DUBUQUE IOWA DURING THE RAGBRAI RIDE AUGUST 2010

It took us over two hours in bumper to bumper traffic to get to our meeting place with our RAGBRAI riders. Then, it was another hour until they found us (thank god for cellphones and our dachshund flag). Janne was heroic driving the r.v. in traffic that even made us from Los Angeles cringe. We were parked in warehouse section that would have been pretty scary if there hadn't been thousands of vans and bicyclists trying to find each other. Bored, I walked for a block along the docks and took these photographs of the only part of Dubuque, Iowa that I've yet to see.

GARY AND MARCIA FLETCHER REBUILD THEIR WEST DES MOINES HOME

The Fletcher Home will overlook a golf course in West Des Moines, Iowa
Brendan Fecht talks about the new house with his mom's cousin Gary Fletcher.
How's this for a view?
Marcia Fletcher is excited about the prospects of her new palates studio. Katy Fletcher, Gary's sister studies Marcia's plans.
Gary and Marcia Fletcher are very busy rebuilding the home they lost last winter from a fire. The new house is being built on the foundation footprint of the original home.

ONSET OF THE RAGBRAI RIDE IN SIOUX CITY

In Sioux City there was a great festival to mark the onset of the Ragbrai ride. Local bands, lots of vendors, tons of food and a massive fireworks display marked the event.
Katy Fletcher and Jerry Fecht were talking about photography, when Jerry took this image of Katy's bike moments before she began her trans-Iowa journey.
In Washta, Iowa (the first "meeting town", a girl insists on writing the "Virgin" notation on Brendan Fecht's leg.
A loud rock band prepares the Sioux City cyclists for a bigger rock concert in the evening. Note the real baby in the stork's pocket.

DAY ONE OF RAGBRAI ACROSS IOWA 2010

Brendan Fecht (checking his mileage meter), Charles Earnest and Katherine Fletcher make last minute preparations before heading to the Missouri River to dip their tires at the onset of their bike trek across Iowa in July 2010.
Katy Fletcher at the first half-way stop on Ragbrai. Tired, but confident, Katy has just finished some to the toughest hills on her trip.
Charles Ernest at the Washta, half way town.
Brendan at Washta, Iowa.

VIRGINIA FLETCHER AND JANNE FECHT

Janne Fecht visits her Aunt Virginia Fletcher at the Edgewater Retirement complex in West Des Moines, Iowa - July 2010. Conclusion of the RAGBRAI bicycle ride across Iowa.

A BUSINESS LETTER FROM CLYDE FLETCHER 1943

(click on image to enlarge)
While sorting though some of Katherine Fletcher-Shreves old books, I found this form letter from Clyde Fletcher sent to his investors in December of 1943. It is in the Archives of The Museum of the San Fernando Valley as an example of WWII war support effort. Jerry

EMILY WOOD

This beautiful girl, Emily Wood descends from Frances (Frankie) Eleanor (Moss) and James G. Knight. Her grandmother is Ann Wood.