January 9, 2008

Carl Voss is an avid cyclist and pie eater who lives and works in the East Village of downtown Des Moines.  For a number of years, he served as the official pie judge on the Des Moines Register's Annual Great Bicycle Ride Across Iowa, sampling pies all week, interviewing the bakers and picking the winners right after the ride. His message came after he read the January 8 news story on this Internet site about the major grants that have been received for enhancing the Raccoon River Valley Trail.

"I just need to know one thing: When all the RRVT improvements are completed, where will the best pie cafe be located?"

That's already a good question! Anybody want to nominate the pie at any of the restaurants that are currently on the trail?

November 3, 2007

Jim and Karen Sievers own and operate Prairie View Bed & Breakfast, located on Iowa Highway 44 between Panora and Guthrie Center, a favorite overnight stay among users of the Raccoon River Valley Trail. They are referring to the completion of the concrete resurfacing of the trail from Panora south to Linden. You can read about that resurfacing project in the RRVT News on this Internet site.

"We have had several people from surrounding states travel to Prairie View just to bike the trail since the latest stretch as been resurfaced.  Many have said they are returning next summer with friends to enjoy our area and ride the trail."

August 18, 2007

Joe Hanner, director of the Guthrie County Conservation Board and a member of the board of the Raccoon River Valley Trail Association, spoke at the re-opening of five miles of the RRVT between Panora and Linden which had been resurfaced with new concrete. He cautioned the crowd that as successful as the project was, attention now must be turned to fundraising for five more miles of resurfacing north of Panora. And then he wound up his remarks this way:

To all trail users: PLEASE, PLEASE, PLEASE, PLEASE obey the traffic signs posted on the trails at ALL intersections! This is just as important for locations where the trail may cross a rural gravel road as it is in urban and suburban areas. I realize that the trail crosses many rural roads that most would consider empty. But PLEASE understand that just because a road is not paved does NOT mean that it is simply an alley with inconsequential traffic volume. These are rural ROADS with a speed limit of nearly 50 miles per hour on a surface that is NOT conducive to emergency braking. This is particularly true in the case of Linden Road between Linden and Redfield. RRVT users would know Linden Road as the one which criss-crosses the trail multiple times as the trail gently descends toward the Middle Raccoon River and Redfield.

This past weekend, July 7-8, I had two very close calls with cyclists who were using the trail and, not only not obeying the posted stop signs, but who did not even attempt to look both ways before riding into cross traffic. (I will not even address the large groups of riders who were riding on Iowa Highway 44 this weekend due to trail resurfacing, sometimes nearly four riders abreast in traffic.)

Saturday afternoon, one cyclist rode directly into my path going north through Linden. He appeared to be meeting a large group who had already stopped at the picnic tables to rest. Having had a number of close calls with folks rolling through Linden without checking for traffic, I was anticipating having to stop in the middle of the road. Fortunately for that guy, I am a defensive driver AND supportive of those who use the trail. The same cannot be said for all who drive the streets and highways around central Iowa. I stopped in the middle of the street to let him pass even though I had the right-of-way. He did not even look up until he was in front of my right fender. No sheepish wave or apology. Even though he was in the throes of oxygen debt, I would hope that he would have recognized how lucky he was that it was me driving through town and not someone with poor vision or a bad attitude.

Then on Sunday, my husband, step-son and I were driving along one of the north/south gravel roads between Panora and Linden on our way to the site of a new home we are building south of Linden. We were going approximately 40 miles per hour (average for most gravel roads) when a group of three riders rode directly into our path without even looking to see if there was traffic coming. The trail comes to the road out of fairly thick vegetation, so we could not see the cyclists until the were in front of us. Additionally, this was on an area of trail that is barricaded with "Closed" signage while trail resurfacing is going on. The first two riders hurriedly looked up AFTER they heard the sound of the gravel slamming against the bottom of our car, when my husband locked up the brakes to keep from running them down. The third rider managed to stop on the trail before she got to the road. The first two did mouth what I suspect was a very sincere "Sorry" after the incident, but it would have been little solace had the worst happened. I don't want my memory to replay an accident such as that every night for the rest of my life.

I have been a very vocal defender of the trail system and trail users in general, even when people complain about trash that is often left along the trail and close calls suffered at many intersections. I even stand up for runners (like myself) and cyclists who use the public roadways to get to desinations not linked by the trail systems.

But, honestly, after this last week, in which I had two other near-misses near Linden, I'm not sure that I can continue to fight effectively against a rising tide of opposition to the development and funding of public trail systems.

