Dawgs on Wheels - Day 4

Day 4 - Boone to Altoona - 56.1 miles, 1147 feet of climb

This is the day we are looking forward to the most - short, flat and FUN!!  We will be camping at my sister’s place south and west of Boone the night before, and the county road she lives on just happens to lead straight down to Woodward and the trailhead of Iowa’s newest biking attraction, the High Trestle Trail.  Rumor has it that up to 6,000 riders are expected to go off route that day... and I say if you can’t beat ‘em...join ‘em!  

From the trailhead in Woodward, it’s a mere 3 miles to the bridge that crosses the Des Moines River.  If you haven’t seen it yet, have your camera ready.  It will take your breath away.  After your photo ops, it’s just another 3 miles to the Flat Tire Lounge, just steps off the trail.

Flat Tire Lounge, on the High Trestle Trail in Madrid

I read about Flat Tire the week of its opening and made it my mission to get Hair of the Dawg in there.  It just looked like our kind of place.  So we paid a visit and hit it off with Scott, Mandy and all the other owners.  This bar, a converted quonset hut, is bicyclists’ heaven.  Look up when you go in... up on a balcony there are two mannequins sporting team jerseys that change each day (or more often when an organized ride is going by).  If you’ve sent one of yours to them (there’s still time!) and it happens to be on one of the mannequins when you stop in, you’ll get a discount on your beer!

The Radish of Des Moines will be catering Breakfast Burritos and Biscuits & Gravy in the morning, and for lunch - pork chops on a stick, cold sandwiches and wraps and pasta bar.  Though you can get almost any of our mixes there, Flat Tire will have a $4 Bloody Mary special, and $3 Screwdrivers.  A DJ will be spinning tunes all day to pump up the Flat Tire!

The Crossroads Tavern, Kelley Corner (between Luther and Slater)

Once you get to Slater, it’s worth backtracking on the official route five miles north to the Crossroads Tavern on the Kelley Corner.  What the heck... it's a short day!  The Crossroads, a former gas station/convenience store, sits on a huge corner lot with plenty of room for bikes, sand volleyball and dancing to some DJ tunes.  You can fill up there on a breakfast burrito and a Hair of the Dawg Bloody Mary.

Elkhart Pub, 127 E. Main St. in Elkhart

In the growing town of Elkhart, you’ll want to go “where everybody knows your name.”  That’s just the kind of feel the Elkhart Pub has.  In fact, we had a little trouble getting out of there when we were scouting the route, we were having such great conversations with the other patrons.  We’ll see Gallagher there again, and you can get a $3 beer, $1 soda or a Hair of the Dawg Margarita in their beer garden.

Cory’s Irish Pub, 110 1st St. SE in Bondurant

This bedroom community to the Des Moines metro area has doubled its population in the last ten years.  One of its newer additions is Cory’s Irish Pub.  The pub features Cory’s Irish Cream - their own secret recipe.  Cory’s will be offering steak sandwiches and grinders, Hair of the Dawg Margaritas and Mojitos, and live music.

Every year I start feeling sad about Day 4, because a week of nothin' but Bicycles, Bloodies and Beer is too quickly coming to an end.  So I'm off to find a box of tissues, and will be back tomorrow with Day 5's lineup!

A Lesson from a Friend

On July 17, 2009, we lost one of our best friends and fans.  We pay tribute to him here and will every year on this date.

Live well. Laugh often. Love much. A phrase so often used on wall hangings, embroidered on pillows or forwarded in pass-along e-mails it’s become a bit hackneyed...but one never better exemplified than by the subject of our first Dawg Blawg.

We met our friend Doug and his wife when we were running a restaurant in Okoboji, a lake resort town in Northwest Iowa, where they had a vacation home. As often as we were able, we spent time with Doug and Barb...bicycling, hot-air ballooning, engaging in water combat with our restaurant staff, or just enjoying each other’s company over a cold beer or two...and ALWAYS laughing.

