In About 30 Minutes

Folks were lined up outside the door starting at about 7:30am.

I fully expected a crazy morning, and I got it, albeit compacted into about an hour and a half of time. Trans Iowa registration for the Rookies reached a fevered pitch, and the fall out afterward, (which may not be over yet, by the way), has been very much a bummer for many reasons.

The line up of folks that streamed into the door at a bit before 9:00am, (we had some mercy on those that had been waiting a long time), was amazing. Before I could get my feet underneath me we had gone through a half of the available spots for the Rookies.

I had a couple of questions from folks, then a walk in, and then FedEx showed up with 17 over nighted packages. Many with multiple entries included inside. I assumed at that point it was over. I was right. It was about 9:30am, and Trans Iowa's Rookie class was settled. Those standing around at the time were astounded. It was just unreal.

I went back to check out the cards, and by the way, some of those earlier walk-ins were plant and flower deliveries, so we had to pluck the cards out of those as well. Once all was in hand, put in order I received them, and double checked I went through them all again with a finer toothed comb. All entries were readable, but one had Rule #8 written down when it was supposed to be Rule #18. Tossed.

Flowers lined the counter alongside several plants. Thank you!

I double checked my accounting, then wrote down the names on the site, and then did a final check on the total numbers. 119! I grabbed one more off the Pile of Broken Dreams and that was it. Trans Iowa was full for V11.

The UPS came later. All of those entries were too late. The USPS never did show up by the time I left, but it did not matter. I'll likely see a pile of cards on my bench come morning. There were a few more cards walked in as well. A fellow walked in about four and a half hours too late and was shocked we had filled up, even though I had mentioned we filled up in 4 hours last year, and even at that he wouldn't have made it in. No matter, there was much pleading and arm twisting which I had to endure. It was uncomfortable, to say the least, but what can I do? There is a limit, and that's that.

Of course, there was more trouble with entries claimed to have been delivered which we couldn't find, a few grumbles on Facebook, and folks were pointing fingers at UPS and making plans to camp out in front of the shop if there were to be a T.I.V12. Wow.......just wow. 

I left to go grab some lunch just to get away from all the madness and think. Trans Iowa has grown. It has become more well known, marked on "bucket lists" as a must do someday event, and my saying "I am closer to not ever doing it again" every year just amps up the anxiety levels amongst folks. I had a guy drive from an hour South of St. Louis to hand deliver a card, a guy that didn't get his in on time claimed he'd been on the road for 30+ hours. Plants came in after the roster filled up. It was a big mess in my mind. Something will get changed if Trans Iowa ever happens again, and I know that one of those things will be how Rookies register. I'm not putting any ideas out now. We'll see how T.I.V11 goes. However; don't ever expect this to happen again. It's gone waaaaay too far. Too far for my tastes.

I know that, as my friend Jeremy says, "Trans Iowa will get into your head." Of course, he is referring to those who want to participate in it. I also know he's right when he says that  I care a lot about the riders and the event. It's a hard thing to balance all this out. Hopefully you folks who did get on the roster realize what that means to get on. In the meantime, I need to go ride my bicycle for a bit........