RAGBRAI Rebuttal - Bet

Howdy Ho Everybodies!

I just thought that I would clarify a little something the Musher posted on her first edition of her Blogging 'bout the Bikes edition of her RAGBRAI adventures.

She said that Shelly RAGBRAI Minion and Helen (back to smelling like cookies) Handler insisted that the Musher needed a bike with a basket for me for next year.

The caption said that we both said "NO" about the baskets.  Well, that is true.  Baskets on the front of the bicycle are NOT satisfactory for my needs.

In the first place, there is no protective cover on them.  The sun would just beat down on my sensitive head and bake me!  Plus, I'd be all in the front of the bike while all manner of icky bugs and pokey pokey beady eyed birds and creatures smacked me right in the face!  These baskets are also very small, and my whole body would get crampy trying to sit in one of those for hours and hours!

No, a basket on the front will not do at all!

I prefer something more roomy, stylish, protective from the sun, elements, and bugs (euw)... something like this:

Check this out!!!  Plenty of room to lounge and relax, covered from the sun and elements, with a nice screen to let the wind ruffle my furs, but keep the icky bugs out!  This particular model not only hooks to the back of a bicycle, but it also doubles as a stroller, so the Musher can roll me out to the dog yard, or out to the truck before our car rides to Starbucks.  I think it is cost effective in that a bike basket can only be used for bike rides, but this little gem has many uses!

Another reason why I didn't join the Musher for RAGBRAI 2013 is because she told me that it was just a bunch of peoples riding their bikes across Iowa.  Um... ok, I'll pass, thank you very much.  There was no mention of the parties, the camping out, the shopping of wonderful ensembles, or the non-stop tasty foodables!  Oh no, there was no mention of this from a certain someone (ahem), otherwise I would have used my savings to purchase the Bet-mobile and gone along.

Not only would I have been a participant, but I would also have served a valuable service to the whole RAGRAI organization!  I heard that sometimes the peoples were confused about where things were and what time they needed to show up, or they couldn't find Mr. Pork Chop.  This is where having a Border Collie would have been invaluable to the organization.

Nothing gets people moving in the right direction like a well trained herdy dog such as myself.  I am fluent in Pretty Curly Tail, cat, baa baa sheepie thing, and human herding, although there is some controversy over the baa baa sheepie thing herding... shut up!

My herdy skills would come in handy especially when foodables were involved, and there would probably be extra points for penning bike riders!

I encourage each of you to insist that for the 2014 RAGBRAI that I be brought in as an executive people herdy consultant.  I will only accept fully paid transportation to and from the event, a free Bet-mobile, and free food throughout for me and my assistant, the Musher.

Get on that peoples!

- Bet

Ragbrai Wrap Up - Traveling to Iowa

After 3180 miles (5118km) of driving and 406 miles (653 km) of pedaling, I arrived back home at the kennel yesterday, just a bit before dinner.

Everyone, except maybe Mark's Stupid Cat, seemed pretty happy to have me back. Especially Bet. She sniffed and danced and sniffed some more (she doesn't give kisses - but she is a very enthusiastic sniffer!). I treated her (and her Dad) to Mushroom Swiss burgers for dinner and Saskatoon berries with ice cream for dessert!!! And yes, there were Saskatoon waffles for breakfast this morning. (Bet meticulously  picked up all her saskatoon berries and just ate the waffles! She makes me laugh!!!)

I took a lot of extra time picking up the dogs' bowls last night. While they are usually laid back and relaxed when I pick up bowls, they danced, chatted and otherwise vied for my attention - which I was happy to give!!!

It is wonderful to be home but it was also a wonderful trip, for which I am so grateful for having experienced!!!

July 18th

I loaded my Highlander up with my bike, a whole bunch of clothes and gear (most of it that I never used)- and Bang, who was moving down to her retirement home with my friends Dan and Heather and headed out.

The first night we stayed with my friends Colleen, Twizzler and Sparky in Regina. We had a short, but really enjoyable visit.

I have to tell my Bang story from that night...


Bang bopped around the house and yard while Colleen and I ate pizza and caught up with each other. When it came time for bed, Colleen insisted that Bang, who had claimed a cozy corner of the kitchen and was sleeping soundly there, would be fine loose in the house. I was doubtful, but Colleen was insistent - and since I was sleeping in the basement, any disturbance would likely bother Colleen more than me!

Around 3am a white shadow crept into my room. She had sought me out in the basement and curled up on the floor at the end of the bed to sleep. Just before 5 am she worked up the courage to jump onto the bed, stretched out her body against the length of mine, claimed half of my pillow and went to sleep.

It was a lovely way to spend my last evening with my friend and former teammate.

Folks often ask how I can part with dogs. I will admit that it is never easy, but when it comes to my dogs, I am interested in the RIGHT decisions, not the easy ones. This retirement home is definitely the RIGHT one for Bang. (Dan and Heather have reported that she is settling in wonderfully!)

The next AM we loaded up, swung by a Timmie's and then headed for Iowa.

It turned out to be a long and not particularly interesting drive. Since it was so long, I didn't do a lot of stopping - just gas, coffee and a few breaks for Bang.

