So maybe I didn’t paint you the exact picture of how Team Peacock REALLY kicks-off the journey each year for RAGBRAI…so I decided that it would only be fair that I publish this post after the event so that you – the reader – can catch a glimpse of this simple yet energized event.

BIG thanks right away to UIU dining services for preparing such a great meal for us…need all the carbs we can get before we go and burn burn burn some massive calories…and it was so good to have almost the entire riding team and support crew in one location before the ride…good chance for all of us to see each others faces and get to know any names that we might not know…but for the majority I think we all are familiar with each other.  Departments from across the university are represented on Team Peacock…I was actually having a hard time finding one that was NOT on the team or support crew serving in some capacity…from Facilities Management and Services, to the UIU Post office, all the way to Athletics and Academic Extension / Center for Distance Education…and of course INTERNATIONAL PROGRAMS (sorry its MY blog…so have to give Int’l Programs the bigger shout out)  hehe…seriously though…there were not many departments I could think of that didn’t have someone there tonight or would be with us this week.

And for those of you new to Team Peacock – we even have our President riding with us…that’s right…and let me tell you…he takes his training for RAGBRAI SERIOUSLY…you can’t even begin to measure the amount of miles he puts in to train for this event….we don’ even try anymore    )  Unfortunately we won’t have two of our champions with us this year…Bob and Betty Firth (Board of Trustee members) who rode with Team Peacock last year (my first year with the Team)…Bob and Betty – you will be missed, but we look forward to seeing you both back next year…we know you’ll be cheering for us…

Well I guess I can share the BIG news of the evening…as of today Friday - July 23rd…Team Peacock has reached its goal of raising $500,000 dollars for student scholarships since the Team’s inception just a few years ago…WE DID IT…so thank you all who have contributed to this milestone and please continue to support our efforts as we still have the 400+ miles to ride next week…motivation is always a good thing… 

I’ll leave you tonight with some photos from the event:

New jerseys awaiting the newest members of Team Peacock…wear them with pride my friends!!

 The GENERAL (Kata McCarville) – you don’t mess with the GENERAL – even when you’re a Colonel…danggit…always pulling RANK ON ME!!

 

 Sanders and Hilton – (poor Adriel – he has NO IDEA what he is in for…HAHAHA this is going to be FUN!)

 Stephens and Grove….they don’t call Grove “Dr. Fun” for nothing…Jessica I hope you brought your helmet!!

 Is it our turn to get some food?

 

Bill “the Duffinator” Duffy – explaining the ”right” way to get ready in the morning for a ride…”You see people…what you need…well what you don’t need is someting heavy in your stomach…empty stomach is your best bet…then you stop at the first stop and get what you REALY need – and that is APPLE JUICES…THREE Apple Juices…drink them all down and THEN your are GOOD TO GO!!!”  I promise…

(umm…please note…neither UIU, Team Peacock or any of its “sane’ members endorse the Apple Juice philosophy)