RAGBRAI Route Inspection Pre-Ride Day 5 – Newton to Sigourney

Mahalo, Newton, for the fabulous hospitality! We set sail from the oasis of Newton today, passing through Reasnor, Sully, Lynnville, New Sharon (Karras Loop), Montezuma (Meeting Town), Deep River, and Keswick on our way to Sigourney. Today’s ride was 68.6 miles and we had 2,719 feet of climb. Those who completed the Karras Loop added 36.7 miles for a total of 105.3 miles for the day. Click this text for a map of the fifth day of RAGBRAI XLVI. 

Riders pose for a photo in Newton on day five of the 2018 RAGBRAI Pre-Ride Route Inspection Thursday, June 7, 2018.

Thursday on RAGBRAI XLVI will be ridden in memory of Steve VanDeest. Steve had some physical challenges but that didn’t stop him from finishing each day of RAGBRAI. He rode his “custom” hand-cycle tandem bike for many years on RAGBRAI with his loving sister Carla pedaling behind him. Occasionally other family members and members of the Diegos would ride with him as well. Steve will be dearly missed.

Thursday will also be RAGBRAI jersey day! So wear your 2018 RAGBRAI jersey! If you didn’t order one, you can get one online at www.RAGBRAI.com/shop or at the RAGBRAI merchandise trailers which will be located at the RAGBRAI Expo in Onawa, and every overnight town after that.

Photos: Day 5 of RAGBRAI pre-ride route inspection

Today we visited: 

REASNOR

Riders roll out of Reasnor on day five of the 2018 RAGBRAI Pre-Ride Route Inspection Thursday, June 7, 2018.

Reasnor will be our first stop on Thursday’s ride from Newton to Sigourney.  Just 9 miles into your ride, you might have some cravings for breakfast.  Reasnor will have some of the traditional RAGBRAI breakfast vendors in the beautiful City Park.  City Park has a nice shelter, shady trees and a playground,

If you are looking for something more than breakfast, the D&T Tap is on the corner of Main Street and Broad Street.

SULLY

Riders roll into Sully on day five of the 2018 RAGBRAI Pre-Ride Route Inspection Thursday, June 7, 2018.

Sully will be a major breakfast stop for Thursday of RAGBRAI XLVI. They’re planning on having a wide array of breakfast vendors transitioning into lunch as the Karras Loopers stop back on their return trip. If you remember Sully from the last time we visited about a decade ago, you will be pleasantly surprised at the many improvements they’ve made to their town. They’ll have good ol’ hospitality in the way of good food, a place to relax after the first 18 miles (or the Karras Loop), and a good dose of friendliness in the shady town central square park. There will be plenty of restrooms, bike parking, and free wi-fi and phone charging stations.

Historical / Interesting Facts: Sully was incorporated on February 23, 1901 and at the time the population was 150.

Food options:

• Breakfast and baked items: Chris Cakes, breakfast burritos, biscuits and gravy, bologna on a stick, Los Primos
• Dutch letters, pie by Coffee Cup Cafe, hand dipped Ashby’s Ice Cream, Jaarsma Bakery items, Dutch poffertjes (SO GOOD)
• Beverage garden, smoothies

Entertainment:

• Sully “Big Band” (jazz and oldies)
• Local singers
• karaoke

Infamous Events: Development of the white marigold

Interesting Buildings / Restaurants / Sites:

• Coffee Cup Café is famous for their pie.
• La Rose Marie Bakery is located in a renovated historical building on the square.
• Van Wijk Winery is located in a former church building – two blocks off the square.
• Deep Rock Ice Cream Shoppe – located in historical gas station along the square.
• Sully Locker and Market – west of town.
• RAGBRAI Signing Wall (where’re you from??!)

Landscapes / Lakes / Parks:

• Deep Rock Gardens on Corner of the Square
• Lions Club Park in former alley on the South side of the square.

Additional Info:

• Jasper County Freedom Rock is located in Sully’s Central Park (the square). You’ll be able to get your photo taken with the rock for a small fee – proceeds will be split between covering costs for hosting RAGBRAI and Operation Comfort Warriors (veteran cause)
• The Garden Thyme Club will be raising funds to maintain plants, shrubs, and facilities of the Deep Rock Station and Gardens

For more information on Sully’s RAGBRAI plans, visit:
https://www.facebook.com/SullyRAGBRAI/

LYNNVILLE

A few businesses who normally sell food will be open as usual.  Wagaman Mill museum is on the historical registry.

