How to Survive 2020

 Want my best survival tip for 2020? Get a Surly Big Dummy. 

Dan had been looking at cargo bikes for over a year but the price and timing were never quite right until May. Scrolling through Facebook Marketplace, he found a killer price from a guy who was moving across the country and lacked the extra space to haul his cargo bike. Therefore, despite pandemic lock-downs in Wisconsin, Dan broke quarantine to drive all day to Milwaukee and pick up baby #2, a Surly Big Dummy--no contact, in true 2020 pandemic style (masked).

Worth every penny and every risk! We became the proud owners of our first, bad-ass cargo bike. 

Not long after Dan brought the bike home, we purchased a Thule Yepp seat for Nora. Ever since then we’ve been out for rides every. damn. day. No exaggeration. Nora loves it. I love it. Dan loves it. It has significantly improved our quality of life during this strange, strange summer. It finally allowed me and Nora an opportunity to bike together. I had been playing stay-at-home-mom since Dan went back to his regular work schedule in June. We had been getting outside as much as possible previously, but now we were able to go places around the city that weren’t just confined to our little walk-able area. We were able to do grocery pickups and trips to the splash pad and long rides just for the hell of it. I mean, seriously, it was a game-changer for my and therefore, everyone's, moods. I had even gotten to the point of disliking yoga (who knew that was even possible?!)...so this bike came just in the nick of time. 

We were getting into shape (okay, just me) and had just warmed up to our new, fall routine (back to work and daycare) when...cue August 10th. 

On August 10th, a record-breaking derecho hit Cedar Rapids, ripping down the fence of our once safe and private backyard, knocking over chimneys, uprooting 200-year-old trees, and utterly decimating our city. The bike once again provided respite. Those first few days after the storm, downed trees blocked all entrances and exits to our house. Biking was truly the only (and fastest) way we could get around. We couldn’t find any playgrounds, bike trails, or safe, open spaces but just being on the bike brought back a sense of normalcy. I’ll never forget Nora’s wide eyes and soft whimpers as she pointed at all the destruction around us during those rides. It’s been three weeks since the storm, and she still whimpers and points because sadly, it still looks the same...with the exception that now all the tree branches are dried out, browned, and dead. 

Work is now back in full swing, daycare has re-opened, and bike commuting has commenced. I load Nora up in her Yepp seat for our three-block trip to daycare, and then I continue on to Coe. The ride is not like it used to be--calming, shaded, a refreshing cap on either side of my work day. Nope, now it’s heart wrenching--an up-close reminder of the post-apocalyptic year that we’ve had. But yet I feel with each ride a resilience building in me..and that somehow feels like progress. 

And the feeling of progress is, I think, the best anyone can hope for in 2020.

Now go get yourself a cargo bike!

Cheers,

Kelly

A Snow-filled Nature Fix

When Dan and I planned our Christmas getaway (aka our gifts to each other) in early November, we were dreaming of the perfect winter wonderland.  It had been an unusually warm November and early December here in Iowa City, so, call us crazy, we wanted to find winter.  We wanted to watch the snow fall, go out (in layers) for a snow adventure, and then cozy up next to a warm fireplace with hot tea. Since neither of us have been further north than Minneapolis, we really had no idea what to expect when we booked the Grand Superior Lodge, but turns out...IT WAS PERFECT.  Tucked away in tiny Castle Danger, Minnesota right along the stunning Lake Superior we found our DREAM winter vacation.

After a quick trip to the Spoon Bridge, dinner at the HIPPEST vegan joint in town (shout out to J. Selby's), and a one-night stay at a beautiful mansion (an awesome AirBnB find), we hit the road for the 3-hour trip even further north to Castle Danger. With a total of 8 hours on the road, we passed the time by listening to some STELLAR podcasts. Do you love podcasts? Do you love musicals? Then, trust me, you will freakin' LOVE 36 Questions--the musical PODCAST!  I know, you're thinking...how can a musical podcast be quality entertainment with only audio? No. Trust me, trust me, trust me. It's fantastic! Dan loved it too!

Had to get my Spoon Bridge pic in (Minneapolis, MN)

We spent the first evening settling in at the lodge by exploring around the lodge but woke up early the next morning to see the sunrise.  Snow was perfectly falling while the steam was perfectly rising off the lake.  SO BEAUTIFUL! And because it was snowing, the temp was warm than the day before...above zero!  It was...dare I say, pleasant (when properly dressed in layers).