At the end of that year, we moved to the opposite corner of the state, and grew inexcusably out of touch with our friends. A few years later, we were invited back to Okoboji for a wedding, so we called Doug and Barb to let them know. They immediately cancelled their own plans to attend a wedding and welcomed us to their lake home. When we pulled in, they met us in the driveway, Doug in his trademark Hawaiian shirt and easy, wide grin and Barb with her infectious laughter and huge hugs. Time had stood still, and over a martini we picked up our conversation...and laughter, right where we had left off. They crashed the wedding with us.

That weekend, Barb and Doug introduced us to ‘The ‘Hood,’ a group of neighbors and friends who share the same spirit and philosophy of life...and laughter...and love, who soon became our friends, too. We had so much fun with the ‘Hood we began making trips to the Lake almost quarterly, for Winter Games, an annual bike ride, weddings and wedding showers, or whenever we just needed a dose of the ‘Hood.

One weekend I made my Bloody Mary mix and the ‘Hood loved it. Mark threw down the gauntlet and challenged my mix to a taste-off against his. As difficult as it was to admit, his won. Hands down. Doug, always my champion, told me mine was just as good, but I suspect he was just trying to make me feel better. After that, Mark was not allowed to come to the ‘Hood without his mix. Thus was born our test market. The ‘Hood encouraged Mark to pursue his dream to sell his mix (Doug the loudest cheerleader of them all), so he began to look into it.

Last year we made our annual trip up for Winter Games, but missed Doug, who had stayed home because of back pain that had been nagging him for months. A few weeks later, when the pain had still not subsided, he had an MRI and we all prayed that he wouldn’t have to have back surgery. If only. On Friday the 13^th, Barb called with the diagnosis...metastatic bone cancer, primary site unknown. Doug fought it like the true Marine he was, never willing to give up and never letting it crush his spirit or his faith. When Doug lost his battle barely 5 months after the diagnosis and a few weeks after his 61^stbirthday, it was then that I realized what a mighty disease cancer is, to take the life out of someone like Doug.

When Doug came to the realization that the disease was tougher than he, he admonished us all to live for him. Maybe what he (and we) didn’t realize was that all along he had been teaching us to live like him...always game for mischief and fun, with a childlike joy and open mind, a kind word and a ready smile, laughter every day, and heart and arms wide open. So threadbare as the phrase may be, we pledge to live well, laugh often (though sometimes through our tears) and love much...for Doug, for Barb, for the ‘Hood, and for ourselves. We hope you will too.

Cheers.

Dawgs on Wheels 2011 - Day 3

Day 3 - Carroll to Boone - 70.9 miles, 1787 feet of climb


Whew!  Finally a break from the hills...even quite a bit of descent out of Carroll!  So riders shouldn't have any problem making it 19 miles to the first Dawghouse in Lanesboro.


The Real McCoy, 206 E. Main St. in Lanesboro
On June 28 last year, firefighters were dispatched to The Real McCoy to find it engulfed in flames, and declared it a total loss.  But lucky for us, owner Dean McCoy resurrected the bar, reopening on Valentine's Day this year.  Riders might think they've found the State Fair when they take a gander at the menu.  I mean, where else would you find Pancake n' Sausage on a Stick??  The Real McCoy will also be serving up Breakfast Burritos, Vodka-Lemonades and, of course, Hair of the Dawg Bloody Marys.


Twister's, 109 Pilot St. in Pilot Mound
Well, it seems to be Movie Trivia Day on RAGBRAI!  The ominous "Twister Hill" just East of town is where Helen Hunt and Bill Paxton were filmed chasing a tornado up a hill in the 1996 movie, Twister.  Locals gave the long, steep hill its nickname after the movie was made, and owner of the local tavern, Twister's, named his establishment after it as well.  You'll find some movie and Hollywood memorabilia on the walls there as you quench your thirst with a Hair of the Dawg Margarita.


