RAGBRAI® in Allamakee County
A very small sampling of what's to come in late July ... Approximately three dozen riders associated with the RAGBRAI® organization (a small sampling of which are pictured above coming down the hill of West Main Street in Waukon) made their way into Waukon Friday afternoon, June 9 as part of the RAGBRAI Pre-Ride route inspection that took place this past week across the state along the route RAGBRAI XLV will be traveling July 23-29. Along with inspecting the route, the riders were also treated to a small sampling of the hospitality and amenities that will be available to riders as they travel Allamakee County Friday, July 28 through Saturday, July 29, making their way from Postville to Waukon for the Friday overnight stop before heading through Waterville and Harpers Ferry to this year's official ride ending destination in Lansing. In her blog about the pre-ride inspection event (available at www.ragbrai.com), RAGBRAI marketing and media manager Andrea Parrott described the final day route of 44.9 miles and 3,200 feet of climb through the hills and valleys of Allamakee County as "a lovely but challenging ride," further describing the final day's route as "perhaps the most beautiful ride ever on RAGBRAI." Further blog posts and photo galleries of the RAGBRAI Pre-Ride through Allamakee County and along this year's route can also be found at www.ragbrai.com. Standard photo by Joe Moses.
Waukon RAGBRAI seeking volunteers to host riders in homes or yards overnight
The Waukon RAGBRAI Housing Committee is seeking area individuals who are willing to open up their homes, yards or driveways to riders or support crews for RAGBRAI's overnight visit to Waukon July 28 of this year. Those interested in providing such hospitality for that July 28 overnight stay are invited to fill out the form available at www.ragbraiwaukon.com under the "Get Involved" tab at the top of that home page and then under the "Housing" link on that drop down menu. A click on the PDF or "Want to Become A Host?" link will take interested individuals to the form they can fill out with their available selection of hosting options. The completed form can then be saved and emailed to ragbraihousingwaukon2017@gmail.com or printed and dropped off at Main Feature Theater on Main Street in Waukon daily during business hours of 4 p.m.-8 p.m. Those with further questions can also send them to that ragbraihousingwaukon2017@gmail.com email address.
Waukon RAGBRAI honoring the community’s best with “Hometown Heroes,” “Waukon Proud” decor
Local residents asked to submit photos, information to show their pride; Game boards also sought
The Waukon RAGBRAI Committee is asking local residents to share their pride in an effort to decorate the Waukon community for the anticipated arrival of RAGBRAI in just a little over a month, July 28. Two separate pride and recognition efforts - Hometown Heroes and Waukon Proud - are being pursued for the same purpose, to showcase the best of what the Waukon community has produced and the pride its residents has in those individuals.
Hometown Heroes will feature recognition of current and past military service men and women who come from the Waukon area. Waukon Proud will feature recognition of Waukon natives who have made significant contributions or reached high achievement levels in their career field or other area of expertise on a statewide, national or global scale.
In either case, local residents are being asked to submit either a 4”x6” or 5”x7” photo of the individual they wish to have recognized, along with a summary of three to four sentences describing the accomplishments of the individual being honored. Those submissions can be made to the Waukon Chamber of Commerce office either in person, at 101 West Main Street in Waukon, or by email, at waukoncc@mchsi.com.
Each submitted photo and write-up will be pasted on a game board (see photo example at left) to coincide with the overall theme of the RAGBRAI celebration in Waukon. Anyone who has game boards of any kind (for example, Monopoly, Sorry, Candyland, etc.) they no longer wish to keep is also asked to drop them off at the Waukon Chamber of Commerce office for use in this and other decorating purposes.
Waukon RAGBRAI invites everyone to join the growing list of volunteers needed for July 28 community event
Waukon RAGBRAI officials are estimating that it will take more than 500 volunteers to make Waukon's RAGBRAI experience a success when more than 15,000 bicycle riders and support staff visit the community as part of the annual ride July 28. Local residents and others who have an interest are encouraged to be a part of all the action by volunteering for any part of the event July 27-29.
Volunteers can choose the times they want to help and the area they want to help in. All ages of volunteers are welcome. Typical shifts are three hours in length and signing up for multiple shifts is certainly acceptable. All volunteers receive a free t-shirt if they sign up by July 11.
Those who may be a little shy about volunteering or just curious to know if someone they know is also volunteering can view an updated list of volunteers who have already committed to be an ambassador for RAGBRAI Waukon in whatever way they see fit. That list of current volunteers can be found by clicking on the link located at the bottom of the page at www.ragbraiwaukon.com/volunteers. Those who don't see a neighbor, friend or acquaintance on the list are invited to encourage them to volunteer together.
While at that website location, click either on the link to fill out and submit the volunteer form online or the link to open a PDF to print off, fill out and submit a form to either the NICC Waukon Center, 1220 Third Avenue NW, Waukon, IA 52172 or Farmers & Merchants Savings Bank, 201 West Main Street, P.O. Box 9, Waukon, IA 52172. Couples or friends who would like to work together should fill out one form with both names on the same form. Anyone who has any physical limitations should also note that on the volunteer form. To have any questions answered about volunteering for the RAGBRAI Waukon event, email waukonragbraivolunteers@gmail.com.
Harpers Ferry releases its RAGBRAI theme and logo
With the anticipation of RAGBRAI venturing through Harpers Ferry Saturday, July 29, and RAGBRAI organizers granting bicyclists the choice to take their first official tire dip in the Mississippi River at the Allamakee County Conservation site on the banks of Harpers Slough at Harpers Ferry or at the ride's official final stop in Lansing, Harpers Ferry RAGBRAI Committee members have designed and released their community's official theme and logo: "WE'RE NOT BLUFFN' DOUBLE DIP MISSISIP" (see image at right). T-shirts with the logo will be provided for volunteers involved with the RAGBRAI event and will also be for sale.
This is the first time in the 45-year history of RAGBRAI that the ride has ventured through Harpers Ferry and also offered a last-day optional tire-dipping opportunity. The committees in Harpers Ferry have been busy planning for entertainment, hospitality, food and beverage to serve the many riders who will be visiting July 29. The community's local non-profit organizations are coming together to offer a fish fry, along with a beer garden and various games and entertainment that will be held at or near the fire station in Harpers Ferry. Local businesses are also making special plans to welcome the visitors and enhance their visit to Harpers Ferry.
Event organizers in Harpers Ferry say that many volunteers will be needed leading up to the ride and especially Friday, July 28 and Saturday, July 29. Anyone who can’t make it those two days but would still like to help can volunteer to help with making signs, making pies, sprucing up the town, making decorations, etc. Call Harpers Ferry City Hall at 563-586-2777 to be placed on the volunteer list.
