Roadside Mysteries: It's ALL about the RAGBRAI !!!

The next week of posts are going to be only about the RAGBRAI

I ride a bike in the RAGBRAI (the Register's Annual Great Bicycle Ride Across Iowa) and I carry a banjo on my back the entire route. I sometimes will stop and play a few notes on occasion. Here is a collection of photos of me that people have taken and posted on the internet. The one above is from the Peanut Butter Jam in 2008.

I think this was in 2007 , maybe Manchester, Iowa?

This was something like the last town on the last day of the ride and I probably spent two hours in this town greeting the other riders as they came into town.

Next to a drier bin in Stout, Iowa, 2007

There was this corn drier at the corner of the route that provided some shade and a good place to play as the mass of bikes passed through.

On stage in Humbolt, Iowa 2006

The bank of Iowa booked us (The Roadside Boys) for early morning entertainment in Humbolt.

On the side of the road in Humbolt, 2006

We found someone's front yard and just started playing stuff. In the black box is a melodion (accordion) that came in handy when a rider asked if we could do a polka.

On stage in Clarion, Iowa, 2006

This was another Roadside Boys gig where we had a great time drinking beer and jamming with the local talent.

Someplace in Iowa, 2005

This was near a rest stop. I found this picture by searching "Ragbrai Banjo" on Google. It's in Iowa, but I don't know where exactly.

Maybe in Malcom, Iowa, 2006

The local fire department placed a water hose out to spray into the street to help cool off the riders on this 98 degree day. A rider took this picture of me playing under the stream of water and posted it with the title "Water Music".

Crystal Lake, Iowa, 2005

This photo was taken by a news reporter in a town that bordered Crystal lake. The two women sitting next to me were members of the C.U.B.S (see next picture below).

Someplace in Iowa, 2005

I remember this guy who took this photo. He asked all sorts of questions. The jersey I have on celebrates the 10th year of the club known as C.U.B.S., or the Chicago Urban Bicycling Society. It was a bike club I joined in 2005.

A cornfield in Iowa, 2005

This is me with Lee, the president of the Tall Dogs Club. Lee asked if I could play some banjo tunes while he relieved himself in the cornfield out back. He said it was the highlight of the ride.

An intersection in Iowa, 2005

I felt that the volunteers who were out in the sun all day directing traffic needed some entertainment too, so I took some time to welcome them and their hard work.

Fenton, Iowa, 2005