We drove into Two Harbors (a "big" town nearby) and rented fat bikes from the local bike shop, Spoken Gear (which, as turns out, makes the SWEET custom CEDAERO bags that we've been seeing on popular bike blogs). Then we went out, upon recommendation from the bike shop guys, to the Demonstration Forest for a few hours of crisp (ok, cold) air and snowy riding. And I have to admit (as a former fat bike hater)...the fat bikes were a blast! Biking is already an empowering activity for me, but there was something about riding with the huge tires that made the experience even more empowering. It was unbelievably fun to crunch through the snow-packed forest with the fat bikes. Everyone needs to try!

This trip was exactly what I needed to pull out of the wintertime blues (all you Midwest survivors know what I'm talking about), which I inevitably fall victim to each year. Over Thanksgiving break, I read a fascinating book called The Nature Fix which really got me thinking about how my mood correlates with the amount of time I spend in nature. I've always known that my mood changes (for the better) when I'm out camping or riding my bike, but I had never really thought that nature itself could be the reason for feeling better; I just always associated my improved mood with the fact that I was exercising or that it was the weekend or that I laughed a lot with the good company joining me. All of which are still valid factors, but after reading this book, I learned about some cool research behind how nature itself can "fix" us. Have you heard of the Nature Pyramid? Me neither until I read this book.  Check it out, friends! We are taught as kids about the food pyramid, but why aren't we taught about the nature pyramid?  We, as humans, NEED time in nature to stay healthy (physically, mentally, and spiritually). And just like carbs, fruits, veggies, and proteins, we need regular, consistent, and INTENTIONAL time in nature--starting with several small doses every day (walking to work, lunch breaks outside, etc) and in bigger doses every week, month, and year. Vacations to new cities can be exciting, but in the end, a city is a city is a city. And a city is the opposite of nature and simply cannot give us what our body needs...craves.

This book and this winter vacation has taught me to be more mindful about how much time I choose to spend in nature. Even during single digit temps, being outside had an UNDENIABLE positive impact on my mood. So here's the real lesson: I must be more intentional about getting nature fixes in this winter...my mental health depends on it! And I challenge YOU to be mindful about your nature fixes this new year as well. 2018--THE YEAR OF THE NATURE FIXES! CHEERS!

Donald D. Ferguson Lake County Demonstration Forest

Donald D. Ferguson Lake County Demonstration Forest

View from Split House Lighthouse

Split Rock Lighthouse

Salsa Mukluk fat bike

Peace, love, and (fat) bicycles,

Kelly

Raccoon River Valley Trail--Bike ExtravaDANza 2017

In honor of Dan's 29th year of birth, we packed up and headed to Des Moines for a Labor Day weekend biking adventure.  We wanted to squeeze in 100 miles over 2 days, so the Raccoon River Valley Trail proved to be perfect--officially an 89-mile loop from Waukee to Jefferson and back.

But before we took off on the Raccoon Valley Trail, we had to take advantage of our Friday night by doing a little night riding out to the High Trestle Trail bridge.  If you haven't been to this bridge, you need to book a trip before winter rolls in.  It is simply breath-taking.

High Trestle Trail, Madrid, Iowa

For the rest of the weekend, we mapped out the route to begin and end in Waukee; we planned to take the eastern leg of the loop, spend the night at the northernmost point (Jefferson, IA), and finish up with the western leg.

The first day was smooth sailing on the eastern leg of the loop. The trail was carefully maintained, clean, and charming as we passed through Dallas Center (stop for a picture in the big, red chair), Milburn (Nineteen 14 is a perfect beer/rest stop), and Perry (don't miss Mar's Diner). We filled up our tummies at the Mar's Diner buffet run by the three cutest little old ladies. Besides the adorable owners, it is also known for its broasted chicken making this is an essential stop for those who need a dose of protein to re-fuel before more riding.

Milburn, Iowa

Raccoon River Valley Trail

Dan booked the best lodging for our overnight in Jefferson--Little House on Russell.  It turned out to be the perfect place for 4 people.  The house was fully furnished with one queen bed, one twin bed, a pull out couch, and a twin-sized air mattress option plus it was just a block off the trail and only a few blocks from downtown restaurants and Hy-Vee!

