We picked her up at the Des Moines airport Monday about noon. It was a great feeling to get my arms around her again. Amy had been gone over 5 weeks on her trip to South and Central America. So glad to have her back safe and sound!
In the small DM Airport she ran into some Denver friends - they'd been home with their new baby. And we was Mary Faber there dropping off her sis-in-law Mary McCann, who had been back seeing CHS classmates and family. It was nice to finally meet the woman we'd heard so much about!
We stopped at Court Avenue Brewpub for a bit of lunch before we went home. Odie was overjoyed to see her Sissy (that's what she thinks Amy's name is - and Odie's feeling much better!). We got to hear some of her travel tales, but feel like I still haven't heard much of the story. She needed to get her photo chip from her friend Rachelle before she could upload all her pics. That night we shopped a bit, and even bought her running shoes and a Cyclone pullover - since we didn't have to fork over any ransom $ to get her home!
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| Strange RAGBRAI happenings - a guy brings his monkey to entertain... |
Tuesday, she and Paul rode Iowa's bike ride across Iowa for a day - a/k/a RAGBRAI - from Perry to Des Moines. It was 48 miles. A couple guys Paul knows from Red Oak rode in with them. Paul has ridden all across the state before - when he was younger, but Amy hadn't. Plus she hadn't trained at all. I let her ride my bike Albie. And I worked. Sigh. But I don't wish to ride bikes with 30,000 (bigger than most towns they stop overnight at) people, standing in lines for food and pottys.
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| Paul and work buddies - yes he even has Cyclone bike shorts... |
That night we drove down to downtown DSM for the big party that goes along with the traveling bike ride. It was the most gorgeous evening of the summer. We drank a beer, ate a sandwich and listened to a 90's band on the Court Avenue Bridge. We ran into my Atlantic matey, Marci Merrick (now Hinners) and her husband Jim - fun to catch up with her! Amy's pal Rachelle and another friend met us, but we retired early as we all had to get up early, so we headed home by 8:30 a.m. I'm sleeping easier these days - now that my baby is back and Jud is safe and sound in St. Joe.
Tuesday night pics
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Rachelle and Amy
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| Looking south |
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| Vendor tents set up |
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| Bike valet parking |
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