Friday, July 31, 2009

RAGBRAI 2009

For those who have never heard of RAGBRAI it stands for Register's Annual Great Bike Ride Across Iowa. It is an annual event held by the Des Moines Register, the local paper there. For those who imagine Iowa as flat corn fields and soy bean fields, you are dead wrong. Iowa is hilly, way hillier than I ever thought. Below is a picture of just one of the hills, and they kept coming, one after another, up one, down another. In all we climbed over 20,000 feet when we finished in Burlington, Iowa on the 26th of July.

The ride itself varied from day to day in distance traveled. The first day was 52 miles from Council Bluffs, IA to Red Oak, IA. Every little town, and I mean little, mean population in some of these places is around 200-300 people rolls out the red carpet and they welcome all of the riders with open arms. This shot is in a town on the first day. You had to get off of your bike and walk through town or risk hitting someone with your tire. This was pretty typical of the crowds each day. Estimate that there were around 8,500 registered riders and just as many unregistered riders on the routes each day. Insane!

The Air Force Cycling Team (AFCT) comprised about 130 riders and 15 support people. Here wer are day one lining up getting ready to leave Council Bluffs. We started the day this way, and then after the first mile or two, we were on our own to make it to Red Oak. I am smiling because, hey, Iowa is flat right!


Along the route they have vendors set up and they sell various types of food. I had heard that Mr. Pork Chop was the bomb and had to try it. Mr. Pork Chop barbque's his chops with corn cob ears and seasoning, nothing else. They had just finished a batch and were setting out new ones. Each chop was about an inch to inch and half thick. It was pretty good, however, I was hating life about an hour after that. Just a little too heavy for me. Either that or I had failed to hydrate properly on day one. My guess, hydration because my left quad siezed up climbing a hill and the pain was intense.

You can see above the smoker they used. They transported this thing to every location along the way. I think it was $5 a pork chop, they made out like bandits, but they only do this once a year for RAGBRAI.

Here I am standing next to the Mr. Pork Chop bus. Can't miss the pink bus. Like I said they were parked along every route every day.


Anybody seen my tent? Actually, we had a dust devil rip through camp after we had finished for day one. It sent four or five tents and dining fly's from the Air Force camp flying. By the time I had gotten my camera out this was the one that was left flying. It wound up on top of the Steeple of the church we were camped at. I believe it made it on YouTube, just do a search for the flying tent. While on our ride, we had the chance to meet a celebrity of sorts. Miss Iowa was there in one of the over night towns. Of course you've gotta get a picture with Miss Iowa. She was riding with her Dad on a Tandem bike.
You meet and see a lot of interesting people along the way. While riding we met the guy whose business is to build these sail bikes. The weather had been goregous all week, highs in the low 80's only rained once or twice and hardly any wind. This guy was bragging about being able to use his sail for a mile and a half, thank goodness, he gave his legs a rest, I mean only 440 1/2 miles to go to finish. Not sure it was worth the effort. By the way, this guy was one of the slowest to finish each day.


Well, what can you say, hard day on the bike, gotta clear off for relief, what do I do with my dog? Put him on a leash and shut the door!
This is a standard for RAGBRAI. They charge along the route for water, however, some towns offer free water and this is how you get it. Much like cattle getting feed or watered.




Here I am at the end of the road, literally. You start RAGBRAI by dipping your rear tire in the Missouri and then dipping your front in the Mississippi River. RAGBRAI 2009 was 442 miles in length, we climbed 20, 643 feet in 7 days. There is no possible way to loose weight on RAGBRAI you eat to good. In fact, the jersey this year was of a piece of cherry pie, and in the blue section of the RAGBRAI jersey you can see all types of pies listed. Yeah, you eat well!

Monday, July 27, 2009

The Mountain. The Glorious Mountains

Nathan would stare out of Grandma's window and look at the mountains. It's part of his genetic make up I assume that he wants to be up in the mountains. I blame his Dad but honestly, who wouldn't want to be up there on a nice summers day. Forget winter. Not interested.





Two peas in a pod. Nate and Tyler. Tyler finally got his wish. Nate came to visit. Usually my trips for weddings or funerals are so short Nate doesn't get to come. I think this was a fabulous trip for Nate. He's still talking about all of his Aunts, Uncles, and cousins. I'm hoping he gets to do this again some time.




Hike up Mt. Timpanagos Cave

Heart of the Cave. Nate's favorite part.
The switchbacks. Looks like hard work.

This might be the highest Nate has ever been. I'm not sure if he got higher when he went camping in Washington state.


The tired and thirsty hikers



The hodge podge group.





Hill AFB Museum

Obviously, Planes and military machines run in the family. This is one of Don's family favorite places to visit. It's really a great museum. Puts the one at Barksdale to shame though we do get to see A-10s flying every day.
F-86 Saber.

F-16 Simulator



P-47 Thunderbolt


B-52
With the help of Nathan I was able to idenitify all of the planes.





