Hello, Cedar Rapids!

It is 4 PM on Thursday, and I have come to rest on a breezy hilltop in Cedar Rapids, not between cornfields this time, but rather between two stadiums at Veterans Memorial Park. In order to guide my riders in, I told them to find the WWII tank, sight down the barrel, and look slightly right. The temperature and air quality have improved greatly over yesterday, making for much happier cyclists. The change in the weather was ushered in by a long, loud, and flashy thunderstorm accompanied by heavy wind last night about 9 PM. We had to quickly stow gear, roll up the awning, and dive inside the camper. We heard tell of many flattened tents. I was happy to be closed inside something very heavy that sits on four large rubber tires.

Today’s mid-day meeting stop was in the little town of Vinton (where garbage pick-up was delayed for one day due to the festivities). Its classic old fashioned Main St. had been blocked off and turned into a street fair. The ladder truck with ladder extended to hold a flag marked the beginning of the festivities. The local high school cheerleaders cheered the riders in, and food and bike gear venders lined the street.

I had biked in from a remote lot, but cell coverage was so spotty that I couldn’t rely on it to find my riders. We just happened to find each other in the throng completely be chance.

Today will be the longest day, some 84 miles, but they had already come 50 and felt strong at noon. After a good dose of Iowa chow, they pedaled on. Annie has since texted that she had yet another flat, making three so far.

Tonight, the City of Cedar Rapids will put on an array of events…even a concert by Counting Crows, a band that Annie would very much like to see. It starts at 9:30, though, and she may not be conscious at that point.

One source of amusement on the RAGBRAI is the colorful outfits and catchy team names on shirts and buses.

Here are some of our favorite team names:
 •  Team Cow
 •  The Udder Team
 •  Team Caboose: If you are behind us, you’re on the wrong track
 •  Team Trust Me (one of whom was a lawyer, one a banker, and one a car salesman)
 •  The Barking Spiders (The Urban Dictionary defines)
 •  Team I don’t know. What do you think?
 •  Team Out Spokin’
 •  Team Trashed

And one touching sign on the back of a bike…Team Uffda: Taking Grandpa’s bike on one last ride. This team was was spreading the word about Alzheimers.

My riders have rolled in in good spirits, getting ready to hit the showers, and planning their evening.

Tomorrow it's on to Anamosa, the shortest day yet - just 45 miles, but hilly, they say. Onward.

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Dan Vickrey and David Bryson, from Counting Crows. The group, apparently, did the concert for RAGBRAI. Registered RAGBRAI participants were given free admission to the concert. Others paid 25 to 35 dollars. SOURCE: Wikipedia