We decided to try the local cafe, Uptown Cafe, for dinner---and boy, it hit the spot!  I think we all opted for the "breakfast all-day" menu plus a piece of hometown pie for dessert.  Since Hy-Vee was just around the corner from Uptown, we decided to pick up groceries for a home-cooked egg sandwich breakfast rather than hunt around for early morning breakfast option. I must admit, it was a little nerve-wrecking riding at night with eggs in my front basket--not for the weak of heart!

The next morning we cooked ourselves some yummy breakie sammies, loaded up our bags again, and headed off on the remaining loop back to Waukee.  We pushed through the miles and didn't stop until Panora for lunch.  We rolled in just in time to catch the lunch buffet at The Port overlooking the beautiful Lake Panorama. 

Looks like all was well and good, right?  Indeed, it was all well and good...because...that picture was taken just moments before I re-applied sunscreen and left my RINGS (yes, engagement ring and all) sitting on a table, outside the restaurant, in the hot, hot sun amongst many strangers.  

Yep, that happened. And it wasn't until 15-ish miles down the trail that I even realized what I had done.  Upon realizing this tragedy, I had to inform the group. We really had no choice but to keep riding (15-ish more miles) on to Waukee in order to get the car and drive back to Panora, so that's what we did.  The Port had closed after brunch at 1, but we knew the outside "tiki" bar was still open. We were holding out that someone at the bar had found them and turned them in.  

                                      

Raccoon River Valley Trail

The rest of the ride was fairly...silent (as you can probably imagine).  Dan was feverishly making phone calls to The Port (but to no avail), and I was feverishly trying not to throw up from guilt. But there's good news, my friends!  We went back and FOUND THE RINGS!  In the same spot in which I absentmindedly left them. Same spot. Same freakin' spot.

The reaction of the bar-tending crew, you might wonder?  "Ha! Glad you found 'em!  Obviously, we haven't even been down there yet to clean those tables! Ha!" And about not answering their phones for the past 2 hours..."Oh, well, the phone's all the way up in the restaurant!  We could hear it ringing!" We all immediately ordered a round of drinks to celebrate our good fortune and sat back listening to a string of stories from others at the bar about their own ring mishaps. 

With one drink down already, we headed into downtown Des Moines for a proper birthday celebration for Dan at Iowa Taproom.  Cheers to being 29 and wanting to marry an absentminded goof, Dan!  

Birthday boy

Near Jefferson, Iowa

And cheers to the Raccoon River Valley Trail--a great way to spend a weekend outdoors on your bike!  Check it out, friends!

Peace, love, and bicycles,

Kelly

Post RAGBRAI Reflections

And we're back!  Time to debrief and reflect on last week's journey across Iowa.  I'll give the breakdown day by day and mention lessons learned along the way.  

The fun began Saturday night in Orange City after 5 long hours in the car (shout out to my parents for driving us there!).  Dan and I found a great place to set up camp (aka our hammocks) and then walked a few blocks to where all the music, food vendors, and expo tents were set up.  It's impossible to describe the vibe of RAGBRAI for those who have never witnessed it, but I will try.  It's visceral and electric and...awesome?  There are no fitting adjectives, you see.  It sounds like classic 80s rock music, tastes like homemade pie and cheap beer, smells like fried food vendors and porta potties (called kybos on RAGBRAI), and feels like gritty sunscreen sweating off down your face.  Still not selling it?  It's thousands of people excited, just like you are, to ride bikes for a week straight and forget about the outside world.  It's just...my favorite. 

We dipped our tires at Windmill Park to officially mark the beginning of our trip and enjoyed a few beers before calling it a night. 

Tire dip in Orange City (start of RAGBRAI)

Sunday brought 62.6 miles all the way to Spencer with 6 stops through towns along the way, each town offering different vendors, activities, and entertainment for the riders. The miles between the towns are filled with roadside vendors selling fruit, granola, and other homemade goodies, many with funny signs (like the picture below) to keep you intrigued and motivated on the road.  The designated camping spot in Spencer was the fairground which didn't offer much for hammocking trees, except a row of pine trees along the outside edge of the stadium.  We took what we could get but learned our first important lesson:  hammocking in pine trees means you must have a tarp to cover all gear from sap drips.  Luckily, we didn't need to use our rain fly that night, so we covered our gear with that.  We also learned that the shower semis pack up between 8:30 and 9 p.m. (we persuaded the workers to let us be the last ones in), so we learned that we can't dilly dally much after setting up camp and eating dinner.

