Ghosts of RAGBRAI® past

CRESCO - The Housing Committee, with Shirley and Dave Sovereign as co-chairs, need more locals to sign up as a host family for RAGBRAI® riders and support personnel. This short 8-9-week series will hopefully encourage others to sign up as hosts. Past host families will share their experiences and prove it is a once, twice or three-time (or more) opportunity to meet new people from around the world on Thursday, July 27!

Penny and Jim Hughes: The couple hosted participants the other two Cresco overnight stays.

“We have had a diverse group of people,” Penny said. The couple ended up with two RVs in their driveway one time, with one couple enjoying going across the state. They even had coffee with them the following morning.

They also hosted a group of bankers from Cedar Rapids, as that is where Penny’s sister works.

Hosting was never a problem she noted. “They are here such a short time. They come and set up, then go up town, come here and go to sleep. And they clean up after themselves!”

This year they are planning on hosting a group of 26 doctors and researchers from the University of Iowa. “We had an AFS student from Thailand a couple years ago. She ended up working at University of Iowa, so we are hoping they remember her.”

Although they’ve never hosted anyone in their home, they are debating about letting a group of nine physical therapists spend the night. Since that is Jim’s profession,  Sovereigns thought it would be a good match. That is what they will try to do for everyone who is interested in hosting a group.