Be it the excitement of the trip, or the constant rocking of the train, I started having troubles from day 1. So, by the time I arrived in Omaha I was already tired. Kay had planned to give me the grand tour of her city so that I wouldn’t be bored, meanwhile at the same time I was in need of some sleep. During my 3 day stay in Council Bluffs I was invited to do a spot on a radio talk show on KFAN radio in Omaha. I also met & talked with a Parkinson’s support group in Council Bluffs. The rest of my time I was kicking back, & trying to get mentally psyched for the ride that was soon to come. We found out that Dave Heydrick was flying into Omaha on Saturday, so Kay arranged to meet him for a picnic lunch before driving to Sioux City. It was fun for all.

We left our staging stop at 7:30AM & drove to a point about 5 miles

from the main Ragbrai route,& dropped everybody there to start our ride to Battle Creek/Ida Grove. Being as I came to Iowa, from southern California, I had my trike geared for desert riding. I didn't think there were that many hills in Iowa. Where we pulled off to start our ride was at the top of a hill. Even on that 1^st day it seemed like we had rolling hills forever, & most of them were pretty steep. It was a 44 mile ride & I finished around 12:30PM. As I rode up to our host home in Battle Creek I realized that I had just completed my 1^st full-day ride in a Ragbrai. In 2004 I never rode a full day’s ride. I was tired, & my feet hurt, but when I was invited to walk downtown with some of the guys, I said yes. It was only 4-5 blocks, & I figured it would be beneficial to do some walking. There was entertainment going on, & food venders set up in every nook & cranny, & literally HUNDREDS of people walking around. There were even 3 portable bike shops set-up, doing repair work on bikes. Jay bought us a beer, & as hot as it was I thought it would taste good, but either I’m not a "Bud Man", or I’m just not a beer drinker, because I wound up throwing it away. We went back to the house & had a great dinner a most welcome shower. Even though I was given the best sleeping accommodations, I had a difficult time getting to sleep. I haven’t learned yet, how to go to bed at 8:PM, & get up at 4:AM. Tomorrow we start from Battle Creek, which will make for an 85 mile ride to Audubon.

Day 2 (86 mi)

To Audubon

I don’t remember too many specifics about this days ride, except that for the entire day I was either climbing a hill, or getting ready to climb the next one. I don’t remember any flat ground. Between climbing the hills & dodging the "rumble bumps", made for a busy day. Could have used one of them automatic transmission things. "Rumble bumps you ask? They are grooves (10 or so) cut across a lane, that are used to wake a driver, or at least to gather his attention to an up-coming intersection. To a car these grooves create noise & vibration, but to a smaller recumbent trike they create LOTS of noise & vibration, & they also turn you sideways. It wouldn’t be a problem, except that as low as I sit on the trike, I couldn’t see the strips until it was too late to miss them. I wound up sideways 3 times today, but with no damage to me, nor to the trike.

This night we had arrangements for our team (25) to stay in a large house in Audubon. The only problem being, is they already had 10 other unexpected guests. So the owner restricted our use of his house to no showers, & no potty privileges. We were locating other showers, but the no restrooms wasn’t going to work for my bladder. I ALWAYS have to get up during the night. Then my guardian angel showed up! The next door neighbor said that Dave (our other parky) & I could shower at their home. So I went to get my things, & when I got back to the house they had opened up a travel trailer, & offered it to Dave & I to sleep in. It was fully set-up, & had A/C, & a restroom!! The lady’s name was Sue (I hope), & she shuttled me to a place where I could eat, & then picked me up & brought me back so I could get some rest. But I didn’t get any sleep on this night, either. Too tired, I guess.

Day 3 (68 miles)

Audubon - Waukee

As I remember it, this day was hilly, but not like yesterday was. I was able to use my 62T chainring for a time, today. It was another "HOT" day. I don’t remember too many specifics about this day, except that I think it was in Redfield that I met another rider w/PD who was from Washington, I think. We talked, & shared info, although I haven’t found what I did with his, yet. I do tend to get scatter-brained when I get tired. By the time I arrived in Waukee & was out of gas, but I followed the map to our hot home, until I realized that the map was wrong. At this point I tried to call the house, but I had put the number in my pocket, & it had gotten wet. But I had Jay’s cell number, & a lady made the call for me, on her phone. With luck, it was only another mile to our host home from where I was. When I arrived at the house they showed me the way to the back yard, where they were preparing a feast.