Monday was a rough day.  Not only was it the longest in mileage (71.7 miles), it was also the day of two flats, a new tire, and a painful injury.  We were just outside of our first stop, Ayrshire, when my front tire popped.  I heard the loud sound, watched my front tire instantly deflate, and before I could successfully unclip my shoes from my pedals, I was on the ground.  Dan and a stranger immediately came to my rescue as I brushed off the gravel from my arms and legs.  The major pain was not in the gravel scratches though. Nope, it was in my lady business because as I fell the saddle jammed me real, real hard.  Woof, as if those areas weren't already feeling enough discomfort from my (always very timely) period.  Ew. Ouch. Not fun.  

Dan changed the tube quickly, but since we were only a few hundred yards outside of the last town, we headed back to make sure the tube was fully inflated for the upcoming 45+ miles.  As Dan was inflating the new tube, it burst again.  Clearly there was another issue, so we waited in line for a bike mechanic to take a look at it.  Sure enough, a small bead on the inside of the tire had broken and seemed to be the source of the two flat tubes.  We replaced my tire, and somehow I was able to push through the pain to make it to Algona.   Lessons learned:  check beading inside of tires after getting a flat and all the chamois butter in the world doesn't make a bruised nether region feel any better.

Tuesday was the flattest day of our journey but also turned out to be the windiest and hottest.  We rode 51.4 miles into Clear Lake with lofty ambitions to stay up late enjoying the headline band, The Wailers (Bob Marley's band).  In reality, after we showered up at Dan's grandpa's house, we barely had enough energy to walk downtown and grab food before falling asleep in the grass during the Wailers.  Lesson learned: bikes with fully loaded bags and 25 mph winds takes it out of you.

The Lady of the Lake, Clear Lake, Iowa

The next morning challenged us with a few thunderstorms.  Luckily, we had made it to the Thornton country club before the first big downpour and were able to scurry under a cupcake vendor tent until the heaviest part passed.  We were a little wet and cold, but the storm provided a good excuse to eat a cupcake before 9 a.m.  It rained off and on for the rest of the morning and afternoon which presented us with yet another valuable lesson: we don't have effective rain jackets to deal with heavy, Iowa downpours.  The rain had stopped by the time we rolled into Charles City 57.5 miles from where we had started that morning, and we were able to quickly find trees and showers.  The headliner that night was an old Cedar Falls favorite, the Pork Tornadoes, and this time we were able to stay awake for the whole show.  We even had the foresight to swing by Kwik Star on our walk back and pick up some discounted donuts for the following morning--which leads me to another lesson learned: never leave bag-o-donuts unattended.  One eager and efficient clean-up crew man wrongly assumed our donut bag on the ground was empty and therefore trash.  We turned our backs as we were packing up for a mere second and our donut bag was gone.  Unfortunate start to our Thursday!

Charles City overnight

Thursday's 54.6 mile ride to Cresco was quite lovely.  The temperature and wind that day were perfect allowing for a refreshing, shaded nap in New Hampton after lunch.  Although nothing eventful happened, I think the exhaustion from the week finally caught up to me all at once as we walked through downtown Cresco hunting for dinner that night. We had been eating our space food at night for dinner, but that night we wanted to treat ourselves to a nicer meal.  I had visions of sitting down in air conditioning for a few hours, but by the time we got downtown, either lines were out the doors or restaurants had already put up "out of supplies" (true story!) signs.  That triggered a bit of a breakdown, resulting in none of the vendors sounding good and Dan (with remarkable patience) insisting that I eat some gosh-darn stirfry noodles.  Lesson learned: Dan takes good care of me even when I'm being a huge brat (I already knew this but this lesson has been re-affirmed).

People from all over the U.S. and world join RAGBRAI

Friday's 60.1 mile ride into Waukon was hilly and beautiful.  We met my sister and Maleah in Decorah for lunch at Mabe's Pizza after stopping for a few favorite brews at Toppling Goliath Brewery.  Lunch was super delicious, but an important lesson followed:  biking and greasy cheese do not mix well in our increasingly dairy-resistant bodies.  I probably shouldn't have had an ice cream sandwich that afternoon as well---ugh, it's just so hard to give up foods you love but body rejects! Postville was another fascinating stop that deserves mentioning.  Did you know that Postville is the most diverse city in Iowa?  It was great to see RAGBRAIers interacting with the mix of cultures represented in Postville.  I can't imagine what was running through the minds of the Somali immigrants as they watched 20,000 strangers pass through their town on bicycles that day.

