Route Inspection Ride: Day 2 – Red Oak to Greenfield

The threat of rain and being Monday reduced the number of Route Inspection Riders to just three!  Don Rogerson, the RIDE RIGHT and Web Site chair from Red Oak joined the riders for the Monday adventure to Greenfield. 

Don is a transplant from Portland, Oregon, so he claims, “I’m used to riding in the rain!”  A rider from Atlantic had intended to ride but he discovered bike troubles after unloading his bike and changed his plans.  We might see him on tomorrow’s ride. 

This is predicted to be the toughest day, but wind or temps might take that title away from this day.  You never know on RAGBRAI.  There are some good hills through the first half of the ride and some more hills on the second half, just not as bad. 

Thanks to Judy Green for providing support throughout the day!  Judy has worked the RAGBRAI Information and Merchandise trailers (they used to be tents before we met Featherlite during our visit to Cresco) for the past few decades.

Here are some facts and points of interest from each town.

Stanton, Iowa

A proud community of around 700 people located east of Red Oak. Stanton is best known for its Swedish heritage, which can be experienced through the Swedish Heritage and Cultural Center, located in the center of town, and the Swedish Coffeepot Water Tower, known as the largest in the world. In 1997 Stanton was honored as the top tourism community in Iowa (pop. under 5000) because of these attractions.

The Swedish Coffeepot water tower stands 125 feet high and can hold 40,000 gallons–640,000 cups. Stanton is also the birth place of Hollywood’s Virginia Christine, the “Mrs. Olsen” on Folgers Coffee television commercials.

The new Swedish Coffee Cup water tower was built in 2000.  It is 96 feet tall and can hold 150,000 gallons–2,400,000 cups of coffee. It is located at the corner of Highland and Hilltop (South Hill).

Stanton has hosted RAGBRAI twice before, the last time was during RAGBRAI XVII on the ride from Clarinda to Atlantic.

Villisca, Iowa

Villisca has a fascinating history with a blend of mystery from the unsolved 1912 axe murders, to patriotism illustrated by those who have stepped forward time and time again to answer the call of their country to serve in the military, which was memorialized in a Pulitzer Prize winning photo, to everyday people distinguishing themselves with academic, business and cultural accomplishments.

This town of 1,344 is planning to welcome bikers on July 20, 2009.  They are rounding up the best of Villisca cooks to feed you that morning.  They will have homemade cinnamon rolls, homemade pies of all kinds.  Roxanne Seibler and Sandy Wainwright met the riders in the park to have us sample the tasty cinnamon rolls and coffee. 

Chris Gibler will be on hand to entertain with the music and the talk he is so well known for in southwest Iowa. In addition, Villisca is rounding up some of their young people to entertain you as well. Some of our 4-H and FFA young people may even bring some of their animals into town to show off.

Villisca has hosted RAGBRAI just once before, the last time was during RAGBRAI XX on the ride from Shenandoah to Bedford.

Nodaway, Iowa

Located in Adams County, Nodaway has a population of 132 people and was incorporated in 1900.  The name “nodawa” means crossed without a canoe.

A stagecoach trail known as the Blue Grass Trail followed the East Nodaway River.  The railroad soon followed and a passenger depot was added in the late 1800s.

Nodaway has hosted RAGBRAI just once before, the last time was during RAGBRAI XX on the ride from Shenandoah to Bedford.

Corning, Iowa (Meeting Town)

 … and heeeeeeeeeere’s Corning!  Johnny Carson was born in Corning, Iowa in 1925.  The house he was born in is still standing ans is in the process of being restored as a tribute to Johnny.

Corning is the county seat of Adams County with a population of 1,783 people.  The community is excited about a new Aquatic Center that is just about complete on the exit route of town and it looks like it will be ready by RAGBRAI!

Corning is also home to Adams County Speedway, which holds races on Saturday nights from April through September. Corning is also home to the Carnac Family Skatepark, A 1,200 square foot skatepark built with donated money.  Major donations included $75,000 from Corning native Jonny Carson, and $5,000 from well known skateboarder Tony Hawk. The skatepark is known as one of the best in the area, and draws big summer crowds.

RAGBRAI festivities will mainly be in the downtown area along Davis Avenue.  In addition to a slew of vendors in the downtown, there are great restaurants and pubs in Corning’s downtown.  We ate at Boz’s Kitchen in the downtown and devoured the meatloaf plate.  Plenty of tasty desserts were on display and our waitress was wearing a bike pin!  She was ready for RAGBRAI.

We also had a rider, Brent Spurrier (any relation to the ole ballcoach?), join us in Corning for the ride.  Corning is an extremely hilly town that will be our meeting town this day.

Corning has hosted RAGBRAI three previous years, the last time was during RAGBRAI XXV on the ride from Red Oak to Creston.

Prescott, Iowa

Prescott is not planning to have vendors or a celebration, but the Prescott Tap is planning to be open and ready for the cyclists to stop by.

Williamson, Iowa

Williamson is an unincorporated town in rural Adams County.  Although there may be but just a few homes in the area, Williamson has the American Legion Post that plans to have lots of festivities when RAGBRAI arrives.

Williamson has never hosted RAGBRAI before. 

Fontanelle, Iowa

Located in Adair County, Fontanelle has a population of 692 people.  The town was named after Chief Logan Fontanelle of the Omaha Indian Tribe and a statute of Chief Fontanelle stands on the square in his honor. A mural by Ray “Bubba” Sorensen depicting the arrival of the “Cumberland Rose” train has been added near the entrance to downtown.

The city park centers the Fontanelle Square, which features an old-time bandstand, state-of-the-art playground and a mural honoring Veterans. A statue of Disney’s “Goofy” welcomes visitors to the playground.  Most of the RAGBRAI festivities will take place in the in or near Fontanelle Square.

Fontanelle has hosted RAGBRAI just once before, the last time was during RAGBRAI XXVIII on the ride from Harlan to Greenfield.

Greenfield, Iowa

Greenfield is a Main Street community that is the county seat of Adair County with a population of 2,129 people.  Greenfield is home to the Iowa Aviation Museum and Hall of Fame, the Adair County Heritage Museum, the Adair County Fair and the Freedom Rock.

The Freedom Rock is a Memorial Day tribute to our servicemen and servicewomen, painted on a large granite boulder for the past 11 years by Ray “Bubba” Sorensen II.  The Freedom Rock is 12 feet high that weighs over 50 tons and is located about 12 miles north of Greenfield on Highway 25.  Bubba also designed the Greenfield logo for RAGBRAI.

Most of the camping for RAGBRAI in Greenfield will take place at the High School and Fairgrounds.   The campgrounds are a short walk to all of the RAGBRAI festivities, since the “rare square” is basically in the center of the town.  It is called a rare square as there is a center street entering each side of the square and an exit at every corner.  It is the only square of its kind in Iowa.

Greenfield will have entertainment on two stages; a courthouse stage and the main stage in the beverage garden.  Exit 113, Brick ‘n Bob and the Young Guns will be some of the featured earlier entertainment.

The Nadas will headline the main stage that evening in the beverage garden.  The Nadas have been RAGBRAI regulars playing Waukee, Cedar Falls and Ames RAGBRAI celebrations in the past few years. 

Greenfield has hosted RAGBRAI twice in the past; the last time was in 2000 for RAGBRAI XXVIII.

Day 3 – Tuesday, June 2

OK, the winds were better, but hopefully the rain will be a litter kinder on the ride from Greenfield to Indianola.  Tune in tomorrow for another report from the Route Inspection Ride!

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