Day -1: Now It's (Almost) Real

Josh and I left our overnight stay in Stanton, Iowa, around 9:30, and drove over to Red Oak, Iowa for a McBreakfast; we could have opted for the Feedlot Diner - the only place serving breakfast in Red Oak - but opted for something "safe". From there, it was on to Glenwood, the start of the ride tomorrow.

Glenwood is a town of about 5,000 people, so when RAGBRAI comes to town, we quadruple the size of the town. We located the area reserved by Pork Belly Ventures (PBV), the third party vendor I'm using for support on this trip. Josh waited by the truck while I signed in, then I walked back to the truck and picked up my "wet" duffle bag, which contains things that might be damp or wet when packed. Pretty campsite right on a pond in a city park.

From there, it was back to the truck, where I retrieved my "dry" duffle (sleeping bag, clothes, etc.), the bike itself, and Josh. I finished setting up camp, and we left for the vendor expo around 12:30.

We walked around the town square, looking at all the vendors, where you could buy just about anything related to biking. After that, we came back to the campground. I picked up the bike, and Josh followed me over to the official starting location, where we took some photographs of what it should look like when I cross the starting line tomorrow morning - hopefully around 6:00 am.

Then, it was time for him to leave and for me to be left with 420 miles of Iowa pavement and a bicycle to get back to my truck in Muscatine. Gut check #1.

I finished mounting my Camelback water bladder to the bike, got my speedometer/odometer working, and I was at the High School for a spaghetti dinner when they opened at 4:00. Then it was back to the campsite, where I filled all of my water holders for tomorrow, and sat down to write this.

Some encouraging signs: There are very few people that look like Lance Armstrong. A LOT of people; I've never see so many tents in one place before. But everyone is very friendly and easy to talk to. (I ate dinner with riders from Ontario, California (Orange County), New York City, and Adelaide, Australia.)

And although it's hot (96 according to the town sign), there is a breeze and you don't sweat too much - unless you move. I'm also amazed at how much you can drink without needing to pee too often....

Plans are for a shower around 7:00, and to be in bed by 9:00, to be up by 5:00 and on the road by 6:00 - for Gut Check #2. Or something like that... More tomorrow (hopefully).

P. S. 7:15 pm and the temp is "down" to 94.