Postville main street

The evening in Waukon ended suddenly after setting up camp because I fell asleep as soon as I sat in the hammock without dinner or a shower.  Again, Dan is an angel for putting up with me.

Saturday, our last day, was the shortest (only 44.8 miles) but hilliest. We knew that this would be the most challenging day of the week and had been mentally prepping for it all summer as we trained. Wooo, it was crazy tough, but WE DID IT!  There were many times I wanted to get off my bike and walk, but instead I kicked the bike into "granny gear" and just took it slow and steady.  On the other hand, the downhills were insane!  With all the weight in our bags, we cruised past the lightweight bikes at scary speeds (over 40 mph easy).  Not only did we finish every mile, but we can now call ourselves "baggers."  I should take a minute here to mention how supportive other baggers were on RAGBRAI.  Having bags automatically puts you into a unique community of cyclists and every one of the other baggers we passed or passed us had an encouraging word to say, which definitely makes me want to keep doing this type of cycling.  

Somewhere between Waukon and Lansing

The last day is always bittersweet. I was exhausted from a week of consecutive biking, late nights, and early mornings but at the same time didn't want any of it to end. One RAGBRAIer in front of me in line at Casey's gas station one morning said it best.  She said, "There's no other event like this where you can ride all day for one week, protected from cars, enjoying beautiful scenery, pee in a cornfield, and meet such happy people from all over the world."  As she talked about her experiences kissing pigs and meeting local people I teared up with pride to have such an event in my home state. There's just nothing like RAGBRAI.

We did it! 

And RAGBRAI really goes beyond the party, the beers, the new and old friends, the entertainment, etc; this year in particular, it has given me a renewed sense of confidence.  I set goals and met them.  I challenged myself and didn't give up when I felt like quitting.  I am amazed at what my body and mind can do.  I needed that before heading into another school year at UI.  

Last, but certainly not least, the whole experience grew my love for Dan even more.  He loved and encouraged me the whole week, even when I was being a bear to him.  He's strong and gentle and smart and patient and easy on the eyes and...I can't wait to marry him!

Tire dip in Lansing (end of RAGBRAI)

My heart is full.  I can't wait for more touring trips around Iowa and the Midwest this fall, all of which I will be documenting here.  Cheers to "bagging" it! 

Peace, love, and bicycles,

Kelly

RAGBRAI Packing

Like I mentioned in my previous post, Dan and I will be riding self-contained this year which means we are hauling all our gear (clothes, toiletries, camping supplies, some food, etc) with us the whole week on our bikes--no extra support to transport our luggage from town to town like how most people do RAGBRAI. We've loaded our bikes for short weekend camping trips, but this will be our first, week-long true "touring" experience...I'm excited (and a bit anxious) to see how it will all go. I'm sure we'll learn a lot--which means I'll have lots to share when I'm back!  

40 liter back bags

25 liter front bags

With only 130 liters of storage apiece, minimalism is the name of the game!  Here's the breakdown of what I packed:

*sidenote: We will have an opportunity to do laundry on Wednesday

Clothes:

6 tanks

4 padded shorts

3 summer dresses

1 pair of leggings

2 long-sleeved shirts

1 pair of wool socks

2 headbands

1 biking hat

1 pair of biking gloves

helmet

rain jacket

My fav Raygun tank

Shoes:

1 pair of Keen's Commuter IV SPD sandals

1 pair of flip flops

Toiletries/Other Essentials:

Shampoo/Conditioner 

Face wash

Body wash

Deodorant

Toothbrush/toothpaste

Lotion

Baby powder

Butt cream

Baby wipes

Razor

Sunscreen

Bug spray

First Aid kit

Diva cup

Microfiber towel

Essentials

Sleeping Gear:
Hammock
Bug net
Rain fly
Sleeping bag
Sleeping bag liner

Sleeping gear

Food:
Granola bars
Trail mix
10 Backpacker Pantry dehydrated meals
1 bag of whole bean coffee

We are trying to reduce costs as much as we can (buying from food vendors all week can be very expensive!), so we plan to make our own coffee each morning and have at least one dehydrated meals each day.  So, this might sound weird, but I LOVE the dehydrated meals (Dan and I call them "space food")!  For just adding hot water and waiting 10-15 minutes, they are remarkably tasty and filling and much, much healthier than the fried, greasy options so often sold from the vendors.