Please, everybody, take care of yourself and your trail buddies by paying attention to your surroundings. You may not only save yourself from injury and somebody else from a lifetime of guilt, but your behavior directly affects the opinion of non-trail-using, voting citizens. Be careful out there, enjoy our trails and "Happy RAGBRAI" to all my cycling friends.

May 21, 2007

David Woehrle, of St. Charles, Illinois, rode his bicycle on the Raccoon River Valley Trail on May 18-19 as one of the students in the "Bicycle Writing" class from Coe College in Cedar Rapids. Seven Coe students were riding bikes all over Iowa during a May term class taught by Kerrie Miller, and journaling about their experiences. The story about their RRVT adventure can be found in the Archives of RRVT News on this Internet site. Here is what Woehrle had to say about the trail as he pedaled along: "What I'm really glad to see is how wide open it is out here in rural Iowa. Where I come from it is all urban and developed, and Coe College is right in the middle of Cedar Rapids. So it's easy to start thinking that it's all just one big city out there. I love seeing the farms and the fields and all the space."

Shelly Williams, of Des Moines, is a friend of Carla and Chuck Offenburger, of Cooper, who are members of the board of directors of the Raccoon River Valley Trail Association. When Williams asked for a suggestion of where she and another friend might do a bicycle ride of 20 miles or so, the Offenburgers told her about the beautiful stretch of the RRVT between Redfield and Panora and referred her to this Internet site for more information. From her e-mail after her recent bike ride, she and her friend enjoyed the trail and will be back. "Thanks for telling us about the trail from Redfield to Panora. We rode it yesterday and we LOVED it. It was just beautiful, and we had lunch at PJ's in Panora. We love new trails, so that was perfect for us. We had looked at the Raccoon River Valley Trail site on the Internet before we went, and are now looking forward to coming more out your way and seeing all those buildings that the gentleman (Kevin Wilbeck, and you can read that story in the RRVT News Archives) did the drawings of. Thanks again for your help! I'm sure I will be asking for more biking advice in the future.

The Raccoon River Valley Trail Association hosted a one-day seminar on trail-related business & tourism development in little Cooper, Iowa, on the RRVT. Among the presenters was Eric Bunge, co-founder of the Commonweal Theatre, one of the major attractions in Lanesboro, Minnesota, on the Root River State Trail there. That trail, generally regarded as the best in America, has helped build tourism into a $25 million per year industry in the rural Fillmore County. But Bunge said what's really made it happen are people with vision who gather the resources to build businesses on their passions. And that's when he hit upon the key point of his message to those of us interested in development of more businesses and amenities along the Raccoon River Valley Trail and other trails in Iowa: "The trail's not the answer. The trail's just a tool. You're the answer!"

January 20, 2007

The Jefferson Telephone Co. Charitable Trust announced an $11,550 gift to the Raccoon River Valley Trail Association, to pay for the new signage on the trail in Greene County, which the phone company serves. In making the announcement, the company manager Jim Daubendiek said: "With the Jefferson Telephone Trust, we're strong proponents of enhancing recreational opportunities in the county. And we're also proponents of trying to help grow business in our communities. It seems like this trail has the potential for both." You can read the complete news story by clicking into "RRVT News" on the home page.

November 28, 2006

Chuck Offenburger, secretary of the Raccoon River Valley Trail Association, was asked by the Rotary Club in Dallas Center, Iowa, to come visit with club members about how the community will benefit when a new "north loop" of the RRVT is extended through the town in 2007or 2008. A couple of key lines from his presentation: "Don't look at it as just a trail that you're going to get in Dallas Center. Look at it like a new industry that's coming to town. We used to estimate that 70,000 people per year were on the RRVT, but since the connection was made into the trails of the Des Moines metro area, the surveys now indicate there are 100,000 people per year. And when we get the new 'north loop' completed and get our marketing and promotion plan going, we think those figures could triple or quadruple. So, even by a conservative estimate, you can probably look at 200,000 people a year coming through Dallas Center on the RRVT. Think of the economic benefit of that! What else do you have that brings that many people to Dallas Center, except for Highway 44?"