I arrived in Glenwood, Iowa about 11pm and despite the late hour, was warmly greeted by Shelly, Helen, Dan and Heather. We visited for a bit, planned out the next day and I turned Bang over to her new family before we all collapsed into sleep!

Saturday was hectic!!! After securing a camping spot for the night (next to a pretty amazing man named Gay, who biked FROM VIRGINIA to Iowa - "How long did that take?", I asked. "Thirty five days", he casually replied!!! Way cool! LOVE IT!!!) and getting our tent put up, we headed down to Omaha for my Tales of the Trail presentation.

The presentation, hosted by Taysia Blue Siberian Husky Rescue, went really well. Great crowd and got to put lots of names to faces, which is always wonderful!

Bang and her new family came out to watch - and it was nice to see how quickly she was adjusting to her new life of luxury (also got to visit with Casey, another one of the now 4 NorthWapiti dogs living with Heather and Dan!)

After the presentation and some pizza, Shelly, Helen and I headed off to do some food shopping and get final preparations ready for the morning.

Just a small part of the Council Bluffs Ragbrai Campground!

Once those were done we biked down to the Missouri River to dip our rear tires into the water. A true Ragbrai tradition!!!

Tire dipping!

The whole Winter Chicks team - Shelly Lewis, Helen Thorgalsen and me!

After biking back we hit the bike and food vendors, finding some dinner and a bit of last minute 'kit' for the next week!!!

The girls thought I needed one of these for Bet next year. Bet and I vote NO!!!

As we were settling in for the night I could hear a sound from the trees that I was completely unfamiliar with. I asked Shelly what it was. She listened for a moment and said "A plane". Yeah, yeah....I'm not THAT much of a hick....I know a plane....the humming??? "Oh", she replied, "those are locust." It is a sound that she is so familar with, she doesn't much even hear anymore - but for me, along with the sound of fast rolling wheels on asphalt, and the unclicking/clicking in of bike pedals, it would become the 'song' of Ragbrai.

Locust sounds - click on 'locust 2'

RAGBRAI Day 7, The Finish - Bet

Howdy Ho Everybodies!

Day 7 of RAGBRAI started out on a bittersweet morning.  Happy to finally be reaching their destination, but sad that their journey was about to end.

Because of RAGBRAI, the Musher got to meet new fans and old fans, and even fans so determined to meet her, they followed the Winter Chick direction signs

She got to see a new state up close and personal, try new foods, enjoy the company of like minded peoples, and test herself on a 440 mile endurance test.

So, Day 7, the final journey began.

The final leg of the journey began in Fairfield and would end with the participants dipping their tires in the mighty Mississippi.

Another beautiful day for biking, and wanting to make the journey a little bit longer... and because sometimes ya gotta go and a cornfield isn't very dignified, they Winter Chicks stopped in West Point

Around 1pm Central time, they cruised to the finish at Fort Madison, and dipped those well worn wheels into the Mississippi, then celebrated under the not so burled but covered in bicycle arch.

Congratulations Winter Chicks, you have arrived!

I'm very proud of you!

Thank you Iowa for taking care of my Musher, and treating her so well and thank you to the RAGBRAI coordinators, you put on a heck of a party.

Extra special thankity thank you very much you are so wonderful and fantabulous to the extraordinary Shelly RAGBRAI Minion!  Without you, this wouldn't have happened and I'm forever grateful for everything that you did to make the Musher happy, safe, and comfy without me.

- Bet

RAGBRAI Day 6 - Bet

Howdy Ho everybodies!

This will be the most boring update ever... because the interwebs are not cooperating with the Musher, Shelly RAGBRAI Minion, or Helen (smells like team spirit) Handler.

The stormy storms weren't so ferociously stormy stormy, just a lot of rains and more rains and a little bit of winds, but they managed to stay secure in the Winter Chicks Coop without incident.

The morning was a bit damp, but nice out

So they started pedaling to the next destination

They left the friendly Oska who was loosa and pedaled 52 miles to Fairfield

And it was a good day.

That's it... that's the only thing I got today... boring... I can hear all of you yawning.

So... here's a cute picture of Vader

 

- Bet

RAGBRAI Day 5 - Bet

Howdy Ho Everybodies!

Once again, the Winter Chicks were pedaling their way across the great big ol state of Iowa.

Yesterday they got to spend some time with Shelly RAGBRAI Minion doing more shopping, eating, shopping, some eating, and relaxing.

The Musher telling Shelly how wonderful I am

Bright and early this morning, they set off for their next town

I told the Musher before they left that they better tighten their Oskas because where they were heading....

Anyhoo, it was a beautiful morning

The Musher was able to find a cool place to stop and take a scenic picture

When they got to Oskaloosa, they were easily able to navigate to the Winter Chicks Coop because of Shelly's awesome sign placement.  Apparently the British Broadcasting Corporation needed to  stop and turn around... perhaps they were riding on the wrong side of the road (hehehe, Richard will get that).