Since I'm packing the toiletries, Dan will pack and haul the cooking gear in his bags.  Here is a list of those items:

Jetboil
coffee grinder (we love freshly ground, French-press coffee in the morning...snobs? Yeah, maybe)
1 small bottle of dish soap
matches
spoon and fork
1 pan
1 cup

Basic cooking gear

I won't be blogging along the route, but I'll be old school journaling my thoughts and experiences to type up later.  See you all back in one week!

Fully loaded!

Peace, love, and bicycles,

Kelly

3 R's: Revived, re-purposed, and re-branded

My poor, neglected blog is being revived once again, friends--this time with a new, shiny purpose! Are you ready for this?!  

Since my adventures in Southeast Asia are done and over for the foreseeable future, it's an appropriate time to re-brand and re-purpose.  So here it is: I'm going to start documenting my favorite adventures here in Iowa--specifically bike touring adventures with the simple intent to educate and encourage readers to explore more of this beautiful Iowa-land (and likely other Midwest locations) by the wonderful, eco-friendly means of bicycling. I truly believe that there's just nothing like being free and easy on a bike, seeing the world through the new perspective above your handlebars, all the while challenging your body physically and mentally. Ever since I was a child, I've loved the independence and power biking provided, so I figured it's about time I start sharing and encouraging others! Speaking of independence and power (and sharing for that matter), here's an interesting article from The Atlantic from a few years back discussing the link between biking and feminism that some of you might find interesting.

Now that you're all caught up on the 3 R's, I should probably backtrack a bit and fill you in on the build up to this blog revival...

Back in February, my fiance Dan (Instagram: seedanbike for more pictures of our adventures) and I set aside our vintage Schwinn road bikes and took the big leap to buy touring bikes.  I say "big leap" because there's no way around it--they were a pretty penny.  Up until this point in my life, I've always ridden hand-me-down bikes or Goodwill fixer uppers, so this was officially my first, brand-spanking-new bike purchase. You would think this would have made it easier to swipe that credit card, but honestly, it still stung. And it continued to sting up until just a few weeks ago when I finished "decorating" it to my liking. 

Dan did a lot of research on touring bikes months prior and found the Surly Disc Trucker's were consistently rated top notch for the kind of touring we plan to do, so it didn't take much convincing for both of us to go with Surly bikes ordered from our favorite Iowa City bike shop, World of Bikes.  Determined not to be "that couple" with matching bikes, we decided right away that we would customized them differently (Dan went black and I went a brown route).  Piece by piece and with lots of advice from our World of Bikes buddies, we've made them into exactly what we want. 

First up, we switched out our original saddles for Brooks saddles and added water bottle cages.  If you've ever picked up a Brooks saddle in a bike shop and felt the rock-hard leather, you've probably wondered why someone would ever want to sit on that, am I right?  Well, (and I can officially attest to this now) the leather is extremely comfortable after you put in between 500-1000 miles because it forms perfectly to the shape of your bum!  The first few rides were painful, for sure, but it's been worth it for the current results.  To match the brown saddle, I added Brooks brown handlebar tape to bring "the look" all together.   

Our beloved Surly Disc Trucker bikes with Brooks saddles, Tubus racks, and Ortleib pannier bags

After switching out the saddle, it was time to gear the Trucker up for long rides by adding the fenders (goodbye water/mud stains going up my back), front and back racks, and pannier bags.  I toyed with the idea of wooden add-ons, but in the end I went with stainless steel fenders and racks to give the bike a more "vintage" look and feel.  I'm happy with my decision and have gotten many compliments so far.  

Hills, IA

Jean-colored Ortleib pannier bags were the last touches (2 big bags in the back, 2 small bags up front) to the bike.  It was initially intimidating to ride with full bags, but true to the Disc Trucker reviews, the bike actually rides smoother fully loaded. Re-starting from full stops and going up hills is really the only time when you can feel the extra weight at all.

Panniers loaded with firewood on the top rack for some weekend camping in Sugarbottom Campground

So there you have it, the story of how my touring bike came to be.  

I have several favorite routes to share from spring/summer RAGBRAI training (not sure what RAGBRAI is? Check this out), but RAGBRAI itself begins in just TWO days.  I'll post about our interesting training routes another time; for now it makes sense to kick off this blog re-branding by sharing how and what we're packing for our week-long, self-contained (everything must fit on our bikes!) journey across Iowa.  

Check back tomorrow for our full packing list with pictures.

