RABGRAI 2016
The RABGRAI route announcement party was on Saturday night! And the course has gone to the southern part of Iowa, as many thought it would:
RAGBRAI is the Register’s Annual Great Bike Ride Across Iowa. It’s a seven day bike ride from the western to eastern side of Iowa. The course changes each year – in 2014 it ended in the town my maternal grandma lives in, and in 2015, the course went through the town my paternal grandma lives. Both of these courses went through northern/central Iowa, hence why many thought the course would go to the southern side this year.
You can sign up for the entire week of RAGBRAI, or get day passes, as we have in the past. In 2014, my dad and I rode the last day – Saturday. Last year, we rode the days before and after the overnight town that my paternal grandma lives in – Dad and I rode Wednesday, and Dad, Will (Christina’s husband) and Julie (Will’s sister) and I rode Thursday.
This year, I am really hoping we can ride the last day, Saturday. The tricky part is getting to the start, and getting home from the finish. The start is an hour and forty minute drive from where my parents live. If someone was kind enough to drive us there in the early morning (leaving at 6:00 am), we could start the ride around 8:00 am. Then if they followed us on course, and met us in Muscatine, we could all drive to my parent’s cabin in Guttenberg, after, which is just over a two hour drive… totally doable… if someone wants to follow us in a car (as they have in the past). Ha!
Or, I told my dad we could just ride our bikes there, ride the course, then ride back home. Ha. Ha ha ha.
RAGBRAI ends the day before my birthday this year, so maybe I’ll pull the “but it’s my BIRTHDAY” card to get everyone on board. Nah, I think they’ll want to do it, despite the hassle. It’s a total blast to ride RABGBRAI!
Themocracy
This sounds like SOOOO much fun!!!
Oh man. This event always looks like such a blast! One of these years I’ll have to join you for it 🙂
I think you’d really like it – it’s basically a giant weeklong party on wheels!
Agree with Xaarlin: This does sound like a blast.
Hey, it goes through Shenandoah! That’s my Dad’s home town! I remember being in town when RAGBRAI came through back in the early 90s–such a great party. Hope you can work out your own trip! 🙂
Oh schweet! I was thinking “I don’t know many of these towns, but I bet some people are really excited it’s going through their hometown.” Think your dad will “spectate”? 😉
He may! We still have a LOT of family in Shenandoah and the surrounding small towns, including his brother and sister-in-law, so I wouldn’t be surprised if he headed down there. Heck, I’m even tempted to go! 🙂
Do it! 🙂
Wow! RAGBRAI looks epic!!! I would totally play the birthday card this year if I were you! This is such a great opportunity to see and catch up with tons of friends and family!
I did remind everyone it’s my birthday in the group email I sent out yesterday! Will is in, and dad is (whether he wants to be or not)! Gina may do it, and I asked Steven’s bro, too. 🙂
Oh come on, just do the whole thing this year. 🙂
It’s your birthday week after all!
Ha ha ha! I just can’t imagine camping all week AND riding my bike each day. That would be one cranktastic Kim. MAYBE crankier than that time when my gel wouldn’t open properly HA HA HA.
Wow!! what a challenge 🙂 and I hope you have a great birthday!
Thanks! I love spending my bday with my family in Iowa, so it will be good! 🙂
I know Ottumwa because one of the main characters on M*A*S*H is from there 🙂
Sounds like your family is game!