Day 4 (70 miles)

Waukee - Baxter

Last night, after we went to bed, they had a rainstorm, with lightening. Ragbrai officials were telling all the tent campers to go to a safe shelter. But by the time we’d had breakfast the rain had all but stopped. So I left, looking to join the line of bikes leaving Waukee. For some reason it was getting easier. It seemed the day was almost too easy. Maybe I was getting numb to the pain. I bought a new pair of shoes before I left California, & they were not fitting right. That, & the fact that my feet were swelling, was not helping. Occasionally, I would have too stop & give my feet a rest, until they stopped hurting. Then I would continue on. Like when I was going through Colfax & saw the sign that said "Try Mt. Colfax". It was a street going through their town that was rumored to be a 27% incline. I definitely stopped for a rest when I topped that one. I was surprised when I

reached Hwy 52 as soon as I did, because that meant that I had only 8 miles to go. It felt strange after I made the turn. I could see a straight rode for

3 – 4 miles, & no bikes in front of me. Was this right? Was I making the right turn? All the other Ragbrai riders were going straight. So, I thought it best to stock up on water, so I turned back to the corner where they were selling water, & while I was enjoying a Gatorade my group (PFP) went by, & turned north on Hwy 52. So I finished my Gatorade, bought some water, & started for Baxter. My map showed the house, clearly on the right side of the road, but as I found out, it wasn’t. I rode past it, & up to a stop sign, when I spotted our van coming down a long driveway from behind me. I was Jay & he pointed out the driveway that I needed. So he turned around & came up behind me while I was approaching the drive. I could see that it was a long, curved, graveled driveway that went to the top of a hill where it met with the house. I motioned for him to pass me so I would not be in the way on the hill. After Jay parked the van he walked back down to where I was, & took the trike the rest of the way up the hill. I took a shorter route to the house, across the lawn. Much to my surprise, one of our other riders had picked up a cold bottle of water, & was bringing it to me. At that time nothing could have tasted better. This is the kind of treatment that I received during the entire 7 day ride, from my teammates.

Thanks PFP!!

Day 5 (76 miles)

Newton - Morongo

By this time I was feeling pretty good about the prospects of completing Ragbrai ’06. Just one more long day, & two sub-50 days. I knew if I made it to Morongo today, that Muscatine was a sure thing.

Because we stayed in Baxter, to ride from there to Morongo would have been more than 100 miles. So Dave & I Opted to be shuttled into Newton, & start the days ride from there. Before we left our host home in Baxter we had a light breakfast. Part of that breakfast was some delicious looking cinnamon rolls. Looking irresistibly good. I resisted for a time, but grabbed one just before we left. This was a mistake, because after about an hour my blood sugar level took a dive. All of a sudden I had no energy. So I slowed my pace, & started looking for some nourishing food. I found it at a Farmers Boy food vendor. A breakfast burrito, a banana, & a cold Gatorade. Later, I remember riding into Montezuma, & how crowded it was. But just before entering the town I saw a sign for what I know as "Navajo Tacos". Normally, I made it a practice to do my eating outside of towns. Too many people, & too long of lines!! I had already worked my way through the town, & was sitting on the side of the road debating whether to get lunch, or keep going. I finally got back on the trike & went around the block, & parked. From there I had one of their tacos & a piece of pie. After I got my taco I was searching for a place to eat it, when I heard a loud "Parky". It was Jeff & Curt from the 2004 PFP team. I was glad I went back. I made it to Morongo, & was feeling pretty good. I walked to downtown, & ate a big dinner. Again, I didn’t have much luck at sleeping, but I gave it a try.

Day 6 (48 miles)

Morongo - Coralville

It’s Friday morning, & I’m still in it! I have ridden up every hill that has been put in front of me. I have not walked up any hill. While on the way out of town I stopped to make a phone call, but instead was given the opportunity to do an interview on a local radio talk show. So I put in a plug for my team, for my website, & for our purpose for being in Iowa.

