Dear Porkers,

During the first week in May, we crossed the Middle Raccoon River six times.  In fact, we crossed a bunch of rivers--the North Skunk, the South Skunk, the Boyer, the Cedar, and the Des Moines.  The Iowa River was swollen out of its banks in places from heavy spring rains.  Because the cold and rain have put them behind, every farmer in Iowa was out plowing and planting, and more than once during our scouting trips we got stuck behind a slow-moving tractor, putzing from field to field by means of the highway. 

You've all seen needlework samplers or sampler boxes of chocolates, haven't you?  You learn the different stitches or taste the different flavors as you go along?  Well, our week together will seem like a day-to-day sampler of Iowa experiences, compliments of some very generous host-town volunteers who'll be working hard over the next seven weeks to prepare for that one day when you and your fellow Porkers come calling.  Remember, please, that some of these plans are still a little tentative.  We'll be on the road again, probably a couple of times before July, but for now, here's how our week together is shaping up.

Saturday in Missouri Valley: Getting Ready
This is our mustering town, where we'll all gather and prepare to ride east, and nobody will be closer to the famous RAGBRAI Bicycle Expo than Pork Belly Ventures.  The Expo will be located at the Mo Valley high-school-on-a-hill, and we'll be above the school, high on the football practice field, looking out across the rolling fields to the east.  The festivities--band, food venders, beverage garden--will be located downhill from us in the little main-street area.  Ours will be a pretty spot at sunset and a roomy place for getting your bikes out of their crates and ready to ride.  Those Mo Valley train tracks run just south and east of the school, so expect some overnight whistles that night before the big first day. 

Sunday in Harlan: Homemade Pie and Church Supper
Everybody knows that a staple of RAGBRAI cuisine is "the church supper," prepared by women (and men) who have known all their lives how to cook.  And bake.  Well, this year we are cordially invited to be the guests of Immanuel Lutheran Church in Harlan, and Pork Belly will treat you to your first church supper of the week.  We're still talking over the menu--probably sliced, savory pork loin on a bun, sweet corn, a potato dish and delicious salad, plus dessert.  You'll want to get into camp early this afternoon, because the church ladies will be offering homemade pie by the slice, right at our campsite, a huge, shady apron around the sanctuary.  Shower Guys right on site.  The minister will hold a special afternoon church service for any Porkers who would like to attend, and we've requested that the choir sing a hymn or two for everyone before supper.  Want to help our hosts raise funds for capital improvements?  Rent a pew for the night.  Yes, here at Immanuel Lutheran, you can leave that tent in the stuff-sack, drag your sleeping bag indoors, and snooze on a cushioned pew or a patch of carpet in air-conditioned comfort, near porcelain restrooms!  Later on, we'll let you know how to reserve a pew.  Thanks in advance to our kind hosts, who are willing to look the other way during the Blue Band performance and the serving of Pork beverages.  On church grounds.  On a Sunday, no less.   

Monday in Jefferson:  Take Me Out to the Ballgame
Last year in Dyersville, we didn't quite get that Field of Dreams, but we're getting it this year in Jefferson.  Buy me some peanuts and crackerjacks tonight, because we're at the Little League ballpark for the quintessential Iowa summer evening.**  (Pack your earplugs, Porkers.  There are train tracks across the road.)  Around five, we'll duck behind the truck for our Back-of-the-Truck Cocktail Party, complete with that crazy gas-powered blender.  Expect Margies and Marys and whatever else we can stir up during Happy Hour.  Then, our hosts are putting together an exhibition game between two Little League teams.  Before you come to Iowa, put in some batting practice, because you might just end up at the plate.  One, Two, Three Strikes, You're Out at the Oooold Baaaall Gaaaame!  This is an old-fashioned small-town baseball park, with grassy shaded camping at one end and a pretty ball diamond at the other, old-style sheltered bleachers behind home plate.  We'll arrange more shaded audience seating along the fence, right near the concession stand where you can purchase a ball-park supper from Little League volunteers.  Take a big step back in time, root-root-root for our little hometown teams, and bite into a hot dog with relish.  It's going to be a Norman Rockwell kind of night.

** If you get a chance, rent "The Final Season" some night before RAGBRAI.  It depicts a real-life story, the end of the high school baseball tradition in Norway, Iowa, and believe it or not, in the movie, Norway actually plays Jefferson!  The film features a number of top-notch HBO actors, gorgeous rural scenery, and a lot of train whistles.  And it's pretty sentimental.  For instance, you'll hear Powers Boothe intone in his deep, deep voice, "Son, baseball is the only sport where the object is to get home."        