The Gigglin' Goat, 628 Story St. in Boone
The Gigglin' Goat will be rocking Boone with a parking garage party featuring two bands, The $nack$ (7 to 10) or Bound2B (10 to 1) as you quench your thirst with a Hair of the Dawg Margarita.  The folks from New Belgium Brewing will be there as well, hosting their 6th anniversary party with specials on Fat Tire Beer.


Wilson's Tap and Recreation, 1008 Story St. in Boone
There's something about the name of this bar that I just love.  And riders will love the live music at Wilson's, provided by The River Bottom Boys.  Stop in at night for a Polish Sausage or Beef Burger special, or before riding out on Wednesday for Biscuits and Gravy and a Bloody Mary.


If you're so inclined to hit all of the bands in Boone that night and live it up a little, the next day's ride promises to be short, flat and FUN!!  Stay tuned...

Dawgs on Wheels 2011 - Day 2

Day 2 - Atlantic to Carroll - 65.4 miles, 4719 feet of climb


50 of Day 2's miles are straight north, which we hope means some great tailwinds out of the south to push us up all of those hills!  Not quite 15 miles into the day, we will roll into lovely Elk Horn, one of the two Danish villages we will pass through that day.


Larsen's Pub, 4206 Main St. in Elk Horn
After you've visited the historic windmill, be sure to stop at Larsen's Pub for one of their famous tenderloins - voted the best by the Iowa Pork Producers in 2007.  Thick and juicy, trimmed of nearly all its fat, it's sure to live up to riders' high expectations for good, Iowa pork.  Larsen's will also be serving frozen drinks, cold beer and, of course, Iowa's own Bloody Mary (yours truly).  We'll see Gallagher at this stop again...and don't miss the beer garden out back!


Arnold's Tavern, 201 N. Main St. in Kimballton

You can never stop too often on the hilly days.  Only 3 miles up the road from Elk Horn lies the second of the Danish villages.  Kimballton boasts an exact replica of the Little Mermaid statue in Copenhagen, Denmark.  And if the lines were too long at Larsen's Pub, you can slake your thirst with the cold beer and Bloody Mary specials here at Arnold's!


Templeton Rye Distillery, 209 E. 3rd St. in Templeton
Although you'll see the distillery on our Dawghouse map, we're afraid you won't find Hair of the Dawg here.  There are always some hoops to jump through for RAGBRAI promotions, and this one just didn't work out in the end.  But it's more than a worthwhile stop to see where "The Good Stuff" is from, and sample a little.  And we wanted to give a shout out to our friends at Templeton (esp. Scott and Drew) to thank them for their support and trying to find a way to fit us in!


After the stop in Templeton, we will begin to see the light at the end of the hilly tunnel, with Carroll just 20 miles up the road, and a mere 1700 feet of climb on Day 3.  Before heading to the main stage for the evening's entertainment, you can rest your quads at either one of our two Carroll Dawghouses:


Kerp's Tavern, 223 E. 5th St. in Carroll
Kerp's is the first stop of the day with all of our mixes.  So if you're Bloody Mary'ed out, ask for a Margarita (Regular or Strawberry) to replenish your sodium levels or a Mojito to refresh your palette.  


B&S's 529, 529 N. Main St. in Carroll
Also boasting four varieties of Hair of the Dawg, B&S's 529 is another great stop to take a load off, or shake your booty to more Jam Time Entertainment.


And be sure to drink plenty of water before you go to bed - we have SIX Dawghouses lined up for you on Day 3!

Dawgs on Wheels 2011!

Our butts have healed sufficiently, and we earned so many loyal followers on RAGBRAI last year that the Dawgs on Wheels are back for RAGBRAI 2011!  This year we have even more "Dawghouses" along the route, and more of our tasty mixes available!  We've tailored the morning stops to whet your whistle with Bloody Marys and afternoon stops with Margaritas and Mojitos to cool you down (designated on the map with red or green icons, respectively).  

