks of being under water. After crossing the very busy Raccoon River, I came across a stretch of gravel, but not just any gravel, killer gravel. It was huge, sharp, and long. I hopped off and walked the bike, and then was attacked by mosquitoes: risking death either way--bone crunching falls or West Nile. A runner came by and wished me luck. 15 miles: 1 point.
Tuesday: I kidnapped the White Tiger and made him go for a bike ride. We took the GWT to the By-pass Bridge, and then turned around and got some food at the El Bait Shop. The chicken was delicious. We rode home along Ingersoll and stopped at Dahl's for coffee. It was a nice balance of urban and rural riding. 23 miles: 1 point.
Wednesday: My friend Lexi is coming along for RAGBRAI for the first couple of days. She rides an old school 1970s step-through road bike. And, she will happily admit to not having to enough miles under her bum. She says she's happy at about 10 miles an hour and has asked me very politely not to abandon her. As a fellow RAGBRAI first-timer, I feel obliged. We took the Clive Greenbelt Trail from Ashworth Park to the place in Clive where the trail flooded and was completely closed. That stretch of trail is incredibly curvy. I pretended I was in an open topped car in the Tyrolian Alps with a handsome/dangerous Italian as I took those curves. Lexi said I killed her a little. I hope not. 15 miles: 1 point.
Thursday: Took an early morning spin on the GWT; rode next to the scary stretch of gravel, cyclo-cross style, and practiced riding up the hills to the old Science Center. There were lots of scary animal noises in the woods. 16 miles: 1 point.
Friday: On Friday, I decided to toss care to the wind and take a nice long bike ride. The Heartbreak had just gotten a new bike rack and a new zip tie for the computer (which I broke almost immediately), so I hopped on the Raccoon River Valley and headed west. Conditions were great for training, I think. It was hot, nearing 90 degrees. It was windy (why does it always seem to turn in the direction I am going?).
My goal was to do 60 miles, just past Panora. But on the other side of Panora, with just a mile and a half left, the trail was really, really dirty. Not like a little dust, like straight up 3 inches of dirt. But, I only had a mile and a half to go, and because I am too pig-headed just to turn around, and too lazy to find another route, I just circumnavigated the "caution" tape and proceeded to ride, in very slippery, very scary dirt, until I got to a spot in the middle of no-where where my odometer read 30 miles. Then, I stood in the dirt, drank some water, had a snack, made some phone calls, and started home. 60 miles: 2 points.
Saturday: Does eating crawfish count?
RRC Points: 6
RRC Total: 18
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