October 4, 2006

To the Raccoon River Valley Trail Association Board of Directors: I want to thank you for taking on this very important task of promoting the Raccoon River Valley Trail. As an avid bike tourist and trail user, I think emulating Minnesota's Root River State Trail is a great plan. I have biked the Elroy-Sparta Trail in Wisconsin, the KATY Trail in Missouri and most recently the Root River Trail in Minnesota. From the small town railroad depot museums, to the local bed and breakfast we stayed at, everything along the trail made for a very enjoyable biking weekend in southeast Minnesota. Although week-long bike events and a coast-to-coast bike trip have been the highlight of my biking experience, the day trips and weekend trips on trails like the RRVT allow so many more people to enjoy nature and the outdoors that I feel we must focus on them in Iowa. I am a member of the Dallas County Conservation Foundation Board, and had our Conservation Director Mike Wallace, who is on your board, talk to our Dallas Center Rotary Club last year about the exciting plans for the trail addition through our town. I was hoping that someone from your group might be willing to speak to our Rotary Club during the month of November about the RRVT Association's plans for promoting the trail and about things our club and community can do to help. Our club meets every Tuesday at noon for lunch at the community hall in Dallas Center.

On your left,

Bob German

Dallas Center Rotary Club

Chuck Offenburger responds on October 4 for the RRVT Association board: Hi Bob. Thanks for your enthusiasm about the trail, especially about the new "north loop" that will be coming through Dallas Center within the next year, along with Minburn, Perry, Dawson and Jamaica. We'll be thrilled to be adding your communities to the list of RRVT towns. One thing you and others in Dallas Center can do now is to read the story about our first "Fall Festival" which we will be having on the RRVT on Saturday, October 14. You can find that story beginning on the home page of this Internet site. I think on the festival day, a bunch of you Dallas Center Rotarians should be hanging out at the Waukee trailhead, where the new "north loop" will begin heading toward your town -- and tell cyclists about what that loop trail will be like when it gets opened in the next year or so. Meantime, yes, we will get one of our RRVT Association board members to come talk to your club in November. And thanks for sounding off with that "On your left" as you were passing by us here. Your considerable bicycling expererience is showing!

July 25, 2006

I've been told that the RRVT has between 80,000 to 100,000 users per year. Is this correct? If so, how were the numbers derived?

Chuck Offenburger responds on July 29 for the Raccoon River Valley Trail Association board of directors: Hi, Ken. The numbers you have heard are accurate, as best we know. Another of our board members is Mike Wallace, director of Dallas County Conservation. Wallace reports that his department has surveyed riders over the years, asking how often they use the trail. Prior to this year, he said the trail was averaging 70,000 users per year. Two weeks ago, at the public meeting about expanding the trail with the new "north loop," Wallace said more recent surveys now show 100,000 trail users yearly on the RRVT. One thing to note is that the trail has much heavier traffic from Waukee to Panora than from Panora on north to Jefferson. So while the 100,000 figure seems good for, say the Adel-Redfield area, it's probably significantly less than that for Panora-Jefferson. But the new "north loop" and additional amenities north of you will help even those figures out over the whole trail in years to come. That 100,000 figure would also be consistent with figures I've seen reported for such trails as the Wabash Trace in southwest Iowa (about 60,000 per year) and the Cedar Valley Nature Trail between Waterloo and Cedar Rapids (about 75,000) per year. The connection of the RRVT to the Des Moines metro is a real plus for us. Finally, we're confident that we'll see RRVT usage quadruple, at least, in the next few years with the new loop and the many extra amenities that are going to be available. That would be consistent with the numbers on the Root River State Trail in southeast Minnesota. That's a lot of good news, and it is not hyperbole!

July 6, 2006

I recently rode about 30 miles of the Raccoon River Valley Trail. I got on somewhere just out of Waukee. Riding along the highway is never much fun, but it was a short distance. I finished up and met my ride in Panora. After I got away from the highway, it was a great ride. A couple years ago, I had ridden 15 miles or so south out of Jefferson. So, there's only a little bit of the trail I haven't ridden. The trail surface was excellent. Very pretty ride from Adel all the way to Panora. I didn't notice any mile markers or emergency locator numbers. That would be a nice addition to the trail even though it doesn't contribute to the aesthetics. I would recommend the ride to anyone.

