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.

Day One

One of the big attractions on day one was the opportunity to have your picture taken with the World's Biggest Bicycle in Lewis, Iowa. This was a project for fifth graders at Griswold Community School to help raise funds for a field trip. The bicycle was created by Duane Weirich and is 32 feet long and 16 feet tall with 12-foot-wide wheels.

I was able to enjoy the spot with my son-in-law, Jeff Crowson, of St. Louis, Missouri.

RAGBRAI 2011 – Team Simpson gets ready to head out

Team Simpson gathers at the home of Mike '91 and Julie Godbout in Glenwood, Iowa, eager to start the team's third RAGBRAI. A rain shower kept us from immediately unloading our tents and setting up camp, but we were fortunate that Mike and Julie had a great garage for us to put our gear before we got started.