You're going to do WHAT?

I can't say going on Ragbrai has been on my bucket list but I started this new job you see, and my Ops Manager mentioned how we could do social things to build the team. There was Caroling at the Vets Hospital, working at a Soup Kitchen, even a day working for Habitat.

So how did I end up on the Sleep-overnight-in-a-tent-before-trying-to-keep-track-of-my-team-as-they-pedal-along-the-asphalt-ribbon Team? Well the only thing I do worse than cook is sing, and if you think I had trouble with the tent you should see me with a hammer. Besides HRH did have it on her bucket list and we may have to amend the girl trip rules to include a clause about having your sister's back when she is crossing off her bucket list. Maybe one of these days I should tell you about the corn maze...

But I digress. So I am at the office and say, "Is anyone going to ride Ragbrai?" and sure enough two people are interested. One of them has actually ridden a couple (or a dozen) times before and says we can use his truck and trailer. The Ops Manager and one Department Manager even consider coming up to party with us to Three Dog Night (they are playing at Webster City Tuesday).

Well now I am committed (or at least should be) and have to explain to CaDiva that there won't be a hotel, or room service, or happy hour. But there is Wi-fi and pie so she is willing to give it a try. She found a battery powered fan and a butane powered mosquito repellent. And did I mention pie? 

So now is the time for the list...

• Bike shorts in grown-up Midwestern woman size  - DONE
• New bike shoes - DONE (she likes them better than the shorts...if you know of some Bike shorts with a waistband wider than one inch let me know)
• Practice setting up the tent - DONE (long side to the top)
• Mend and mount the bike rack - DONE
• Get Team Warped Captain his Ragbrai instruction book - which he will pointedly ignore but he won't tell me and that way we are both happy.
• Everyone needs to trade Cell numbers.
• At some point TWC has to show me how to drive his truck. I am thinking we shouldn't tell him the theory I have about 50% of the tires on the road at any one time is a good thing. 
• HRH needs cash and quarters. Cash for Pie. Quarters for vending machines - do you know how sweaty a dollar bill gets on a bicyclist?
• Sunscreen - HRH swears she doesn't need it  but she thinks CaDiva and I do.
• Something to sleep in that you can wear to the Kibo but don't die of heat prostration over night.
• First aid kits. 
• And stop at Starbucks before we leave.