For more information on the city of Lynnville, visit:
http://www.lynnvilleiowa.com/

NEW SHARON (Karras Loop)

We had a fun surprise when we passed through the Karras Loop today – our co-founder John Karras was there! And he will also be there during the ride to hand out Karras Loop patches. Just make sure you’re there during our service times (will be listed in your Participant Guide in your wristband packet).

RAGBRAI co-founder John Karras greets riders in Sully on day five of the 2018 RAGBRAI Pre-Ride Route Inspection Thursday, June 7, 2018.

When you pass through New Sharon, expect lots of food options, plenty of bathrooms, and a shady park. Here are some of food that will be available:

• Lunch/sandwiches at the City Park Building (they also have A/C and an indoor bathroom)
• Several traveling vendors
• Ice cream served in the Library
• East Market Grocery has a TASTY deli in the back
• Scooter’s Pub and Grub – which will host the beer garden
• Sadie Jane’s Sweets and Treats – a local ice cream shop – they may also have a booth
• Casey’s

There will also be three masseuses on site so you can REALLY relax.

For more information on the city of New Sharon, visit:
http://newsharoniowa.com/

MONTEZUMA (Meeting Town)

Riders roll out of Montezuma on day five of the 2018 RAGBRAI Pre-Ride Route Inspection Thursday, June 7, 2018.

Montezuma is our meeting town for Thursday, just about half way from Newton to Sigourney.  Montezuma is the City of Monuments and will celebrate their 150^th year on August 24-25. So it is only fitting that the town’s theme will be “From the hills of Montezuma to the Shores of Sigourney!”

When you roll into town, come hungry as there will be plenty of local and outside vendors as well as some great restaurants.  Some of the food selection includes a pasta bar, personal pan pizzas, baked potato bar / loaded baked potato, BBQ brisket, chicken breast sandwich, steak sandwich and hamburgers. There will be loads of local entertainment and a fun beer garden.

The Poweshiek County Courthouse, directly located in the center of town square, is the home to the Old Soldiers Monument, Victory Bell Monument, Civil War Monument, All Veterans Monument, The Bill of Rights Monument, as well as the Freedom Rock. A monument dedicated to the Ten Commandments is also just a block north of the square at the Presbyterian Church.

Montezuma has many interesting famous citizens, past and present. While one was virtually unknown to most Americans, Thomas Harris McDonald was a civil engineer and politician with tremendous influence in building the county’s interstate highway system. He supervised the creation of 3.5 million miles of highways and personally directed the creation of the Alaskan Highway. Iowans as well as people from every state and nation drive and bike on his creations every day.

There were two railroads built going through the City of Montezuma in 1875 and 1880. With one railway running north and the other heading south, many knew people traveling along the way were introduced to our community. The Poweshiek County Historical Genealogical Society has many stories that can be read about the hobos and tramps that made their way along the railways.

The Poweshiek County Historical Genealogical Society has taken the city’s old library, jail and an old school house and have turned these buildings into a history buff’s dream. Read up on the history of Montezuma and see the pictures that will connect the pieces of how this town has grown over the years.

The trails and triumphs are all recorded and documented in these remarkable structures.

• Poweshiek Co. Historical and Genealogical – In Carnegie Library turns 100 years old this year.
• Fitzsimmons schoolhouse and Powe Co. Museum
• Monuments on 3 sides of CourtHouse, Freedom rock, Veterans Memorial and Bill of Rights.
• Sauced Pizza and Pub
• Just A Small Town Grill

Some of the neat Landscapes, Lakes and Parks include:

• Diamond Lake
• Lake Ponderosa, approximately 4 miles east of Montezuma.
• Two city-owned parks, one of the west side of town and one on the east side of town.
• Bonham Trail

For more information on Montezuma’s RAGBRAI plans, visit:
https://www.facebook.com/Montezuma-Ragbrai-2018-167304457263783/

DEEP RIVER

We had such a nice time relaxing in Deep River and we hope you do too. Their theme will be “Small Town USA, Deep River, Iowa” and we think that pretty much sums it up! They’re a small town with lots of that trademark Iowa small town hospitality.