Bee's Baseball Game

Running the bases. One of the highlights of attending the game is you get to run the bases at the end of it. Nate thought this was so cool though he did mention that it's a long ways around.
Waiting his turn with his cousins Tyler, Gavin, and Sara.

Cousins Nate, Tyler, Gavin, and Sara


The SD Chicken and the SLC Bee gettin' into it. Nothing like some comic relief during 9 innings.



The Bro's hangin' out. Ready to catch that fly ball. Unfortunately, no fly balls tonight.





4th of July Bash

Ross and Cyleste
Lighting fireworks. Nathan thought it was so cool that he could actually light fireworks. We've lived in the south for so long we're always experiencing a burn ban in the middle of the summer. Aka, July 4th. My dear brothers, being their normal selves, actually let my child light some of these crazy fireworks. I guess that's what happens when my Mom isn't around. One of those what you don't know won't kill you sort of things.

Stuart and Mom


Nate starting off small. I'm told he lit some big ones too.


Brian and Norma






Friday, July 24, 2009

Nate in Utah by HIMSELF!!!

Nate was lucky enough to spend 2 weeks in Utah this summer by himself. No parental units. He had so much fun that he couldn't hardly pull himself away to call his Mom. I think I got 3-4 calls the whole time he was there. That speaks to how much fun he was having. His Aunts, Uncles, Cousins, and Grandma spoiled him rotten. While he still has a hard time remembering who is married to whom he's got his cousins down pat. What an exciting adventure he was able to have.
I have lots more pics to put on the blog but I'm having a hard time getting them to come off emails that my brother sent me. That means until Chris returns from his week long cycle trip across Iowa you'll just have to wait.

Soccer Camp

While Nate was in UT he attended soccer camp at BYU. My sister lives just a stones throw away from the field he played at and was nice enough to pick him up a couple of days. You can see the Y on the mountain in the background. Who knows, maybe someday he'll play for BYU though I'd be just as happy for him to play at USU and he better NOT even consider play for that "red" school.



Oquirrah Mountain Open house

These are all pictures Nate took or had taken with his camera. He was very lucky that he was able to attend the open house with Grandma while he was in Utah. He loved seeing the inside of the Temple and talks about how beautiful it is.
In front of the temple. It was a very warm day but according to Nate he didn't complain once.




In front of the fountain. As I've seen other peoples blogs this seems to be a prime picture taking spot.



Nate showing off his picture taking abilities. We have Grandpa/ma Otis to thank for Nate's digital camera. I am so greatful we don't have film cameras anymore. I couldn't afford to print out all the junk Nate takes pics of.





Wednesday, July 15, 2009

Crappy Day

My crappy day really did start out okay. I was leaving for work when I noticed something out of the corner of my eye. What could it be? Of course, it's a snake warming itself on my front doorstep. Scream, but it climbs in between the house and the brick fascade. Great. Go to work. Things are going pretty well. Come home after a massage and I'm taking off my shoes when I look down. I think, Did Chris leave a rope on the floor. Hmmm, interesting. Ropes don't move. Yep, it's my snake from this morning hanging out under one of my kitchen cabinets. Scream again. Chris luckily is home. He gets the snake in a plastic container but doesn't cover it. Snake gets out. Now we have to capture snake again.
Chris has decided not to kill it. Dumb move. As he's walking out the door he's going to let it free in our front yard. Nope. Make him walk to the end of the road where there is an open field. It can live there.
I am now walking around the house mumbling to myself about the fact there was a snake in my domain. Chris and I head to Home Depot for snake deterant. Spread it ALL around the house outside. What does Chris find? Why of course, it's another, bigger snake hanging around on the side of the house. Why does he tell me this? I have NO idea. He tries to catch it but it runs off.
Still mumbling to myself, "Why did it have to be snakes?"
Finally, calm down enough I'm going to get my PJs on. I hang my PJs on my closet door. As I'm pulling them down an XL ant (huge really) falls out of my clothes onto the floor. Day is really getting good. I've decided I can't wear those PJs, time for new one. Head out to the living room. Maybe if I watch some tv I'll be able to take my mind off this adventureous day. Nope, 2 spiders are doing the 100 dash across my floor. Squash those. Ha, they can't even scare me on a day like today.
I am heading to bed. Walk into my room feeling like maybe I'll sleep without nightmares when I turn on the light. You have GOT to be kidding me. Coachroach climbing my bedroom wall right over my BED. Chris kills and flushed down toliet.
Now you may think, Kaye, get some pest control. Just so happens I have Terminix come and spray. Guess what? They are coming AGAIN today to spray again. The weather has been so hot and there is no water anywhere that everything wants a cool, dark place to hang out this summer. It doesn't help I have a bayou in my backyard behind my fence. Right now, I HATE Louisiana.

Wednesday, July 1, 2009

A Romantic getaway

This weekend Nate is flying to Utah to spend 2 weeks with his Grandma. In celebration of this Chris and I are going to stay at a Bed and Breakfast in Dallas (where Nate's flying out of) and going to eat at PF Chang's. One of our favorite restaurants. We may or may not having pictures depending on what we see outside of our room. Grrr...