Arlen Parrish, Cedar Falls, Iowa

June 16, 2006

Hi, my name is Rick Gienau and I live in Redfield, two blocks from the Raccoon River Valley Trail and ride it often. I have a few suggestions for improving the trail. First off I would like to let you know I ride a Bike E recumbent. 1) I would like to see all the counties get rid of the center pole at the intersections with the gravel roads. Riding a recumbent, I have to take my focus away from checking on cross traffic to focusing on just making it through the two poles. Then as I fight to get through the gravel to the other side, I have to try and make it between two of the poles. Yes, I understand the poles are there to keep cars and trucks off the trail, but I do not believe we have that big of a problem with vehicles on the trail. 2) About those gravel crossings: I have ridden the Munger trail in northern Minnesota, and at the gravel roads they have concreted the crossing. They have approximately five feet of concrete on each side of the path. That way when the grader comes along they don't pile up the gravel on the path. I would love to see this improvement take place on our trail, and I feel it would make it one of the best in the nation. 3) Also about the crossings, I would like to see the vegetation cut back so when we approach a intersection we can check cross traffic. I have no idea of the numbers injured at the trail intersections, but I do feel if it would make the trail a much safer place with the view unobstructed. I know they have the stop signs at the intersections, but let's be honest, I have never seen anyone stop at the intersection unless the conservation officer is checking tags there or traffic is a problem. I would love to chat with you all sometime. I too have ridden the Root River State Trail in southeast Minnesota, and find it a great trail just like the trail I mentioned earlier -- the Munger trail. I recommend the section from Carlton to Duluth with the side trip in to Jay Cooke State Park. The view is spectacular coming down in to Duluth. Thank you for listening to my suggestions, and I hope we can work with our conservation boards to help implement these ideas.

Rick Gienau, Redfield, Iowa

May 20, 2006

If the Raccoon River Valley Trail is that good, I may have to start biking. Congratulations on making your project come together.

Gary Thompson, Ames, Iowa

May 19, 2006

Thank you very much for discussing the prairie remnants along the Raccoon River Valley Trail on your Internet site, and explaining their history. While I enjoyed the Des Moines Register's recent article about the trail, I was just a little concerned when I saw that it didn't mention the prairie remnants, although it mentioned the "tunnels of trees." I visit trails specifically to see and enjoy the prairie remnants, and know others who do the same. Unfortunately, many prairie remnants on many recreational trails are in constant jeopardy of being eliminated by encroaching trees and brush. I appreciate the hard work of the county conservation boards and volunteers who work to make sure that the prairie remnants on legally-protected trails will also be protected from woody invasion. And I greatly appreciate public education like yours, that helps people appreciate those prairies. Thanks again!

May 15, 2006

Thanks for everyone's efforts in preserving and promoting the Raccoon River Valley Trail. The Internet site is great and very informative. I am not a biker, but I would like to help attract bikers to downtown Panora by offering items they are interested in shopping for or perhaps events they may want to participate in. I own my store "Ahoy Toys" and have a great interest in the growth of tourism in our town. We sell specialty toys, collegiate merchandise, nostalgic signs, gently-used toys and some collectibles. Do you or some of your readers have merchandise suggestions, vendors or other shop owner contacts that can familiarize me with the types of items I should be considering adding to my inventory, and suggest what store hours would benefit bikers the most? Also, has anyone considered the vacant building on the corner of First & Main in Panora for a community theater location or possibly a tourist information center? And, just for the record you DON'T have to buy anything in my store to use the restroom!

Teresa Harper, Ahoy Toys, Panora, Iowa

Kevin Wilbeck responds on May 17 for the Raccoon River Valley Trail Association board of directors: Thank you for the kind words and your enthusiasm. I will leave suggestions about products and hours to others. However, I think that having and promoting the ability to ship your customers' purchases back to their homes will not only relieve them of the burden of carrying the items on their bicycles, but may encourage them to purchase more and/or bigger items. One of the best examples I have heard of such a practice was a store that gave the customers their receipts in small folders with the store's logo and contact information. When the item(s) were shipped, the store owner would then forward the tracking information to the customer. I would hate to think of anyone leaving your store empty handed just because they can't strap it to their bike! Also, thanks also for the heads-up on the building at First & Main. Can you give us any information on whom to contact about the property?

May 12, 2006

I'm glad to see an entity taking shape with a focus on tourism! We are on the verge of exploding into a full fledge "trail hub" in all four directions in central Iowa.

Scott Sumpter, BIKEIOWA.com

May 12, 2006

We read with interest in the Des Moines Register an article about an association you are forming to improve the bike trails/ tourism in Iowa. We live near Seven Oaks Recreation, between Boone and Ogden, south of U.S. Highway 30, and would be very interested in this effort. We are not exactly certain where you are thinking of locating this bike trail, but we have always thought that our area would be perfect for bike trails and tourism. The town of Moingona is right near us, and besides the Kate Shelley historic site, there are some beautiful areas near the Des Moines River. An old timer in our area said there used to be a bridge that crossed the Des Moines River at Ledges State Park and then the road followed the river up through Moingona. We think this area would have a lot of potential for a bike trail. We have biked in the Root River area in southeast Minnesota several times and have thoroughly enjoyed the biking and the small towns that are part of that area. We would look forward to hear more about your plans.