Peace, love, and bicycles, 

Kelly

Filipino Time

Wow, I'm the worst, right?  The absolutely worst.  Can I use the excuse that I'm posting on Filipino time?  Haha...

It's a terrible, ridiculous excuse because "Filipino time" is probably one of my biggest frustrations here, even after nearly 5 full months of "getting used to it"/cultural immersion.  And I know what some of you are thinking...you're thinking, "Kelly--Kelly Keegan, the notoriously late friend, being frustrated about lateness?  How ironic!" And to that I say...touché.  But let me explain myself.  

I'm actually totally okay with "Filipino time," aka showing up anywhere from 15 minutes to hours late, when it involves a social activity happening during my free time with patient and understanding friends whom I dearly love (shout out to all my friends whom I dearly love and miss!).  My frustration lies in this kind of "schedule" at school or professional events.  Nothing grinds my gears more than my grad students (consistently) walking into my class 15 minutes or more late with big smiles on their faces and fried, caramelized bananas-on-a-stick in their hands.  Just sauntering back from their lunch break to, ya know, catch some of that graduate level class they have enrolled in.  

I'm going to be honest.  I've lost my cool about it a few times (much to my students' surprise and even my own) which scares them enough for a week, maybe weeks max after which the same situation replays and replays.  

Or, let's take another example: seminars that I'm invited to speak at.  I'm told I'll be speaking from 1:30 to 3:00.  Ok, great.  I clear my schedule, prepare enough materials for 2 and a half hours, and I'm ready to rock.  

I arrive 15 minutes early and, huh? No one is there and nothing is even set up for the seminar.  The doors may even be locked still.  Hmm...am I in the wrong location?  Nope, I confirm the seminar is being held in this venue.  If I rally enough people and appear visually frustrated enough, maybe by 2:00 things are ready to go and at least some people have arrived.  

Now I have 2 choices.  Rush through my prepared lecture/workshop to finish by 3:00 like the "schedule," or do my hard work and preparation justice by presenting all I had planned and finish by 3:30.  It makes no difference to the participants (or so it seems), so often out of my hard-headed, American defiance, I rush to finish on-time.  Well, thank goodness I did because there's another 30+ minutes of picture taking and certificate giving.  By this time, it's well after 4, I'm exhausted, and that stack of journals I had been planning to grade following the seminar is just going to have to wait for another day. 

Sigh.

End rant.  

Hello!  Hi!  

In other news, I've been really busy these last 4 months as the semester got into full swing just in time for a 3-week Christmas break (shout-out to my visitor, Dan), a week-long conference in China (Fellows mid-year conference), and then right back into the semester again.  There's only a few more weeks before finals, and I, honestly, don't know where the time has gone.  

To summarize, I truly enjoy my students (minus the late ones), I'm learning a lot, I'm working a lot (teaching 6 days a week is not ideal), and I'm loving any and all opportunities I get to explore this beautiful country during my free time.

There's so much more to tell you all, so I promise more regular updates in the coming weeks.  It's also funny because as I post this, I'm supposed to be at my friends' basketball game cheering. But that game was scheduled to start at 4 and it's only 4:10.  I have plenty of time...in fact, I might even grab a caramelized banana-on-a-stick on my way.  :)

Beautiful Baguio

Puppies!

Adventuring at the hotel in Guangzhou, China

Enjoying Christmas break with Dan

Sagada

My fav class

Pagudpud

What most of my days look like

xoxo,

Kelly   

It's more fun in the Philippines!

Oh, hey everyone!

Sorry I've been slacking on the blog posts...I wish I had a good excuse to offer, but I have none! Ahhhh and there's so much to update you all on!

Singapore was amazing despite the haze (illegal fires from Indonesia and Malaysia).  I ate a ton of ridiculously yummy food and was completely blown away by the harmonious fusion of cultures which makes Singapore such a unique experience.  I also went to my first cat cafe which was, of course, hilarious.  Two thumbs up for Singapore!

Garden by the Bay light show

From Singapore I flew into Manila for a week long orientation.  It started off a little rough when I discovered that all my jewelry was missing from my backpack upon arrival (I had stupidly put it in the top pouch of my bag), but thankfully it only took the daylight and a short ride around town to snap out of my pity party and realize that I have a million blessings in my life.

Manila is a frustrating city of contrasts.  Around one corner you have these beautiful, modern buildings and shopping centers that rival Hong Kong or Singapore and around another you have massive slums like I've never seen before.  Jewelry is a silly luxury and small loss compared to how a lot of people live in this world.  Hello, major wake up call for this girl!

