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| No need to eat the rest of the day |
With the night of high farm finance faded into their memories, it was time to take the new morning and find the largest cheap breakfast in the area. Akmed's was open for business. When that much food is ingested there might not be a reason to eat the rest of the day. Human need number one satisfied will help most of the human race move on to human need number two: Bein' in Leon. Hoping to keep up the guise of being filthy Americans, Rick and Laurie jumped into two cars and headed out to Osceola. Even the most uneventful road trip can lead to something worth remembering, like a fully remodeled and ultra-clean rest stop.
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| Rick's got his Traeger point |
The State of Iowa is to be commended. Arriving in the overnight town around noon was something that Martini eyes couldn't comprehend. Booths are being erected and kybos have two fresh rolls and heaping mound. It is also easy to find great parking very close to the fun. Life does contain many little rays of happiness if you just open up your mouth and shout out to someone next to the Team N.A.D. bus. And that is how Rick achieved the Marsha Traeger's dad point. Worries about a place to camp where non-existent as the two knew from experience from a few years prior that the stretch between a sidewalk and street can easily fit one tent. With SagBug now reserving the campsite for the night, it was time to switch over equipment to the Saturn of Sag. A quick trip down 35, and then back up 69, with a small stop for milk and a quick gander at that new B.A.R.T. bus, it was time for Leon. The Mennonites were in no short supply on the city streets as they hawked their homemade wares, but in the beer garden they were scarce.
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| You can always tell when we've been in town |
Items not in short supply in the beer garden: B.A.R.T. members, Miller Lite schwag and some very hateful music. With a belly full of corn and ice cold beer, it was time for Laurie to get on the ride. Twenty miles without a stop and a persistent headwind would mark the death of some, or at least have them unleash cries of "That's bullshit!" but when you've got the right attitude, a bottle full of Gatorade and an iPod stereo full of tunes there is nothing that can get you down. Fresh legs are also a bonus.
Time frames are not always a consideration when dealing with the 'BRAI, unless you are as anal retentive as someone like Rick. In his travels back to Osceola he figured out that it would take Laurie two hours to ride (she'll be in at 6:38), it will take him 20 minutes to drive back (he'll be in at 5:08), Jen McQueen is supposed to call after 5:00 (he'll need to be near a cell tower) and
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| Can't swing a dead cat without hitting a B.A.R.T. in a beer garden |
meds need to be taken with food by 5:30 (he'll need to be in the town square). All the stars obscured by the late day sun still found a way to shine down upon him and a parking spot was opened up behind SagBug, the cell phone had full bullets and pulled pork sandwiches were filling the air with BBQ goodness. The wait was now on for Jen. Will our girl of the tropics, via the farm of Illinois, know the difference between Exit 34 and Highway 34? It won't matter as the good RAGBRAI karma of TeaMartini will get her to the right place and even ringing up Rick in the kybo (still flower fresh) won't put the kybosh on the afternoon. Towns do a nice job in providing family entertainment during the daylight hours for those riders who choose to be there. As Jen sat in the beer garden, beer in hand naturally, Rick made his way to another fine kybo. This can only mean two things: Rick lives to poop and Laurie would at the point in time call him on the TalkAbout. Kybos are close together and have thin walls so neighbors can always find a reason to chuckle. The enhanced team was now assembled and ready to take on everything that the Big O could throw at them. |
