By JEFF HUTTON Courier associate editor
March 09, 2009 11:03 am
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MORAVIA — Organizers over the weekend announced the detailed route bicyclists will follow during RAGBRAI during the week of July 19-25.
In the Courier’s coverage area, cyclists will pass through a number of communities as they travel from Chariton to Ottumwa on July 23, and then from Ottumwa to Mount Pleasant on July 24.
On July 23, bicyclists will travel south from Chariton to Millerton, then move east to Bethlehem and Confidence. At that point, riders can take two different paths around Rathbun Lake, either north through Iconium, then near Honey Creek Resort State Park and moving onto Moravia.
Riders could take a southerly route around the lake (the Karras Loop) and then make their way to Moravia.
From Moravia, bicyclists will travel to Unionville, then northeast to Blakesburg, making their way along Bluegrass Road to Ottumwa.
Total mileage that day — 76.9 miles.
On July 24, RAGBRAI participants will depart Ottumwa and head to Hedrick, Martinsburg, Pekin, Packwood and Pleasant Plain.
From Pleasant Plain, cyclists will travel to Brighton and then move south and east to Germanville, Lockridge and take Old Highway 34 and arrive in Mount Pleasant.
That day’s trek is a total 75.5 miles.
Moravia Mayor Paul Mihalovich said the announcement that his community would serve as a pass-through community on July 23 has yielded mixed reactions from residents.
“The stop here is kind of a noon break [for the riders],” he said. “There are some people who are going to plan to make some bucks ... taverns, sandwich and food vendors.”
But the arrival of nearly 20,000 cyclists and their support teams means a great deal of congestion, Mihalovich said, and some residents have a difficult time getting in and out of the town.
“[RAGBRAI has] come through here before; it’s almost impossible to get out on the road,” he said.
RAGBRAI can also can be expensive for many pass-through towns.
Mihalovich said the city will probably have to put out $2,000 worth of Porta-Potties, additional garbage pickup will cost more as will extra water usage.
He’s hopeful vendor permit fees the city could collect will help defray costs.
Mihalovich said the city’s RAGBRAI committee, as well as other communities, are scheduled to meet with RAGBRAI officials in Indianola during the next few weeks to discuss rules and regulations associated with the ride.
Jeff Hutton can be reached at (641) 683-5380 or via e-mail at: jeff@ottumwacourier.com.
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