Jacob Stegman is a fine young man who left valet parking in the metro area of Seattle to ride across the country and joined RAGBRAI. I met him somewhere on the open road outside of Pella. I think it was at the iced coffee stand.
He talked about all the money in Seattle. He doesn't like the people any more, he said. He feels his calling is in environmental science and sociology. He wants to figure out why so many people don't care about the planet and what happens to it.
We talked quite a while. He's carrying 120 pounds of stuff; a bagger and then some. He weighs 195-200 pounds but he doesn't look it. He must be solid muscle. He said he injured himself coming through the Cascades. I know the area since I grew up as a little kid in Seattle. He hurt his knee and had to take a month and a half off until he healed up enough to continue. He's wearing knee braces now and it helps, he said.
He was so peaceful and kind that every time I got mad at a trooper or an inconsiderate bicyclist or motorist today I just thought of him, Jacob Stegman, the bicyclist from Seattle.
"I'm German," he said.
"Well, you'd fit right in if you stayed in Iowa," I said. "We're all German and Irish here. I'm part German and Irish myself."
I gave him my card and email address and I hope he keeps in touch. I'd love to know what happens to him and whether he finds his calling. I wished him good luck in his future career. You want good things for such a nice, well intentioned young man.
He likes Iowa, but he thinks he'll winter in Massachusetts or Maine. I reminded him of the hurricanes that hit the coasts of Massachusetts and Maine. Of course, Iowa has tornadoes.