Thursday, August 19, 2010
Monday, August 16, 2010
Late, but we always finish!
A few of us were late arriving in Dubuque. After stopping for a team photo, we made it to the river!
I have a few snapshots available at: http://picasaweb.google.com/whalendw/RAGBRAI10?authkey=Gv1sRgCKrayMmB84axUg&feat=directlink
And 2009 photos at: http://picasaweb.google.com/whalendw/RAGBRAI09?authkey=Gv1sRgCJqCwp2O5ZS2hwE&feat=directlink
Thank you Team Simpson for another great RAGBRAI ride!
Tuesday, August 3, 2010
It Would Not Have Been Possible Without...
July 31 - Mile 505
As we prepared for our trip back to Indianola and to our normal routines, I sensed that everyone felt a real debt of gratitude to all of those who made this year's RAGBRAI most enjoyable for everyone on Team Simpson. Special thanks go to Co-Captains Kelley Bradder and Chris Goodale who took care of the many details necessary for a smooth week of riding. It takes a lot of planning and a lot of follow up with team members to assure that the week goes as planned. Thanks as well to Bob Lane, vice president for advancement, who drove our truck and provided transportation all week. Loading and unloading all of our gear every day after traveling between the overnight towns is not a job without significant challenges. As always he did it with a positive attitude and with enthusiasm. Leslie Held, director of alumni relations, was with us for the first part of the week and also helped out greatly with our planning and in helping to arrange our overnight hosts. Finally, special appreciation goes to Jeff Wagner, director of campus services, for giving up two weekend days to drive a truck with our bicycles - first to the starting point to drop them off and again on the final day to bring our gear back to Indianola. Without all of their efforts, it just would not have been possible to have such a great week.
John Byrd
As we prepared for our trip back to Indianola and to our normal routines, I sensed that everyone felt a real debt of gratitude to all of those who made this year's RAGBRAI most enjoyable for everyone on Team Simpson. Special thanks go to Co-Captains Kelley Bradder and Chris Goodale who took care of the many details necessary for a smooth week of riding. It takes a lot of planning and a lot of follow up with team members to assure that the week goes as planned. Thanks as well to Bob Lane, vice president for advancement, who drove our truck and provided transportation all week. Loading and unloading all of our gear every day after traveling between the overnight towns is not a job without significant challenges. As always he did it with a positive attitude and with enthusiasm. Leslie Held, director of alumni relations, was with us for the first part of the week and also helped out greatly with our planning and in helping to arrange our overnight hosts. Finally, special appreciation goes to Jeff Wagner, director of campus services, for giving up two weekend days to drive a truck with our bicycles - first to the starting point to drop them off and again on the final day to bring our gear back to Indianola. Without all of their efforts, it just would not have been possible to have such a great week.
John Byrd
Team Simpson in Dubuque
July 31 - Mile 501
Team Simpson riders paused at Clarke College for a photo after challenging Potter Hill and before proceeding on to the riverfront in Dubuque. Everyone agreed that Potter Hill was steeper and longer than any they had attempted before. A number of Team Simpson riders were able to join the 30% or so of all riders who made it all the way up the hill without walking. The final three miles from Clarke College are all downhill and will be a welcome respite from the hills leading into Dubuque. Then it's on to the waterfront to dip our front tires in the Mississippi River to ceremonially complete thisi year's RAGBRAI.
John Byrd
On the Way to Dubuque
July 31 - Mile 446.7Beverly O'Regan Thiele (left) and David and Stacy Whipple (right) prepare for the final day's ride of RAGBRAI 2010. Beverly has proven on this ride that she is more than a great singer (she completed the lead role in the Des Moines Metro Opera's production of "Susanna" just prior to RAGBRAI)! She proved that she is also a great cyclist. Stacy Whipple returned for her second year on Team Simpson and was joined by her husband, David, who has also proven to be a very strong cyclist. The prior day's rain has disappeared and we are looking forward to a partly cloudy ride to Dubuque with sunny skies returning later in the day.
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