https://www.facebook.com/pages/Mt-Hosmer-Veterans-Memorial-City-Park/801214349979611

An 18 percent climb? That is a reasonable hill and would be a lot of fun if there’s a guaranteed beer at the bottom!

When I look at the Google map for Lansing IA, it looks like there is one 2 lane bridge. Sounds like getting out of town might be a problem.

My original concern was getting our of Lansing, amongst 20,000 like minded people!!!!

trek3200, there are several places in Lansing where one can find a cold helping of ‘spiritus fermentii’ once you get back down from Mt. Hosmer.

-“BB”-

If you are tenting and like a closer location to camp . Right on the river 10 miles down from Lansing is Black Hawk park . This is a great park with lots of camping , both for rvs and tents. The tents have there own area . Swimming are in the river , clean showers . 10 mile bicycle ride down to Lansing . Stop in at the Great River roadhouse for some of the best pizza you will ever have. In De Soto go to Porks on the hill . Porks on the hill prices for beer and food amazes me . I like GRR better for food , but porks for drinking lol. You could also head towards Prarie Du Chien there is a campsite just past Ferryville area no were near as nice as Black Hawk

This will be my first year doing Ragbrai . I am trying to get my 14 Year old daughter to join me.

Dyno

there is a place on 9 just at the west edge of Lansing. A lot of the rv’s looked to be permanent but large open camping area too.

Black Hawk Park is actually on the Wisconsin side off of highway 35, so you will need to cross that narrow two-lane bridge to get across the river.  And Dan’s right; Great River Roadhouse does have some great pizza and other items available as well.

The park in Ferryville is a community park which is also used for farmers markets and flea markets on the weekends, so there’s no guarantee of it being open on RAGBRAI weekend.

Skunkie is probably making reference to the Red Barn Resort on highway 9, about a mile or so from the downtown area.  Lot of semi-permanent (seasonal) campers there for sure, but they usually have some space available on a per-night basis and there is also a bar and restaurant on site as well.

-“BB”-

yeah BB, I think that was it. I know there was a bar. Was in town for a wedding and the reception was in Lansing but the wedding a couple mile upriver in Wisconsin. Don’t forget the mini-golf and are there trout in that stream? (in season)

Does it look like the dip site may be down stream?

Tire dip opportunity will be in Harpers Ferry per TJs post on 3/11

If that’s the case, I predict a fair number of people will never get all the way to Lansing.  They’ll call it quits at Harper’s Ferry, meet their support teams there, and then go south to Marquette and pick up US 18 to head back home.

-“BB”-

Bicycle Bill, I agree with your prediction. Which is unfortunate.

Vehicles will not be permitted into Harper’s Ferry as there is no way to get to the town without traveling on the bike route and driving into the bike route. There is no meeting town this day. We are just giving people the option to dip in Harpers Ferry as they have some large boat ramps

I really like the idea of including even a short ride along the river to the final town. But just as in 1859 I predict there will be trouble at Harper’s Ferry. People will want to quit there, guaranteed. Efforts to keep vehicles out of Harper’s Ferry will result in a creative response by the populace. They will do things you will not expect. They will find a way to rendezvous support vehicles and riders in the vicinity of Harper’s Ferry. Efforts to prevent this are fairly likely to create a mess.

It might be better to just plan a way for it to happen smoothly.

Or to have some tantalizing perk in Lansing for those who finish there.

Just sayin’….

unless they come by boat to pick up people that want to quit, there is only one road that takes them to Harpers, the other one is the bike route which is narrow and winds through the forest.

it’s not too hard to control one road and make it for local vehicles only…

we suggest people just follow the route and enjoy the day. What people decide to do, we cant control that.