RAGBRAI XXXVIII
July 25-31, 2010
It had been nine years since RAGBRAI started in Sioux City, so the river community pulled out all of the stops on the welcome that they gave the riders. Tens of thousands of people streamed into the historic downtown on a gorgeous summer day to check out the RAGBRAI Expo and then stayed for a night of great entertainment. Sioux City’s Rockestra kicked off the night before national recording artists Smash Mouth took the stage in front of an estimated 25,000 people.
As the riders headed out of Sioux City they were treated to blue skies, comfortable temperatures and a favorable tailwind to enjoy 68 miles of scenic vistas through western Iowa. The communities of Leeds, Kingsley, Washta and Quimby were nicely spread out to give the riders the break that needed before heading down the road. Riders traveled through a landscape of wind farms before pulling into Storm Lake.
This was Storm Lake’s fifth time hosting RAGBRAI and they didn’t miss a trick. The lake community spoiled riders with waterfront camping and great hospitality once the first day of riding was complete. A great array of entertainment was spread out over town with the night culminating with RAGBRAI favs, the Johnny Holm Band.
The Storm Lake to Algona day was to be one of the tougher stretches that the riders would face all week. With close to 1,145 feet of climb over 79 miles, this northeast trek proved to be very manageable for most as the weather was very cooperative. The day would feature maiden visits to Pocahontas and Plover, with veteran towns of Varina, West Bend and Whittemore also on the agenda. For those who felt the mileage was a bit lacking for their tastes, the optional Karras Loop to Rolfe provided some extra joy for several thousand riders.
Although Plover and Pocahontas were rookie towns, they provided some great RAGBRAI memories. The tiny town of Plover (population 95) sold hamballs to raise funds for a new church roof. The town matriarchs cooked thousands of the skewered treats and raised a whopping $10,400 to replace the roof! Pocahontas had a near miss from a tornado just days before, but still pulled off a wonderful visit complete with Indian Princesses and the Hokey Poky.
Riders pulled into Algona for the fifth time in RAGBRAI history and were treated to a 70’s theme complete with leisure suits, Farrah Fawcett hairdos and SPAM treats. Algona turned backed the clocks a few decades and the riders were ready for some fun. The Vic Ferrari Band entertained the masses into the wee hours of the morning on a perfect summer night in Iowa.
On Tuesday, RAGBRAI rolled out of Algona for a short, flat day of riding in North Central Iowa. The 59 miles were well distributed through the towns of Wesley, Hutchins, Britt and Garner. The towns each had clever themes as Wesley recreated the “Dukes of Hazzard” complete with Daisy and Boss Hogg, Britt showed why they are the “Hobo Capital” with a bowlful of mulligan stew and Garner had a full salute of our troops.
Since the temperatures were rising, Clear Lake was the perfect spot to host the sun-drenched riders. “Surf’s Up” as the beaches of Clear Lake were packed with riders frolicking along the shore of Clear Lake as the tunes from the nearby beach party and a jet ski show kept the riders entertained. The historic Surf Ballroom was open for trips down memory lane and Buddy Holly’s presence was in the house.
The evening was just getting started with a performance by national recording act Spin Doctors, followed by a terrific fireworks show over Clear Lake. Mother Nature took over from there and provided her own light show as bolts of lightning lit up the sky. By morning, the storms had past and the skies were clear again.
Wednesday was another short day, just 51 miles though Cerro Gordo and Floyd counties. Swaledale started things off as riders marveled at the mechanical contraptions of Dale Caspers. Rockwell was next up with a brand-new aquatic center and Cartersville followed with a homemade trapeze-swing that lured the masses to take a plunge into a farm pond. The riders dug the fossils in Rockford before heading to the overnight town of Charles City. It was the fourth time that “America’s Hometown” hosted the ride.
The theme for Charles City was “Chuck Rides Again”, a play on the town’s moniker. The town committee honored the Iowa State Patrol that evening as the day marked the 75th anniversary of the Patrol.
The trek from Charles City to Waterloo was the longest of the week, clocking in at just over 80 miles. On the morning ride to Clarksville, Stephen Briggs died from injuries suffered during a collision. Briggs, from nearby Waverly, was a veteran of RAGBRAI who loved riding his bike.
Parkersburg did a spectacular job as first-time RAGBRAI host. The town was devastated by a tornado in 2008 and proudly showed off the rebuilding efforts in their community. Stout, Dike and Hudson finished up the route as riders streamed into Waterloo through a tunnel of tractors that lined the entrance roads to the main campground. It had been 25 years since Waterloo last hosted RAGBRAI.
Friday morning was a dreary one as a cold, persistent rain fell on riders as they pedaled out of the Cedar Valley. Gilbertville had plenty of breakfast treats to warm the riders who took shelter from the storms. The town’s church towers over the valley and singing nuns were on hand to entertain the damp riders. By the time most riders reached Quasqueton, the sun was starting the shine again. After 62 wet miles, riders pulled into the town of Manchester.
Just a week before, the town of Manchester was underwater as the Maquoketa River reached record levels and flooded the heart of the city. Once the waters started to recede, the town worked on repairing the flood-damaged homes and businesses. The town overcame this natural disaster and put on a quite memorable night of fun for visiting riders. The town and riders were ready for a good time and The Nadas provided the tunes for the massive party that flooded the downtown with people.
The last day saw the riders heading towards their first visit to Dubuque since the early 90’s. The route ran through Earlville before rolling into some of Iowa’s world famous attractions in Dyersville. Riders had their cameras ready as they visited the Basilica of St. Francis Xavier and the Field of Dreams Movie Site. Although these attractions were well-known, perhaps the most anticipated site of the ride was Potter’s Hill. The mile and a half of winding, double-digit grade climbing became a badge of honor for some and a humbling experience for those that dismounted their bikes and walked.
The ride never really did flatten out after Potter’s Hill as riders tackled the hilly terrain for a few more miles as they arrived in Iowa’s oldest city. Dubuque had undergone an amazing revitalization of its riverfront and historic downtown since RAGBRAI last visited the historic river community back in 1993. The climatic tire-dip in the Mississippi River took place along the Mississippi Riverwalk at the American Trust River’s Edge Plaza, part of the nearly $400 million riverfront renovation that highlights Dubuque’s main attraction, the Mississippi River. It was a great way to end RAGBRAI XXXVIII.
Check out the photos from the ride with the RAGBRAI Galleries