Only forty-eight miles today. I felt like I had it in the bag. I believe that this was the day that I met up with the team, & Barry allowed me to pull in front of him to lead our pace line, & pull my team out of Morongo. I held the lead for less than a mile, & then dropped off, to let them pass. It was fun to do, & it gave me the right to say that I had led the pace line for (PFP) my team. After that, my team rode on & I settled into the task at hand, getting me to Coralville. Around lunchtime the temperature had gotten pretty hot, & I noticed that many riders were finding a shady place to rest. I took an hour break to eat, & to get things going that hadn’t been going for 4 days. Do you know how hot it gets inside a porta-potti, in Iowa, in July? Even the flies won’t go in!! With some success I got back on my trike & headed for Coralville. I was in control, & doing quite well until I reached the corner were we had to turn left to Cosgrove. Without warning we were climbing a 20% grade. I can climb a 10% grade, a mile in length, on my 52T chainring at 4.5 mph. But this hill was 1 mph on my 39T front gear. It seemed like the hill was forever. All but the very strong had abandoned their bikes, & were walking their bikes up the hill. I didn’t feel strong, I just had no way to get off the trike. So with that incentive, I kept on pedaling to the top of the hill.

By the time I reached Cosgrove I was convinced that my rear tire was flat. I could hear the metal rim on the ground, & it felt like I had a trailer full of rocks hooked to me. I decided to get off the trike to check the tire, but for the 1^st time in this ride my legs weren’t able to do what I needed them to do. I don’t think it was the Parkinson’s. I was just exhausted, out of gas. I sat there for a few minutes, until someone walked up that could assist me. When I looked at the rear tire it wasn’t flat, but it (the rear) & the right-front were covered with a thick layer of hot tar, & gravel. So when I was given the option to ride the last 11 miles (of hills) to Coralville on my trike, or in truck, I had little trouble deciding. As it was, they were charging everybody $10.00 for the ride. But when I told the driver what I was doing, & what I had done, he wouldn’t take my money.

After arriving safely at our host home in Coralville, I went upstairs to shower, & change clothes. But I was so tired, that I was having troubles getting my clothes on. And with that, the negative thoughts started. "I had failed"—"I had given up" Could I have made it? Should I have gone on? I was feeling pretty low. But after talking with Jay, he showed me that the 400 miles that I rode, is far more important than the 50 that I didn’t.

Let me share these words with you, from two doctors that were my team members:

From Dr. Barry Bershow

For matters of health, & time, I decided not to ride the 52 miles to Muscatine on Saturday. My choice was made, mainly because I was too tired to attempt a hard ride. But also, time was a factor. For me, a 50 mile ride is a 4 – 6 hr. ride. For my teammates it’s a 2 hr. ride. But they all wanted me to bee there for the finish, so they shuttled me to a point about a mile from the end of the ride, & put me on a downhill slope so that I could ride with my team, to the Mississippi River.

Thanks (PFP).

After we dipped our front tires in the river, & took our pictures, it was time to clean up & get  packing, for the long trip home.  We came from as far away as Maryland, Georgia, & California.  Someone in our group had offered to take me to Burlington, Iowa where I would have 30 hours to rest up & wait for my  train.  I had reserved a ground-level room so I could secure my trike inside, but this Super 8 motel had all inside corridors.  This made it impossible to put my trike in my room.  After much debate, the clerk allowed me to bring the trike into their lobby, & put it in an open area between the door, & the front-desk.  In the morning I would worry about how I would get my trike, & all my gear to the train depot, which they said was 10 minutes away, by car.  Right now, a cool shower & a 2 hr. nap was first on my mind.  I went out later to get dinner, after the day cooled.
The next morning there was another "angel" waiting to help me solve my transportation dilemma.  Check-out time was 11:AM, but my train didn't board until 5:15PM, & there were no Amtrak employees working at depot.  So I couldn't leave anything at the depot.  I would have to take everything in one trip.  I told the morning clerk of my dilemma, & she said that she got off at 3:PM, &  that she had an SUV & with that, she would take me to the train station.  She also told me to stay in my room, & rest, until she got off work at 3:O'clock. 
You will never convince me that angels don't exist!!