Historical / Interesting Facts: Deep River Fun Days – one of the longest running town celebrations: July 13^th and 14^th this year. Our town was named Sap-Pom-Ah (meaning Deep River) by the Fox and Sac Indians that lived along its bank long before the arrival of the white man. As it meandered through the flood plain, it was constantly changing its course, sometimes cutting into the steep little hills from these high banks, not the depth of the water, that the stream gets its name and is a minor tributary of the English River.

Famous Citizens:

• Tyler Richton and the High Bank Boys Band – “future Nashville stars”
• State Representative, David Maxwell, Iowa House District 76, is a born and raised Deep River citizen and currently lives south of Deep River.

Infamous Events: Tornadoes West of town, along highway 85, occurred in 1979 and again in the same site in 2008.

Interesting Buildings / Restaurants / Sites:

• Winegarden Hardware – 80 years in business!
• Opera House – built in 1927
• Menonite Hall
• American Legion Post 236 – 1919
• New building 2017

Landscapes / Lakes / Parks: Silverman Park given by the Silverman Family

Food / Vendors:

• Deep River Volunteer Fire Dept. will be selling beer to raise money to help in the cost of updating the current fire station.
• Deep River Fun Day Committee will be selling koozies.
• Morrison Schrader Post 296 American Legion will be selling bottled water and bananas. Possibly root beer floats.
• “Mission for Mason” group will be selling food to raise money for cystic Fibrosis Foundation, in honor of three year old Mason Van Dee, who suffers from this disease. His favorite sandwich is peanut butter and jelly which the group plans to have on their menu.
• Deep River Community Center will be selling food and drink items to raise money for the up keep of the city building.
• There will also be a petting zoo!!

Entertainment / Activities:

• There will be an ‘Aunt and Uncle Sam’ stand in photo prop.
• Covered Wagon Outdoor History Museum – we are planning to have a covered wagon set up for an outside mini history museum with pictures and a dab of written history
• Karaoke Dave Campbell will be on hand to provide music. He will DJ sing and provide karaoke selections to whoever wants to sing.
• Karen Pierce and friend will be on hand to play live music.
• Frank Pierce, who is an inductee of Iowa Country Music Hall of Fame, will share his music talent.
• Randy Schnebbe of RS Welding Studio will be selling bicycle iron art. Randy will take orders and ship to customers.

Additional Info: Deep River Volunteer Fire Dept – Established in 1903

Ms. Pigalicious, a pig sculpture, will make a re-appearance, who made her RAGBRAI debut in Victor a few years back.

No ‘ATM’ available in Small Town USA, Deep River, Iowa.

2018 will mark 155 years of Deep River’s annual town celebration. While starting in the Dresden era in 1863, as ‘Orangemen Day’ to celebrate the Battle of the Boyne, it is now called Deep River Fun Days which is celebrated close to July 12^th every year, making it one of the longest running annual celebrations that is held at the same time each year.

For more information on Deep River’s RAGBRAI plans, visit:
https://www.facebook.com/wearesmalltownusa/

KESWICK

Riders arrive in Keswick on day five of the 2018 RAGBRAI Pre-Ride Route Inspection Thursday, June 7, 2018.

Keswick is a small town of just 250 residents, but they don’t lack pride.

Interesting Buildings / Restaurants / Sites: We are the home to the world famous Keswick Agates. We will be having a display the day of July 26^th for riders to see. We also have a few Agates cemented in the Keswick sign.  You will find all sorts of history on the wall at the American Legion.

Description: The Keswick Community Club is planning live music, food, games and fun for all riders. We will have the non-profit vendor row, who are all working to raise money for their specific group. We will also have tents for bikers to sit down and cool off. For the riders over 21, the local Keswick Tavern is hosting the beer garden and will have ice cold beverages ready.

Food / Vendors: Our Keswick Community Club and American Legion have paired up and will be serving homemade pie. These fruit pies (strawberry, rhubarb, cherry, and many more) are all made by local community members. We will also be serving brats from Cook’s Meats from Parnell Iowa. Cook’s has traveled all around competing in competition for their amazing brats. We will be having the famous Gummy Bear Brats, Philly Cheese Steak brats and many other kinds.

The Keswick Community Club is also serving the unnaked noodle with the option for meat sauce. This is a spaghetti noodle with butter, garlic and parmesan cheese with the option of red sauce with hamburger. For riders who are inside the beer garden, Beer Belly BBQ will be serving sandwiches.

