This is my third and final trip to Iowa for the month of July! The first trip was to clean the river house, the second trip was to stay at the river house with friends, and the third trip was to ride RAGBRAI and go back to the river!
Tuesday
On Tuesday I woke up early to get my long run done before work. I ran 13.85 miles (I really need to map my routes – my intent was 13 miles). I didn’t have any pep in my step, but wasn’t dragging – I was just tired from doing so much this month. I enjoyed the run though.
I like doing a long run before a road trip because then I can drink all the water I want and I don’t have to stop to pee because my body is still trying to catch up from being dehydrated from the run. Follow me for more hydration tips! Ha!
(I’m also so glad I did this Tuesday – I thought I’d feel like doing it after RAGBRAI but so far I’ve been pretty dead tired when I’ve woken up since then)
Steven and I worked half days then drove to Cedar Falls. It was so freaking hot outside when we loaded the car I had to change outfits! Ick!
We had an easy drive. We stopped once for lunch (Burger King!) and once to switch drivers.
At my snister’s we figured out which jerseys we’d wear for RAGBRAI, then had pasta and green beans for dinner, and tried to get to bed at a reasonable hour since we had our big ride the next day. (I still went to bed past 10:00, oops – when we are at home I am ideally asleep by 9:00)
Us and our aunt Sue
Wednesday
On Wednesday we rode RAGBRAI! When we got back to Cedar Falls, all our siblings and grandmas were at my snister’s for pizza and cake (an early birthday celebration for me).
This was the other Pie, Pie My Darling cake I got back in June and it was also delish, but strangely, I think I liked the chocolate one from the weekend before just a bit better than the strawberry!
Mom’s Mom, Ella, Me
Me and our oldest nephew
Me and Dad’s Mom
It was really nice to see everyone and tell them about our ride. I was also super beat and I think we all went to our rooms around 8:45 to start to wind down.
Thursday
On Thursday I slept until almost 7:00! Nutso! We worked half days again, which was fun – Christina (my snis), Will (her husband), and Steven (my husband) were all in the office together. There were some shenanigans.
After work we went to HuHot for lunch, stopped for a photo op (then got donuts and I got another latte – that’s two in less than a week! I was hoping for caffeine help!), then hung out at the house.
It was nice to just hang a bit and chill and not think. I’ve been so go go go the past few weeks that I haven’t given my brain that time to just shut off. I’m hoping for more of that this weekend. I want to sit and paint, or sit and read, or sit and scroll my phone.
Around 5:00 pm we all left to drive to the river. Christina and Ella rode with me and Steven rode with Will and our nephews. It was such a treat to have one-on-one time with my snis on the ride up!
I’ll pick up on our river happenings in the next post!
Ha – that picture of all four of you working in the office is so cute!
Your life has been busy lately! But all good things, so that’s awesome. I’m glad you got to have some more lake/family time!
I was so glad she was sneaky and took that because all 4 of us working together are some of my fave memories from this visit (so much joking going on).
It has been! I would not have purposefully planned it this way but this is what worked for everyone’s schedules! I am glad to only be traveling once or twice in August!
You truly did so much this month! When is your half? You’re putting in a lot of mileage – are you almost there?
The Barbie Photo Op – haha. So funny. (I have not seen the movie.)
I just love that you got MORE time with your snister and family – and Steven this time! And, time on the river. I hope that it was as wonderful as the first trip. So glad you took this time for you. 🙂
Thank you!!!