They changed the route right before 2001 and left out Marne “for safety”. That made it a destination town for many riders going off route that year. It’s been a ceremonial party stop on the Saturday before the ride ever since.
Our bus comes from East coast and always stays in Walnut on Friday night and then goes to Marne in Saturday morning.
Last year, I remember I was there. Had a few beer, played beach volleyball. Then somehow when I arrived Onawa, I found I had a dark blue beard, pale blue podicure, a pink unicorn tiara.
I remember Marne – “The town RAGBRI forgot”. Circumvented the ‘keep right’ sign and participated in my first ‘not fully clothed’ beer slide that year. Oh to be young again.
My grandfather used to drive support for my old RAGBRAI team and I have pictures somewhere of him posing with fully nude women in the middle of town. Legend has it that they were sent down from Big Earl’s (a DSM strip club for those not in the DSM area). This was all a few years before my first RAGBRAI but all the Marne stories are fun to hear.
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The only rumor I’ve heard is that the details will be announced this coming Sunday!
https://ragbrai.com/ragbrai-xlvii-route-sunday-july-21-council-bluffs-to-atlantic/?fbclid=IwAR0LyWwKcB08SbWMX20–4P6YxOTUgC6HLu8KXBemm3fvuLKv_e6ggJ9hgU
“Marne? Freaking Marne? Is that pre party on Saturday even going to stop? You guys did that on purpose didn’t you?”
They can have the pre ride party too!
People keep mentioning Marne. What is so exciting about this town? Honest question.
Marne is RAGBRAI history from a previous administration and best left to evening campground bull sessions.
RIDE RIGHT
They changed the route right before 2001 and left out Marne “for safety”. That made it a destination town for many riders going off route that year. It’s been a ceremonial party stop on the Saturday before the ride ever since.
Our bus comes from East coast and always stays in Walnut on Friday night and then goes to Marne in Saturday morning.
Last year, I remember I was there. Had a few beer, played beach volleyball. Then somehow when I arrived Onawa, I found I had a dark blue beard, pale blue podicure, a pink unicorn tiara.
I remember Marne – “The town RAGBRI forgot”. Circumvented the ‘keep right’ sign and participated in my first ‘not fully clothed’ beer slide that year. Oh to be young again.
My grandfather used to drive support for my old RAGBRAI team and I have pictures somewhere of him posing with fully nude women in the middle of town. Legend has it that they were sent down from Big Earl’s (a DSM strip club for those not in the DSM area). This was all a few years before my first RAGBRAI but all the Marne stories are fun to hear.