The week of orientation was packed with information sessions, an embassy tour, visits to PNU and a national high school, a museum tour, and...traffic (Manila has the worst traffic in the world).  The highlight for me was definitely our visit to PNU.  The students had a welcome ceremony for us which included, in true Filipino style, singing and dancing.  The students performed this lovely traditional song, and then immediately transitioned into "All About that Bass" which made me choke on my water because it was so unexpected!  Filipinos are known around the world for being performers and boy, it's so true!  It's more fun in the Philippines, haven't you heard?

Love is a strong word...how about I'm indifferent about Manila?

Since I've arrived in Agoo (Pronounced Ah-go-oh), I have witnessed 3 beauty pageants, 2 dance competitions, and practically nonstop singing...I mean, seriously, everyone is always singing.  Which leads me to conclude....we Americans need to lighten up!  We need to sing and dance more because, why not?  It breeds happiness! (P.S. We can do without the pageants.)

Winner, winner chicken dinner!  (My soon-to-be student)

I've been in Agoo (my new home) for 3 weeks now and officially feel settled.  Agoo is small, quaint, and for the most part quiet (exceptions being karaoke, chickens, and goats around my apartment).  I like the walkability of the town.  I can get from my apartment to the university in a few minutes and "downtown" in about 15 minutes.  Tricycles, motorbikes with sidecars, are the main form of public transportation in town and are quite convenient when I don't feel like lugging my groceries for the 15-minute walk back home.  There's a small Dunkin Donuts, a 7-11, and a few Filipino fast food chains (Jolibee, Greenwich, and Chow King) when I feel like eating junk.  Otherwise I have to brave the market for my food shopping needs.  The market is still a bit overwhelming as I figure out which vendors to buy what from and where everything is found, but I will conquer it soon enough!

My home 

Typhoon Lando hit Agoo for three, long days taking out power everywhere.  The first day felt a bit exotic, the second day was when boredom hit (all battery powered devices were dead at this point), and by the third day I was actually starting to lose my mind.  I re-arranged the furniture in my apartment several times and danced around to tunes inside my head just to have something to do!  All the while praying that no goats would come flying through my windows.  I survived on bread and peanut butter and walked around by candle light.  True survivor mode!  The storm made a mess on campus and around town which is still being cleaned up.

I've been busy at school even though classes have yet to start.  I've spoken at several end-of-the-semester seminars/workshops and been active in the Faculty Olympics.  I played on the volleyball, basketball, tug-of-war, and sack racing teams--go DMMMSU!  I even tried my hand at some traditional games like coconut racing and kadang kadang...although I didn't try the greased pole racing.  I'll leave that one to the experts!  Anyway, it's been fun to get to know some new people around campus through the games.

DMMMSU men's basketball

Resume and cover letter writing seminar for seniors

400+ thrilled students :)

This week I need to prepare for all my classes which will start on the 9th.  I'm a bit anxious but also excited to get back in the classroom!  Before classes start though, I'll be traveling to Cebu to be the keynote speaker (eeek!) at a language conference for Filipino English language teachers...pretty big time, right?  I know!  I've only been here for 3 weeks, but I've already grown so much professionally.  I can't wait for what the next 10 months will bring!

My social life is a bit lacking at the moment, but I'm confident that will change with time.  I think back to my time in Korea and how lonely it was for those first few months as I was building friendships...it gives me hope that I will make friends as close as family here as well!  Filipinos are amazingly friendly and welcoming but the challenge, like anywhere, is finding friends my own age, with similar interests, in similar life stages (aka single, no kids).

One professor and his sons helped me buy a mountain bike and have invited me out the last two Sundays for rides.  These outings are without a doubt the highlight of my weekends!  It's great to be back on a bike again and adventuring through the beautiful mountains here.  Now I just need to find a yoga studio to maximize my zen activities!

A lil different from road biking in Iowa

Beautiful countryside

It's hard to imagine the cool temps you all are experiencing in Iowa as I sit here with sweat dripping down my face still, but I love seeing everyone's pictures on Facebook and Instagram.  Keep 'em coming! Also, please please please send me email life updates and/or let's set up a Skype date to chat.  I miss knowing what's going on in your everyday lives.

Miss you all loads and loads!  Sending lots of love from Agoo...

xoxo,

Kelly