There will also be outside vendors including Pizza on Wheels, Lunch Lady, smoothies and dill pickles.

The pre-ride crew got to sample the brats and noodles, and found them all very tasty.  A vote was taken on the brats, and the Bacon Cheddar brat was favorite, followed closely by the Philly Cheese Steak brat.

Entertainment:

• There will be a large wall with a map printed on it for all riders to sign.
• There will be several face cut outs located all over for photo opportunities.
• A live band
• In the beer garden: Giant beer pong, darts with balloons and a bike wheel spinner all with prizes
  • Each game is raising money for our local Community Club for Harvest Days fireworks and Fire Department new uniforms.

Theme: “We Rock, You Roll”

Additional Info:

• The Keswick Community Club is working hard to raise funds for the annual Keswick Harvest Days on September 15^th. These funds will help provide free kid and adult activities for the residents of Keswick along with surrounding communities to help celebrate our wonderful town. The Community Club is hoping to raise enough funds to end with a bang by having fireworks.
• The Local Keswick Legion has paired with the Keswick Community Club as a food vendor. The Legion is working on raising funds to help pay off yearly operational costs. In Keswick, the legion Hall is the only location to hold gatherings like the local pancake supper with Santa and many other local events.
• The Keswick Tavern is donating a percentage of their proceeds to help the Keswick Fire Department raise funds to replace outdated fire uniforms. They are also helping to support the Keswick Community Club in the Annual Keswick Harvest Days.

For more information on Keswick’s RAGBRAI plans, visit:
https://www.facebook.com/keswickragbrai2018/

SIGOURNEY

Riders eat dinner in Sigourney on day five of the 2018 RAGBRAI Pre-Ride Route Inspection Thursday, June 7, 2018.

Sigourney will be “Where Pigs Fly” when RAGBRAI riders file into Sigourney on July 26. 2018. The community is excited to be welcoming RAGBRAI as an overnight town for the first time since 1995. On that visit, riders were met with headwinds of 35 MPH, in addition to a challenging and hilly terrain, plus the typical heat and humidity expected of Iowa in July. It is our hope that riders will be able to have it a little bit easier this year.

The Main Campground will be located on the east edge of town at the Keokuk County Expo and across the road on the SADC lot near Bender Foundry.  The main campground includes the following:  Information Center, RAGBRAI Information & Merchandise Tent, Message Board, First Aid Station, SAG Wagon Drop-off, Bicycle Repair Shops, and a Baggage Valet.  The Keokuk County Expo will be serving Hot Beef Sundaes for lunch in the Expo Hall, and hosting a beverage garden featuring The Boys and Jake McVey in the grandstand Thursday afternoon and early evening.  The entertainment and beverage garden will be finished at 8:00 p.m., when the festivities will be kicking into high gear up town on the square.  There will primarily be RV camping at the expo, with approximately 50 spots available with electric, and an additional 150 RVs without electric.  Nearly 200 tents will also call Expo “home” for the night.  Across the road will be tent camping for the 2000+ riders relying on the RAGBRAI baggage trucks to carry their supplies.

Musical acts will be performing in beautiful downtown Sigourney, including: Standing Hampton and the Pork Tornadoes. Downtown Sigourney also features the beautiful Keokuk County Courthouse and Memorial Fountain. Checkout Memorial Fountain and stay to see it light up after dark! Within walking distance of the downtown square include the public library, as well as Legion Park, which includes a playground, basketball court, tennis court, horseshoe pits, and a swimming pool!

Stay tuned to Sigourney RAGBRAI pages for additional announcements about what riders can expect on July 26.

For more information on Sigourney’s RAGBRAI plans, visit:
http://www.ragbraisigourney.com/
https://www.facebook.com/ragbraisigourney/
https://twitter.com/RAGBRAI_sig
https://www.instagram.com/ragbraisigourney/

http://porktornadoes.com/
http://www.standinghampton.com/

Don’t forget to check back for updates on the last two days of the route inspection ride and what to expect on RAGBRAI XLVI here on the RAGBRAI web site www.ragbrai.com. You can also follow the pre-ride adventure and learn interesting tidbits about the route by following on Facebook Facebook.com/RAGBRAI or on TWITTER by following @RAGBRAI_IOWA, @TJRAGBRAI, or @RAGBRAI_Andrea

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