RAGBRAI & AM Worlds 2023
RAGBRAI 2023 Recap
Our ride in Iowa is now finished!
Total Milage 546 miles- 17,000 ft. of elevation climb
We met so many amazing cyclists and endured a brutal last 3 days from Ames to Tama-Toledo to Coralville to Davenport with temps topping 109F, never ending climbs and gusty flats with 30 mph winds. Total Gut Check for us 3 for sure. The mental part of the ride was probably the true test. There was too many serious accidents and ambulances flying by with sirens blaring - very unnerving! The one accident that truly rattled us is when Margeaux and I narrowly missed a rumble strip incident that left a young lady with her patella ripped from her knee and hanging by a few ligaments. Her high-pitched wailing left us with spines tingling and uber-focused on the mission at hand - Finishing/Survival!
The technical element of the ride and avoiding pitfalls was paramount, all the pre-ride training miles paid off and made a huge difference. There were plenty of highlights including a bike wedding, a tornado warning, and our ability to prevail with no mechanicals and no flat tires. A special shout out to Drew at East Cobb Free Flite bikes for setting up our bikes and the Good Lord for his protection. (There was a lot of praying on this quest) I would also like to Thank all those who followed us on social media and all those who sent messages of encouragement and support, it made a big difference in our moral, which was being tested daily. To all the people of the great state of Iowa, your hospitality and enthusiasm did not go unnoticed. To all those at RAGBRAI central… you ROCK! All-in-all, an epic experience. It was truly One L of a ride!
AM Worlds 2023 Recap
Upon landing in Phoenix with a temp of 120 F. I knew instantly it was going to be a total sweat fest. However, the drive into Sedona and up to Flagstaff, while drinking copious amounts of Horchata cooled things down to tolerable levels and helped me get focused for my first major. It was a total of 5 days, 5 rounds and the competition was stiff. Players from around the globe were there in force and all with the eye of the tiger. The courses ranged from flat and open to tree strewn with plenty of rocky up and down scenarios. The gravel sized lava rock in Arizona is plentiful and will chew up a disc and your skin like no other. The scenery was breath taking, surreal and did not disappoint. My goal was to place in the top 100 in my AG and with a final place of 73 and top 75. I was God smacked!
Our off time after a round was comprised of seeking shade, finding secret water holes and actual water holes. My first experience in a legal marijuana dispensary was educational and informative. All I can say is Maui Wowie!
The food was amazing and my appreciation for authentic mex set my gastronomy bar high. The people in Arizona range from super salty to super chill. My southern accent (you mean I have a southern accent?) was an instant ice breaker and I had a ton of laughs swapping stories with the natives. The Grand Canyon was simultaneously eye opening and jaw dropping. It rained for 15 minutes, which I learned only happens like 2 times a year so my new dub is the Rain Maker!
I would like to thank the PDGA for creating a spectacular tournament and the town of Flagstaff for rolling out the red carpet and putting up with 800 Disc Golf crazies for a week. I would also like to give a shout out to my brother from another mother - Justin Waters, who grew up in the AZ and was pivotal in making the trip a success. Dude, I still have white knuckles from the OS handle in the car - LOL
