Amy Usher Gregston

Talk about service from our leaders--Bryan woke up with a red and irritated left eye and next thing we know, Chris had scheduled an appt. with a doctor in Indianola. Found out has an eye infection. Good day into Altoona. Had a fabulous pumpkin bar and cinnamon roll in one of the small towns. Drove to Beth King Coffey's house to have a shower and relaxing day in her AC house. Off to Spaghetti Works dinner and then back to the tent in Altoona.

Top 5 List

Since I only got to do half the ride this year, I will do half a Top Ten List. What follows would be my Top 5 things on the RAGBRAI Ride 2011:

#5 My friend and c0-rider Shawn breaking out his new expo-purchased gloves for the ride on Sunday morning, only to complain about how he did not get a very good deal. Once, however, he figured out the gloves were on the wrong hands and the padding NOT on his palms . . . 30 miles into the ride . . . it seemed a better purdchase.

#4 All the great hospitality of our hosts on the over night stops . . . including the "all you can eat" pasta special at the United Methodist Church in Carroll and the wonderful host families in Glenwood and Atlantic.

#3 The Dedham Bologna-inspired conversation about bologna and SPAM as staples of many of our childhoods, but realizing, that we have never fed it to our children . . . then repeating again that night.

#2 McQueen leading the entire Bloomers patrons . . . willing or unwilling . . . in a rousing rendition of the wave. Whoooooooo!

#1 The awesome job that the Team Simpson group did in making the ride so much fun and making Team Simpson a great RAGBRAI family . . . especially since my own family bailed on me this year.

I am truly thankful to have been a part of RAGBRAI 2011. Have a great rest of the week.

Bob Krapfl

Overnight in Boone

We are enjoying wonderful hospitality in the Simpson family with Jerry and Joyce Peterson hosting us at their home in Boone. Also pictured with them above is their son, Jordan, a 2010 Simpson grad who will be starting medical school at the University of Iowa this fall, the Carver College of Medicine.

The Peterson's other son, Grant, also graduated from Simpson, in 2006, and attended medical school at the University of Iowa as well.

As you can see from the photo above, the Petersons have a beautiful back yard that is totally shaded at 2 p.m. I know that we are going to enjoy a very comfortable evening here at their home.

From antiques to high tech

Iowans are proud of their agricultural heritage and as we have ridden across Iowa, we have been able to enjoy farm machinery from antiques to the latest new equipment. Here you will see a 1926 McCormick Deering tractor that was parked in Pilot Mound and a spanking new John Deere planter spied in Paton that we think had 64 rows (we tried to count them!). Many Iowans have their equipment on display for the enjoyment of the RAGBRAI riders.

Entertainment in Manning on Monday

Every day on the route one town is designated as the meeting town. It is usually about halfway through the day's route and offers a variety of activities for the RAGBRAI riders. During entertainment in the city park in Manning, Monday's meeting town, one of the featured acts was called "Nuns on the Run," a group that lip synced popular songs with lyrics adapted to their "calling." The group was popular with the riders who offered thunderous applause after each of their numbers.

Day 2

I made it throughout the second day and the hilly course. I thought the route was horrible-I hate all the hills. One hill after another. Ate a delicious cinnamon roll and a great dinner at the UMC in Carroll. I do love Team Simpson and you all should think of doing Ragbrai with us some year.

Day Two

It wouldn't be possible for us to enjoy RAGBRAI without wonderful overnight hosts. Last night we were able to stay at the home of Bob '59 and Judy Camblin in Atlantic. They had a great camping spot for us across the street from their house. Picture above, Hal '57 and Greta '57 Bryan talk with Bob Camblin '59 about their days at Simpson College.