So here's a little preview of the Dawghouses along the way, which we will present on the Dawg Blawg one day at a time.  And if you see us in our Hair of the Dawg jerseys out on the route, ask us for a handy pocket Dawghouse map, and we'll be happy to oblige!


Day 1 - Glenwood to Atlantic - 59.5 miles, 4298 feet of climb


Austin's on the Trail, 405 Main St. in Silver City
A mere 9 miles into the route, but this will be a great stop!  Dave Gallagher of Jam Time DJ Productions will provide tunes to dance to, and Austin's will be serving Breakfast Burritos, Fresh Fruit, Strawberry Yogurt-Captain Morgan Smoothies, and of course, Hair of the Dawg Bloody Marys!  Also of note... Austin's is famous for their wings (14 varieties!). While they won't be available in Silver City that day, they will be serving select flavors at Rupe's Place in Glenwood on Saturday night.


Dusty's Place, 402 Main St. in Griswold (hometown of Evil Eyers Jenny & Andrea!)
35 miles and MANY hills from Silver City (after the meeting town of Carson), riders will be happy to see Griswold and cool down with a Hair of the Dawg Margarita or Mojito at Dusty's Place.  You may want to skip lunch (or eat light) in Carson to save room for one of Dusty's Club Sandwiches - absolutely the best Club Sammy we have ever tried!  They will be featuring the Club, as well as Prime Rib Sandwiches and their homemade Onion Rings (also amazing)!  They have an awesome outdoor beer garden, and Team Hair of the Dawg, Team Draught, and the Regulators will bypass Marne to make Dusty's their Saturday stop on the way out.  Please join us!!




That's it for the first day.  Stay tuned over the next week as we outline each day for you!

Chili today, HOT(Dawg) tomorrow...

Chili - good. Hair of the Dawg - great.  Hair of the Dawg Chili?  Off the chain! Those who know me well know that my Chili seldom tastes the same twice.  I have a general formula that I follow, but modify according to my mood or whim, so here's my outline.

Hair of the Dawg Chili

• 2 pounds ground beef
• 1/2 onion, chopped
• 2-3 cloves garlic, minced
• 2 - 28 oz. cans Muir Glen Fire Roasted diced tomatoes
• 4 - 15 oz. cans Black Beans
• 2 - 4 oz. cans diced Green Chiles
• 1 - 32 oz. bottle Hair of the Dawg Chipotle Bloody Mary Mix
• Chili Powder, to taste
• Cumin, to taste

Brown ground beef with onion and garlic.  Drain grease.  Add remaining ingredients and bring to a simmer.  Cover and simmer 1-2 hours to allow flavors to develop, stirring occasionally.  Serve with Fritos, shredded cheese and sour cream, or other garnishments of your liking.

Some modifications that I've tried:

• Stewing beef in place of ground beef
• 1-2 Tablespoons unsweetened Cocoa Powder
• A bottle of a good Stout or Porter Beer

Ode to the Dawg...

This week one of our newest fans in Chicago was so moved by our tasty mix, that he wrote the poem below.  If any of you are likewise inspired, please share with us!  Thanks, Bryan!!  

Hair of the Dawg

Man, what a night

Laughing and feeling no pain

But now this incredible pounding

Is coming from deep within my brain

I know I’ve been there before

Yet here it is, half past ten

And with the sun now piercing my window

I swear it won’t happen again

I moan and I think my hair hurts

I can’t even stand my own skin

The damage I’ve caused myself

Should certainly be a sin

The only hope I have now

That will deliver me from this fog

Is a time tested family recipe

And it all starts with Hair of the Dawg

Ahhh, that’s so much better

You know, I’m starting to see the light

And as I declare myself recovered
I wonder what's happening tonight.

Bryan Bradley
Buffalo Grove, IL