Tuesday in Ames:  Lay Back or Paint the Town
Tonight we'll stay on campus at ISU--26,000 students strong, known for its farm business, horticulture, and veterinary medicine programs.  The Ag-Econ program is ranked among the world's top 25, and we sure hope you've heard of the Cyclones.  All of RAGBRAI is on or near campus, and PBV will be right in the thick of things.  We've got a nice grassy area near the Shower Guys, and you can rent a dorm room in advance, if you want to, half a block from us. Click this link for more Dorm Room Info and Form.  Tonight's the night to turn in your dirty laundry so our crew can give it back to you on Wednesday afternoon, fresh and folded. Remember that laundry proceeds go to Juvenile Diabetes.  We figure Iowa State is cooking up something big, so we'll be chillin' out and hoping to hear some soft guitar picking from Sammy "the Bull" Hawkins of Louisville, Kentucky.  You can hang with us or hit the bike path from our spot to the stadium for the doings in Ames.  

Wednesday in Tama-Toledo:  Iowa Chops and Good Craic
We won't jinx ourselves with promises, Porkers, but could you say a little prayer for clear skies on Wednesday?  This is the one we've all been waiting for since last year in Hampton.  We're still deliberating between two wonderful campsites, but feel free to imagine picnic tables under tall oaks, free-flowing Boulevard, two-inch-thick chops sizzling over a cob fire along with other tasty dishes, the pink of sunset in the sky, and our favorite six-member Irish band, the Elders, Steve on guitar, that bow-flashing fiddle player, their dead-on vocal harmonies literally vibrating in the air, and Ian thrumming that washboard strapped to his chest, bringing all of us to our feet before the night's over.  Doing an Irish DANCE, HEY!

Thursday in North Liberty:  The Sizzle
Not twenty years ago, this host community was cornfield, so we won't find a lot of mature trees in North Liberty, one of Iowa's fastest growing towns.  What we will find is a friendly community on the edge of Iowa City, with an old town center and brand new neighborhoods sprinkled liberally with saplings. We've got a lovely city park with showers, and we will be sizzling.  For The Sizzle, the traditional Pork Belly Cookout, we'll carry our huge grills off the truck, get the coals glowing red, and set out utensils and yummy side dishes, as well as a selection of meats, including a surprise specialty of the Liberty Optimist Club.  All you have to do is choose your raw entrée from our coolers, situate it over the coals with the help of our aproned chefs, and then fill your plate.  It's a leisurely night for good grinds and great fellowship as our week together winds down. 

Friday in Tipton:  The Last Fairwell
Tipton is the site of the Cedar County Fair, and we'll be on the town-side edge of the lovely old-fashioned fairgrounds, looking back at the little berg itself. Needless to say, the local Lion's Club and other charitable organizations will be serving their County Fair favorites all afternoon and evening.  For our part, we're working on a memorable last night with a surprise or two for all of you.  As ever, we'll recruit a few good blender-drivers at our Farewell Cocktail Party.  We'll gather together one last time, sip our Margies and dirty Bloody Marys, and look back on what a week it was. 

Saturday in Le Claire:  A Smooth Departure
Porkers, we think your last-day chores will be pretty easy here.  Dip your front tires, pack up bikes to ship or load, get a shower, eat something, and board your bus.  Our hosts have thought of everything!  They've placed us near long-term parking and the Shower Guys.  There are a few fast-food restaurants within view of the Iowa Welcome Center where we'll stage, a lot of great last-minute Iowa souvenirs for purchase inside the center, and a breathtaking panorama of the Mississippi River below.  Don't miss the upstairs observation deck at the center--what a view.  Le Claire is among the most enthusiastic and well-organized host towns we've encountered in our long RAGBRAI history.  We're looking forward to a smooth departure.

In closing, we ask you to stop and think about the Jefferson Little League kids and parents.  Suppose we each bought a bag of popcorn or a hot dog at their concession stand.  Imagine how many prayers would be answered if we each dropped a little something in the collection plate at Immanuel Lutheran to help them build a new facility.  Our hosts tend to give us special consideration (we are the largest charter on RAGBRAI by quite a margin), and we, Pete and Tammy, will do our part to return the favor by making our stay a win-win proposition.  Will you consider doing the same?  As vacations go, RAGBRAI is remarkably inexpensive.  You first-timers will soon learn what our long-timers know, that you'll get a big bang for your Iowa buck and the kind of memories that stay with you for a lifetime.  So hopefully there's a little jingle in each of our pockets for the towns, churches, and organizations who are working so hard to make our Midwestern holiday memorable.  Without them, there wouldn't be a RAGBRAI.

We can hardly wait for our Iowa Sampler week when we'll cross all the rivers together, learn something new in each host town, and taste all the rich and homey flavors of our state.  Until then, we remain,

Your friends,

Tammy and Pete





Tammy (Phillips) Pavich                                                Pete Phillips 
808/946-5315 or tammypav@aol.com              712/328-6836 or petephillips@cox.net

(Honolulu-four hours earlier than Iowa)