Route Inspection Ride: Day 1 – Glenwood to Atlantic
- 5 June, 2011
- Jared
Seven riders gathered this morning at this summer’s starting site at Glenwood’s High School to start the annual RAGBRAI Route Inspection Pre-Ride. This 454-mile fact finding mission will take place this week, ending at the Mississippi River in Davenport on Saturday, June 11. Along the way, the rider numbers grew as others joined in towns of Silver City, Carson, Griswold and Lewis. Joining the Route Inspection Riders was Randy Hecht of Team Darryl and Steve Anderson and Aaron Siggins of Bad Monkey.
The Glenwood RIDE RIGHT committee was updating us on the game plan for tire dipping in Missouri River waters. Due to the flooding issues that most of western Iowa communities are currently dealing with, the Glenwood committee will arrange to bring in river water. The cross country team has a new twist on the pumped in water…. live catfish will be jumping in the river water tubs close to the Expo area at the High School!
The day’s ride is about 59 miles and just under 5,000 feet of climb. Tom Sperling, one of Glenwood’s RIDE RIGHT Committee chairs, had this to say about the day’s route, “There is good variety of landscape, the pass-through towns are vintage small town Iowa, the hills are challenging (there are going to be people happily groaning along the way), Griswold’s main street is classic, the six mile loop through Lewis is beautiful!!!, and the final miles into Atlantic are a breeze. We are in for a great week riding.”
Every time RAGBRAI is in the neighborhood of the Loess Hills, you know to expect some climbing. There are quite a few hills, but no monsters like Potter’s Hill. The nice part about the hills on this day was that you could get pretty good momentum to help you up the next one. Not quite “rollers”, but very manageable if you grind them out. Today we experienced mostly head winds and cross winds as well as heat that was in the mid-90’s. At least the humidity was in check! So 3 of the 4 H’s.
Here are some facts and points of interest from each town.
RAGBRAI has visited Silver City twice before, the last time occurring in 2003. This quaint town of 259 people in Mills County is familiar to many area cyclists as the Wabash Trace cuts through the community. Silver City will serve as the first pass-through community of RAGBRAI XXXIX. The Silver City Fire Department and the American Legion will be the main stopping points for breakfast treats, including breakfast burritos and biscuits & gravy. Be sure to find the historic 1911 City Jail, just behind the fires station. Live bands will entertain riders in the outdoor beverage garden to kick off RAGBRAI. Chief Frankforter mentioned that RAGBRAI will serve as a fundraiser so the volunteer fire department can pave the rear bays of the fire station. Sounds like Silver City will start the ride off right!
We were greeted by the Carson RAGBRAI Committee as the pre-riders screamed down the hill across the Nishnabotna River into Carson. Carson has never officially hosted RAGBRAI, but the ride came within a half mile in the past. Even though they haven’t hosted before, some committee members are avid RAGBRAIers to help with the planning.
Donnell Kvall and the Carson Committee had homemade pie ready for tasting outside of Carson City Hall. The depot-styled building also housing the American Legion and serves as the community center. Strawberry rhubarb and apple pies were plentiful as well as delicious. The town will be selling a wide variety of foods and pie with all funds benefitting the planned Carson Community Park and renovated Dreamland Theatre in downtown. The new Carson Community Park will augment the area that hosts rodeos and ball fields along the river. Carson’s Rodeo has been described as the “Best Small Rodeo in the Country”.
Some other activities include live bands, the Windstream internet trailer and a bicycle ferris wheel, created by a local welder and a slew of vendors up and down the street.
Canoyer Country Greenhouse
(not a town, but worth a stop)
We stopped and visited with Craig and Kathy Canoyer who own Canoyer Country Greenhouse. Plush lawns invite you to pull off the road and relax on the grounds of the Greenhouse. The Canoyer’s grandkids will be serving all kinds of refreshing drinks for the riders. Tender Tom’s Turkey is planning to set up there and sweet corn, funnel cakes and shaved ice will also be available.
Griswold is excited about hosting RAGBRAI next month. Mayor Jerry Putnam and City Manager Jessica Kinser greeted the pre-riders as they entered Main Street of the community of just over 1,000 people. The town will turn into “Griswold Acres” for the day displaying their proud farming heritage.
Griswold boasts several museums in their community including the Cass County Historical Society Museum and the personal collections displayed at the Rush Antique International Harvester Farm Display, the Allis-Chalmers Tractor and Farm Museum and the Fords and More Museums.
The community hosts the Old Soldiers Reunion the second weekend in July. The event that used to serve Civil War vets reuniting has become the time for old friends and classmates to reunite. It is estimated that 120 vets reside in Griswold or 15.4% of the population. This is truly a patriotic community.
The pre-riders were treated to lunch at Dusty’s Bar and Grill in downtown. The house specialty is the club sandwich and onion rings, but all of the food is really good. Ryan Askeland is the owner of the bar, who is planning for the big day of RAGBRAI.
The committee also asked the pre-riders to become pie judges to help select the best pie in Griswold. We tasted rhubarb, strawberry rhubarb, peach, apple, rhubarb custard and cherry pies. We are so curious as to which pie will win. We will have to return in July to find out!
