Day 3: Atlantic to Winterset

6:30 am.  That is when we got up this morning.

I am not a morning person.  (Braden will agree with me on this one).  Who wants to get up at 6:30 when they can be snuggled nice and comfy in their bed?

Unfortunately, I sleep on top of the table (it converts into a bed).  So certain people who are morning people are itching for me to get up so they can eat breakfast.

Today we rode 41 miles from Atlantic to Stuart, the meeting town.  I have never ridden 41 miles in my life!!  And it was not easy.

One of the hardest things for me is the comments that people make about the tandem and how I'm just taking it easy and not really helping.  I don't understand this.  They don't make fun of single riders who are struggling along.  This is the most physically demanding thing I've ever done but I'm here. I showed up and I'm working my butt off.  Just because I'm doing it on the tandem doesn't make it any less difficult. 

So here I am, struggling, my butt hurts like heck, my legs are getting tired, I already feel like I'm weighing Jeff down, and I'm wondering if I can make it to the next stop.

And then some dude comes by and makes a snarky comment.  But it isn't just one guy.  It's many of them.  I guess they think they are funny.

But at this particular moment, we were nearing the last town before the meeting town, I was tired, in pain, and emotionally and physically spent.  I'd endured too many of these comments.  And I couldn't take any more.

So I started to cry.  Jeff knew I was having a hard time and wanted to pull over so he could give me a hug, but I told him to keep going.  I knew that if we got off before the next town, I wouldn't be able to get on again.

We make it to the next town and I was just completely deflated.  I didn't want to keep going and I was wondering why I had even tried to do this instead of going back to work after camping.  I felt like I didn't belong.

While we were resting, we met an older couple riding a tricycle tandem.  (So they sit down in a chair and pedal with their feet in front of them and there are three wheels).  The woman came over to me and chatted for a bit.  She asked me if I had experienced people trying to be cute and saying I wasn't pedaling or similar comments (like, oh who is pedaling harder, must be nice, speed in front, chill in back, her feet are up on the handlebars, etc).  I told her I had and we bonded over our mutual dislike for such annoying comments.

I almost quit at this point.  I really was not feeling well and was struggling to understand WHY I was putting myself through this.

Jeff, as always, was very encouraging and supportive.  He told me that he is really happy that I'm here with him and that he would be miserable if I wasn't.  He tried to come up with answers he could give when people ask dumb questions.

Later on, we had people ask more encouraging or interesting questions, like, "How does riding a tandem affect your marriage?"

I just wish that everyone could be a little more encouraging.  At that moment, I needed someone to just say, hey, you are doing a good job.  Hang in there.  Keep pedaling.  You're awesome.

So if you ever ride RAGBRAI, don't make fun of people who are riding.  At least they are out there doing it and you never know, an encouraging word from you might make the difference between them making it to the next town or giving up and waiting for the SAG wagon to come pick them up.

I rode 41 miles.  41.  For me, that's a huge accomplishment, tandem or not.  So take that tandem jokers.  You just wish you had an awesome stoker like me on the back of your bike.

SO, I FINALLY got to have some of this fantastic food that everyone has been talking about.  We stopped for second breakfast at Farm Kids and had a delicious breakfast burrito.  I have to say, they were right about the food. 

Breakfast burrito with eggs, bacon bits, potatoes, cheese, and onions

We also had the popular Bucawhich.  I have to admit, I didn't think I would like this one because the fillings appeared to be spicy.  But it was SOOOO good.  Jeff got the cajun chicken first so I could try it.  It was so yummy that I had to get my own but I got the cajun steak.

We didn't ride in the afternoon because we were both tired and ready for a rest.  Kolton and John were the only ones who did the whole day.

We had a host again and after dinner we had a nice campfire in their backyard while we did our devotions.  Jeff's sister, Jenny, and her boys had arrived and set up their tents.  They will be riding with us tomorrow.

Current Mood: somewhat discouraged, but enjoying time with Jenny and the boys
Predictions: I will ride the whole day tomorrow, it will be a much slower pace
Best Part of the Day: Eating the breakfast burrito with Jeff and the boys, actually finishing 41 miles
Worst Part of the Day: The break down, the nasty comments