And the journey begins: RAGBRAI cyclists take off from Glenwood

Glenwood was restless this morning as men, women and children brushed their teeth, tore down tents and pumped bicycle tires before leaving on the RAGBRAI journey.

Gretchen and Brett Kraemer from Davenport, are participating in the RAGBRAI for the first time this year.

As the couple stirred around at their campsite across from the Glenwood Middle School, they said they were excited to get going.

“Our first night has been exciting,” Brett Kraemer said. “I just can’t wait to see all the bikes on the highway.”

The entire experience of RAGBRAI is new for the Kraemers. Last night they spent their first night in a tent together.

“It was my first time sleeping in a tent,” Gretchen Kraemer said. “It was sticky.”

The last time Brett Kraemer spent the night in a tent was 25 years ago. He said they brought air mattresses and pillows.

“It wasn’t so bad,” he said. “We decided to rough it this year (camp in a tent) just to to try it, then get an RV next year and bring our kids.”

At the first stop on the route on Highway H 20, Tim Sweetser and Anna Lunn of Chicago, Ill., ate a muffin and drank some coffee.

Sweetser and Lunn have been married for six weeks.

“This is our honeymoon ride,” Sweetser said.

RAGBRAI, so far surprised them.

“People are really chatty,” Sweetser said.

As several bikes rode by, many had music coming from them.

“I wasn’t expecting the music,” Lunn said.

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