RAGBRAI '16: One Morning, 35 Miles, and some Steep Hills

Thursday's route for the Register's Annual Great Bike Ride Across Iowa traveled through Moravia (my grandma lives there) and ended in Ottumwa (where Daphne's grandpa lives.) 

Since the weather forecast looked good, we called our grandparents to see if we could leave cars in both towns and spend the night at my grandma's place. They were more than happy to help us.

I loaded up the RAV.

This year we left the Burley behind and brought Char's tag-a-long instead. I rode my '79 Schwinn Voyageur 11.8. It's a little lighter than the '85 Schwinn Traveler I rode two years ago.

Considering the hills my untrained legs were going to climb, I would need all the help I could get.

I didn't take many pictures during the ride. I was too busy trying to survive the hills and keep the bike under control. Char twists her body when she pedals, and that can make my bike take unexpected changes in direction. You have to be on your game the entire time.

We did stop our bikes to fuel up and cool down. Somewhere after Unionville we yelled, "Bike off!" and Daphne bought us two lemonaide slushies and a Gatoraide.

Later in Blakesburg, Daphne found a stand selling the cantaloupes that Char wanted.

We also shared some church cookies.

A lot of people noticed how young Char is, and the both spectators and passing bicyclists spoke words of encouragement. We heard, "There's the Pink Flash!", "Way to go girl!", and "Keep pedaling! Your Dad's slackin'!"

On one particularly long hill, a woman rider commented, "Oh, that does my heart good. A family that prays together, stays together." I knew she meant "plays" instead of "prays", but as we struggled with the incline I replied to what she said. "Well, that's good, because I'm praying right now." She laughed and said, "I'll keep you in my prayers, too. I've been praying for myself all morning!"

Char is very shy around strangers, and she wouldn't reply to anyone who was giving her words of praise or teasing her because she wasn't pedaling. Daphne or I would often answer for her.

One woman said "Good job, honey!"as she passed us, and I smiled and said "Thanks!" as if she was talking to me. She quickly looked away, but I thought it was funny. I get punchy when I'm tired.

We left Moravia around 7:20, and we arrived in Ottumwa around 11:30. We didn't ride the whole route, but biking 35.7 miles is a pretty good jaunt for a five-year-old. Except for the typical, "Are we there yet?" questions, Char didn't complain once.

She was rewarded with some shaved ice.

And I ate a brisket sandwich.

Then it was time to gather up our bikes, our gear, and our cars. We were exhausted, but happy the day was a success.

At home, as Daphne and I were limping around on stiff legs, Charlotte enthusiastically asked, "What are we doing tomorrow!"

Daphne answered for us both. "I don't know honey... hopefully something quiet."

RAGBRAI '14 link

As Seen On The Interstate

No game is worth dying for.

A Patient Patient

Charlotte is finally old enough to entertain herself for awhile in the morning.

Before we go to bed, Daphne turns the TV to channel 811 (PBS), fills an air tight container with cereal, and she places it on a low shelf in the cupboard.  She also puts a glass of milk on a low shelf in the fridge.  

Char knows where everything is, and how to turn on the TV, so when she wakes up before we do she can be on her own for a while. It's a pretty good deal. Daph and I can now sleep in until 8:00 AM for the first time in almost six years. 

I came downstairs and heard Charlotte talking to someone around 8:15 yesterday. I halted in the hallway before revealing my presence. From around the corner, I could heard Char say, "Earl, you're too hot."

I quietly peaked and spotted Char in full doctor costume taking her cat's "temperature". He wasn't even protesting. 

This is, my friends, my definition of a "good cat".

And a "good kid".

Ferry Excited

So ferry 'cross the Mersey
'cause this land's the place I love
and here I'll stay
- Gerry and the Pacemakers

We just got back from St. Louis. We were visiting Char's grandma and grandpa. While we were there we thought Char might like riding the ferry 'cross the Mississippi.

What do you think of the ferry, Charlotte?

link

Unexpected

When I was a kid all the sides in my hometown park were your standard, straight drop slides.

Anytime my family was driving through a different town or city and a "curly slide" was spotted, my sister and I would beg Mom and Dad to stop the car so we could slide on it. Sometimes they did stop the car.

Char's equivalent to the curly slide is the McDonald's Play Place. Char begs us to turn in anytime we drive pass a McDonald's with this feature. Sometimes (if it's raining) we pull in for a few minutes. Daphne buys a coffee, and I buy the newest Happy Meal toy. You can get the toy w/o the meal for under two dollars. 

Char's been eyeing the Play Place near Adventureland for weeks. It was raining last Sunday, so we stopped for a few minutes. I hadn't been in this particular Mickey D's either, and I was surprised to see that it featured a piano bar.

That's one of those things that makes you stop and say, "What? Really?"

Speaking of slides and the unexpected, Char and I just came back from playing in a local elementary school playground. Apparently a summer camp was having a costume day. At least, I hope they were.

This reminds me of a Korn album cover.