They found that their trusty Sag Wagon RAGBRAI minion had set up the Winter Chick Coop and had everything ready for them... Thank you for taking such good care of my Musher and Helen (smells of sno cones and ice cream) Handler.

The Musher was able to get some lounging time on a more comfortable seat

Some eagle eyed Facebooks fans noticed the dog tracks on her leg and wondered if the Musher was now going to get a bicycle tattoo...

The Musher kindly pointed out that she had lovely bicycle chain tattoos already, but they are not permanent, thankfully.

Although the trip so far has been pretty and shiny and warm and glowing and beautiful... the weather report says that it may get really stormy stormy tonight with hail and winds, and raining tomorrow on their trip to the next town.

Let's all cross our fingers... and paws, and hope the stormy storms aren't bad and the rain goes away for yet another nice bike ride for the Musher and Helen (who would smell of soggy cookies) Handler tomorrow!

- Bet

RAGBRAI Day 4 - Bet

Howdy Ho Everybodies!

Thanks for asking what I was doing while the Musher was biking and eating tasty foods across an entire state.  I've been very busy.

Anyhoo...

After the Musher and Helen (who smells of all sorts of tasty road foods and cookies) Handler made it to Des Moines and the Musher met all sorts of even nicer peoples who came to listen to her Tales of the Trails thing (I'm alluring, I do everything, I'm amazing, and blah blah blah), afterwards it was time to hit the food places.

This little gem is a FRIED apple caramel pecan pie, and apparently it was very delicious... sigh.

Then there was homemade ice cream that was churned right there and then by machine things and not by Tic running on a treadmill while being shocked with a bug zapper... not that we've ever done anything like that... no... never.

The Musher had raspberry, because that's my most favorite.

Then there was some sitting around while listening to music and relaxing

So generally, this seems to be a huge rolling block party, and I'm ultra jealous that I didn't demand to come along in the Wizard of Oz basket so I could partake of friendly peoples, good foods, and stuffs and things... sigh

Day 4 started out with coffee... of course

and then pedaling off to the next town

Today it was Extra Large Indigo jersey day... or something in roman numerals, but I never learned roman numerals... I mean why learn numerals from an ancient society when now we have perfectly good regular numerals, it just seems all pretentious and snooty to use old numbers like that... 

ANYHOO... today's ride was another 50 miles to the wonderful town of Knoxville, which apparently isn't in Tennessee because that would be a LOT more than 50 miles.

There was much bike riding

There were some hills and scenic streety streets

And the Musher got to ride next to a nice woman and talk about that woman's business.  Now I'm not sure what type of business this woman owned, but apparently she didn't mind talking about it to complete strangers.  I do hope that it is a successful business at least.

As you can clearly see, the Musher is still smiling and keeps posting random things on her personal Facebooks page about what a WONDERFUL time she's having, and how much fun it is and salmon spawning and I can only guess that she needs to drink some more water or something.

Oh good, the Musher seems to have found a sno-cone the size of a basketball, that should help keep her hydrated!

Of course, what could be better than tasty foods, good company, exercise, bicycling across a whole state... oh of course... SHOPPING!

No Musher, not the purple bandana, noooo!

 

 

No!  I said NO!  Not the purple!!!  Put it back now!

Yes, that's much better, it goes with your eyes and would make a FABulous ensemble!

See, I told you, perfect!

Look who also rode out and met the Winter Chicks!  It's Shelly RAGBRAI Minion!

 

So, another day is done and it looks like they are about halfway done (I haven't been keeping track).

That's it for today!

-Bet

RAGBRAI Day 3 - Bet

Howdy Ho everbodies!

Well, after a very rough 83 miles of riding, the Musher and Helen (after a shower smells like cookies again) Handler were happy to be in Perry

They took advantage of the local foods by sampling a gigantic pork chop from the famous Mr. Pork Chop

Stop taunting me with the tasty foods

Then took advantage of Shelly RAGBRAI Minion's son and daughter-in-law's generous and thoughtful accommodations out of the nasty nasty elements where they roosted for the night.

The next day, off again early for the next stage

Thanks to the night's storms, it was a bit foggy but a lot cooler than yesterday.  Of course, there were the obligatory traffic jams

The Sag Wagon was feeling a bit of the Iowa heat and road dirt, but turning dirt into lemons... or something... Shelly RAGBRAI Minion made the best of it

Today the Musher and Helen, and Shelly Minion in the sag wagon made for Des Moines.

A mere 50 miles from Perry to Des Moines, and apparently it was college Jersey Day, but I'm pretty sure cows who went to college can't ride bicycles and therefore this tradition will most likely go by the wayside next year.  Oh wait, jersey... not guernsey... nevermind.

The Musher pondered: "I can't decide whether Ragbrai is more like spawning salmon or migrating caribou....basically just a continuous flow of cyclists that you just break off of or join into as whim decides!!!!! It is truly a cool experience!!!"

The spawning caribou migrating or something

 Once they reached Des Moines, there was more foodables

 

The Musher then gave a Tales of the Trails at the shelter @ Ashby Park on 38th St, just south of Douglas Ave, Des Moines.

And a good time is still being had by all


- Bet