The town will also have live entertainment in the shady park and the American Legion will host an outdoor beverage garden.
1989 was RAGBRAI’s one and only visit to Griswold.
This is the first time for Lewis to host RAGBRAI and they are doing it big. How big? Well, Duane Weirich is busy welding the world’s largest bike to display for RAGBRAI. Duane says the current big bike is in Germany, a mere 12 foot by 26 foot large. He envisions his bike will tower at 14 feet by 30 feet. The bike will be constructed of pipe and scraps and can actually be ridden. This will be a must see.
This Cass County town of 438 people will have the Jam Time DJs playing great tunes at their beverage garden. Riders will have their choice of a variety of meats as they enter town including beef brisket. The Methodist Church will have a great assortment of pies ready for the riders.
Riders will cruise into town along the scenic rollercoaster downhill past Cold Springs State Park and into Lewis.
The first day’s ride will conclude in Atlantic, the Coca-Cola Capital of Iowa. The theme for Atlantic is “Coke, Spokes and Wonderful Folks” so expect to see a lot of red in the town of Atlantic.
The local committee is planning some great entertainment that night including Dale Blue and the Nadas. The main stage will be located in downtown near the Rock Island Depot which houses the Atlantic Chamber of Commerce. The bands are free for all riders.
Entertainment Schedule
5 p.m.
Beer Garden Opens
5:30-7:30 p.m.
Dale Blue
8 p.m.-Midnight
The Nadas
The pre-riders were treated to an amazing meal at the Farmer’s Kitchen on Walnut Street in downtown Atlantic. A big thanks to Mark Johnson and his mom, Mrs. Johnson, for the incredible home cooked meal. The family-style meal consisted of pot roast, chicken, ham balls, potatoes, carrots, stuffing and delicious rolls and butter. All of this will be available the day of RAGBRAI plus prime rib sandwiches and their award winning burgers and chili. Oh, I forgot to mention the buttermilk marinated tenderloins as well.
The best part of the meal was dessert. A choice of Caramel Pecan or the award winning Chocolate Peanut Butter Explosion or Sour Cream Raisin pies was difficult! Mrs. Johnson’s Sour Cream Raisin was voted the #1 Sour Cream Raisin pie in the country and she recently won the award for the country’s best Chocolate Peanut Butter pie. She says she will make just 50 of them, so come early and come hungry because the 10 inch pie is cut in 7s.
The Johnsons are currently converting part of the building into a pie and custard shop with soda fountain décor that has a soda bar that runs the entire length of the room. This will give these world famous pies the proper place to enjoy.
Day 2 – Monday, June 6
Hopefully the winds and the temps will be kinder on the ride from Atlantic to Carroll. Tune in tomorrow for another report from the Route Inspection Ride!
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Super excited for RAGBRAI.. my first! I’m riding with the Livestrong team and cant wait to get out there to join you on this ride!
The route and the pass thru towns all sound great! How about the good beer drinking curbs????
Hey TJ,
Just how GOOD was GOOD on that sour cream raisin pie??? My ALL TIME favorite…even tho Mr. McKay gives it 2 thumbs down…(only 1 crust and RAISINS!!!) Safe riding and cooooool tailwinds to you all today!
Becky
Is there any way I can put a Chocolate Peanut Butter Explosion pie on reserve for when we get there? If so I’ll take two please…
Thanks for the info….I can hardly wait :)
Becky… not good, but GREAT!
What the heck is ” tire dipping in Missouri River waters” is that some hazing part of the ride? First time for the ride, and looking forward to more posts on the pre-ride. :)
This is really a great tool for getting the riders pumped and ready for this great event!
My brother and I have been doing it since 2006 and we get excited every year at this time! I love the idea of an inspection ride and it gives me a virtual tour of what’s ahead.
Thanks for posting this info!!
The pie looks so good. Can’t wait for my first Ragbrai.
Thanks Joe. Glad it gets folks excited to get out and ride their bikes and get them ready for RAGBRAI
Anybody know what’s going on in Marne on Sunday night? I’ve heard they are having a big 10th Anniversary bash at The Roadhouse. Guessing that could be lots of fun.
Found it!
:o)
John
I’m a native Iowan who has lived in Southern California since 1982. I’m REALLY looking forward to 7-Days of RAGBRAI this year. After watching the national news about the Missouri River flooding this summer; will we be starting the week by putting our back tires in the Missouri River in Atlantic? Ha!
Looking for a hotel July 22nd, they all seemed to be booked.
Any suggestions?
Cindy – Get with the RAGBRAI spirit. Give up the hotel and get a tent. Hotels are for wimps.
Hi Brian- Lets just say that Marne is always prepared for whoever would like to come to our little town & Yes we like to have fun!! :) We appreciate you all so much for the many years of support!! We are kicking off the weekend on Saturday with a band, roast pork, sand volleyball, water slides & plenty of other activities clear through out the weekend! Hope to see you!! Have a Fun & Safe ride!!
Hey Uncle Kris, good luck with the ride and I will have plenty of cold ones when u get down here to B-Town!!!