Jill and Terry Friend, Boone, Iowa

Chuck Offenburger responds on May 12 for the RRVT Association Board of Directors: Hi, Friends! The work of the RRVT Association is generally going to be focused on our current 56-mile trail, plus the 33-mile "north loop" coming in a couple of years. So we won't be directly involved in trail development in your area near Boone. However, we philosophically support the development of trails in appropriate areas across Iowa, and networking them, too. We are doing some checking to see if there are any plans, even long-range, for trail development along the Des Moines River in your area. Like you, I believe it is a spectacular area that would be a great trail location. The Des Moines River greenbelt is one of the prettiest along any river in the state, with the high bluffs, the forestation and the wide river. Like a lot of outdoor enthusiasts in Iowa, I dream of a day when I can get on my bicycle on the trails below Lake Red Rock, between Pella and Knoxville, and then ride all the way northwest through the capital city of Des Moines and on to Fort Dodge along the Des Moines River. Come to think of it, that would take me several days.

May 9, 2006

Hello! Will you ever have T-shirts? I bet if you put the call out to order bike jerseys, you could make a lot of money -- and put it back in the trail! Kids would love it!

Heidi Soliday, Des Moines

Chuck Offenburger responds on May 9 for the RRVT Association Board of Directors: Hi, Heidi, that's a great idea. Our general plans are to have an operating "RRVT Store" as part of our Internet site, and in that we will indeed offer T-shirts at least, perhaps jerseys and certainly ballcaps, water bottles and other accessories with the trail logo. We will have our designers throw some extra creativity into the shirts and jerseys, too. We will also have that merchandise available at popular stopping locations along the trail. We are glad to have you as an RRVT user.

In the Opinion section of the Des Moines Sunday Register, the editorial writers each week give "Roses & Thistles" for good things and not-so-good things happening around Iowa. They awarded the formation of our Raccoon River Valley Trail Association and our plans to enhance the trail experience a "rose." Below is the newspaper's mention of us.

May 7, 2006

"Blazing Trails: A rose to Chuck and Carla Offenburger and others who formed an association with the goal of transforming the Raccoon River Valley Trail into a tourist attraction comparable to the Root River Trail in Minnesota or the Katy Trail in Missouri. Iowa has for too long failed to capitalize on the potential of trails to draw tourists and revitalize communities."

The writers below are referring to writer Mike Kilen's story in the April 30, 2006, Des Moines Sunday Register Opinion section on the success of the Root River State Trail in southeast Minnesota, and how our Raccoon River Valley Trail Association is using that trail as a model for our projects here in west central Iowa.

May 2, 2006

Hello, staff at RRVTA. I just read more about your organization and your mission to create an atmosphere in Central Iowa for cyclists similar to that of the Root River State Trail network. My family and I have been journeying to the Root River area for years to cycle, sometimes staying for a weekend, other times staying for several days to enjoy this fantastic network of trails and towns. I hope your organization can eventually create a like experience here in Iowa, because it certainly works wonders in southeast Minnesota. Please mail or e-mail a couple of membership applications to me. I was going to purchase a trail pass anyway, so it makes sense to spend the extra $10 to help you out. I would like to offer a suggestion or two as well: (1) The resurfaced trail (in Dallas County) is great to ride on, and consequently it needs to be maintained more often. That is, frequently swept clear of numerous sticks and rocks that make riding any bike a hassle, especially a road bike. Also, those gravel road intersections (need to be checked, as) they can become loaded with so much loose sand and rock that you say a quick prayer as your bike fishtails through. (2) The collection of the trail fee by Dallas County
Conservation used to be done low-key. Now, it is pursued much more aggressively by a certain "officer" by the name of Frank, who has no qualms hassling people at checkpoints and trailhead parking lots about the daily fees. I would imagine that such an aggressive policy will only serve to turn away many riders that would like to enjoy a peaceful ride on the RRVT. Good luck on your efforts!

Bruce Clark, West Des Moines

May 1, 2006

This is terrific! I'm glad you put this site and association together. I'm mailing in my membership check today! I have been traveling up to Lanesboro every year for the past 10 years, and it has been amazing to watch the Root River trail and communities around it blossom. I can't even tell you how many times we've traveled down the Root River Trail and said to ourselves, "Why can't Iowa do this?"

Jason Darrah, Ames, Iowa