"I think mom will be home soon, Char. Let's go  meet her..."

Our Trip to Canada: Thrift Store Edition

Last summer we spent some time in Oceanside, California. I came home with a t-shirt for a souvenir. I like to wear it, but the shirt is a bit touristy.

This year I thought I see if I could find something more unique on our family trip. As is my habit, I turned to my favorite source for such things: thrift stores.

Since we were three airports away from home, I needed to shop for items that were unbreakable and easily packed into a suitcase. Let's see what I found.

This Tee Fury shirt features Calvin and Hobbes reenacting a scene from The Empire Strikes Back. It doesn't have any specific tie to Canada, but it looked unworn and was too cool to pass up.

Our rental had a washer and a dryer, so I picked up this Toronto Blue Jays tee to wear were while we on the island. Wearing it made me a poser, but sometimes it nice to blend in with your surroundings. (I did check the Blue Jays' record and schedule in case some fan wanted to chat about the team.)

Kent Building Supplies is like Home Depot, and I thought the big "EH!" was funny and very Canadian. They do say, "Eh" a lot up there.

I've never played squash, but this shirt is directly tied to Prince Edward Island, and Daphne commented how nice the colors are. Score!

My favorite shirt find was this vintage Rod Stewart concert tee from 1984.

It was way too small for me, but I didn't buy it for myself. I bought it for Char to wear as a nightshirt. I thought would look way cool on her. When I showed it to Daphne at the store she told me, "I think you appreciate stuff like this more than I do, but I'll trust you."

I think I was right.

I also snagged this Charlottetown Abbies ball cap for Char. The Abbies aren't a hockey team anymore, but Charlotte didn't care. She was excited to see her name in the logo.

This Abbies license plate accompanies the hat well. If Char doesn't want it in her room, then I'll put it up in the basement.

The idea was to not pack beach towels. Instead we'd buy some at a thrift store, wash them, use them, and then just leave them behind at the rental. But this shark towel was too cute to leave in Canada.

I also found a shirt for Daphne. She laughed when I showed it to her, so I knew it was a winner. Besides, we found out that we really do love mussels - more on that later.

I didn't know if this Prince and the New Power Generation cassette would make it back home in one piece, but for 49 cents I was willing to try. 

Does anyone play cassettes anymore? I mean, besides me?

For my money, side one is better than side two. 

The only other thing we picked up was a frisbee, and we picked this up again and again and again at the park near our rental.

Maybe the next time we take a trip I won't pack anything more than underwear, socks, and a nice outfit or two. I could buy the rest of my wardrobe at the thrift store...

I do have to say it was great to have a convenient way to wash our clothes. It lessened the amount of garments to pack, and when we got home all we did was put our clean clothes back in the closet instead of in a pile next to the hamper.

We Had a Fair Time, And That's a Good Thing

It's been pretty hot here in Des Moines, and we've used the Adventureland season passes that Santa gave us three out of the last four days. Man, after awhile Adventureland can beat a guy up. The rides and slides are fun, but lines and stairs can take their toll. It was time to slow things down a bit.

Thank goodness for the Dallas County Fair in Adair. We've been to this fair before, and we were pretty sure we were going to have a good time. We weren't disappointed.

We kicked off Saturday with some breakfast sandwiches. They are a steal at two bucks a piece.

Then we ran around looking for painted boards with holes in them.

This year they added a corn pool.

You have to be careful where you step.

The ponies were back, and they were begging to be ridden. Or, at least someone was begging for a ride.

Brushing the horses is also fun.

Charlotte likes walking through the Livestock Buildings. These two won best mom and calf.

The free entertainment is showcased at the Center Stage. The first show we watched was the Free For All Frenzy. It's a game show that asks the kids in the audience come up and become part of the act. I was really surprised that Charlotte wanted to leave the safety of bleachers and join the other volunteers. She didn't make it past the water balloon round, but she didn't mind. We were so proud she was brave enough to try.

When she returned to her seat, we gave her high fives and told her what a good job she did. Her response was, "Can I choose where we eat dinner? I want to go to the Prairie Meadows buffet!" I guess you can never predict what your kid is going to say... we told her we'd go tomorrow for brunch.

We also really enjoyed the Johnny Peers & The Muttville Comix performance. I don't know how you train ten dogs to line up and wait for their turn to perform. 

I had a tenderloin sandwich for lunch. It was really good. Some little girl stole all my Cheetos, though.  

I do get the irony of posting pictures of cows and then meat, by the way.

We don't spend money on the carnival rides because we have those Adventureland passes, but we let Char spend some time with the inflatables.

I still do not understand the purpose of this inflatable cow/bull.

Charlotte wanted a balloon hat made by Mr. Nick again. She went with the fishin' pole hat this year.

Then it was time to go home and make dinner. I think someone looks hungry.

This is my third time to blog about county fairs. Last year was pretty much like this year, but boy does Char look young in 2012.

Here are the links if you are curious:
2015
2012

I gotta go. It's time to take Char to that buffet.