RAGBRAI 2016, an epic ride for first-time and veteran riders alike
Melanie Thomas, audiometrist, Council Bluffs, completed her first RAGBRAI (Register's Annual Great Bike Ride Across Iowa) this year. The event, July 24-30, started in Glenwood and ended in Muscatine. If you're counting, that's 419.9 miles and a total climb of 18,488 feet.
Twice before, Melanie had ridden one day of RAGBRAI, but this was her first to complete the entire leg. All but two of her six-member team joined her at the finish line.
Two other employees and an employee's daughter rode as well: Lane Plugge, chief administrator; Cheryl Case, occupational therapist, Red Oak; Emilee Richardson, daughter of Connie Richardson, school improvement consultant, Red Oak.
Lane rode the first day with his daughter, Angie, and a young couple from San Francisco, the daughter and son-in-law of family friends in Iowa City.
Cheryl rode the first two days of the ride with her husband, Dan, going through her hometown of Villisca with sons Nolan and Emmett. "The whole ride was a lot of fun, but the best part included the great towns we visited, especially the first (few days) that included much of our AEA," Cheryl said.
Even with a mishap, Emilee Richardson was able to dip a wheel in the Mississippi River, a tradition among riders. "Emilee did make the journey from the Missouri to the Mississippi River, although she carried her front wheel to the Mississippi," Connie said. "Just outside of Centerville after riding four days and expecting to ride all seven, she took a spill, fractured her clavicle and cracked her helmet. Luckily there are two nurses on her team who ride with Escape New York, a team of firefighters from NYC and Los Angeles. No concussion. She's healing (scrapes on her shoulder, elbow, knee) and has now progressed to physical therapy. And yes, she's looking forward to riding next year!" Cheering them on and offering refreshments and/or housing along the route were other GHAEA employees: Katie Hensley, Deb Norman and Wendy Rodriguez.
Twice before, Melanie had ridden one day of RAGBRAI, but this was her first to complete the entire leg. All but two of her six-member team joined her at the finish line.
Two other employees and an employee's daughter rode as well: Lane Plugge, chief administrator; Cheryl Case, occupational therapist, Red Oak; Emilee Richardson, daughter of Connie Richardson, school improvement consultant, Red Oak.
Lane rode the first day with his daughter, Angie, and a young couple from San Francisco, the daughter and son-in-law of family friends in Iowa City.
Cheryl rode the first two days of the ride with her husband, Dan, going through her hometown of Villisca with sons Nolan and Emmett. "The whole ride was a lot of fun, but the best part included the great towns we visited, especially the first (few days) that included much of our AEA," Cheryl said.
Even with a mishap, Emilee Richardson was able to dip a wheel in the Mississippi River, a tradition among riders. "Emilee did make the journey from the Missouri to the Mississippi River, although she carried her front wheel to the Mississippi," Connie said. "Just outside of Centerville after riding four days and expecting to ride all seven, she took a spill, fractured her clavicle and cracked her helmet. Luckily there are two nurses on her team who ride with Escape New York, a team of firefighters from NYC and Los Angeles. No concussion. She's healing (scrapes on her shoulder, elbow, knee) and has now progressed to physical therapy. And yes, she's looking forward to riding next year!" Cheering them on and offering refreshments and/or housing along the route were other GHAEA employees: Katie Hensley, Deb Norman and Wendy Rodriguez.
 |
| Lane Plugge with daughter Angie, principal at Dawes Middle School, Lincoln, NE. |
 |
| Melanie Thomas at the end of the ride, Mississippi River. |
 |
| Lane captured this shot of riders entering the town of Malvern. |
 |
| Victory! Cheryl Case made it all the way to Muscatine. |
 |
| The Case family: Cheryl, Dan, Nolan and Emmett. |
 |
| Injuries didn't stop Emilee Richardson from dipping a wheel in the Mississippi River. |
 |
| Katie Hensley (r) shared fresh vegies from Big Creek Farms with Melanie Thomas. |
 |
| Debbie Norman and Melanie Thomas. |
 |
| Melanie Thomas and team in Tabor. |
Comments
Post a Comment