SCOREBOARD
RAGBRAI 3          MARTY  1 1/2 (Final)

Boone to Ames, Iowa- This was defeat, defeat by the roadside. I felt like that dead possum, back leading into Shelby; where’s that lady with the beads when I need her?

Shed nary a tear for this Motormouth, this was yet another case, perhaps, of biting off more than one can chew.
As I pulled out of Dr. Amy’s office in Ankeny this morning(Chiropractor/headaches, body aches, bruised ego) I was trying to put a song to this RAGBRAI experience. Aretha’s “Respect” would be quite fitting. RAGBRAI is to be respected. R-E-S-P-E-C-T, that is what it means to me!

If only words could be converted to fuel, this cyclist would be peddling into Tama/Toldeo about now; instead, only the faint drone of a passing cyclist flutters in my scrambled mind.

There was a certain peace in waving my white towel last night at Iowa State. As I listened intently to Lance Armstrong, holding a blue headband–proceeds from the sale of those to flood and tornado victims–you realize how lucky you are. Armstrong, labeling Iowa a “cycling mecca” and vowing to ride every year, infusing pride in the air when he spoke of the teamwork on the RAGBRAI route and in the communities left ravaged. A resilency everone can take great pride in.

62 and even!