Thinking of Frank (August 12, 2012)

As we biked through Oregon, Idaho, Montana, Wyoming and a large part of Nebraska there were two certainties.  The first was that Frank was the strongest and fastest rider in our group ... Frank would arrive in the day's finish town well in advance of the rest of us.  The second certainty was that if there was a McDonald's in that town, we would most certainly see his smiling face camped out at a table at that establishment ... air conditioning and WiFi, plus various non-nutritious items having all been enjoyed.

When leaving Cleveland this morning, Kim and I passed the magnificent structure (adjacent picture) housing the ever busy burger-peddling emporium, and my heart sank with the realization that Frank's path would not afford him the luxury of going into this luxurious Mickey Dee's. 

Frank is the main factor in my enjoyment of the travel through the states listed above.  He had taken the time to put together a town-by-town itinerary that got us all to Iowa in time to ride RAGBRAI.  He was the unifying personality in the disparate group ... he is the always smiling Frank. 

Frank ... thank you.