Lance Armstrong comes to Newton!

The director of RAGBRAI introduces Lance. He rode into Newton yesterday afternoon around 2pm. He didn't do the whole leg, only about the last 12 miles. He actually rode in about 3 blocks from our house! Alas, Owen had just fallen asleep and I was not able to walk over and see him. Our guests got pictures and I have been promised those. Some even got to shake his hand! He rode in, stopped at a lady's house, and sat in her front yard and drank a beer!

I hear he left Newton this morning at around 10:30am and is riding the entire leg today. He stopped in one town, had a piece of pie at a diner, and was on his bike 11 minutes later! Here is some of what he said last night...."So this is RAGBRAI. I wasted all those Julys in France. This is my commitment. Next year, my rear tire is starting in the west and my front tire's ending on the east." We'll see if he lives up to his promise! He also said the he wasn't quite prepared for the humid Iowa weather. They are supposed to "reveal" today sometime where he actually spent the night in Newton.

The boys behind him are part of a baseball team called LIVESTRONG. They have all been affected by cancer.

A slightly blurry Lance addresses the crowd. He talked mostly about cancer and his goal was to have an army of people working together to put oncologists out of business. It was very moving.


Owen and Daddy pose for a quick pic!


Owen and Daddy cruising around the square! He had so much fun walking around for a bit!