January 1, 2006 -- Events and opportunities are scheduled from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. this Saturday as part of the second annual Fall Festival on the Raccoon River Valley Trail in west central Iowa. People are welcome to walk, bike or drive to each of these locations. Trail permits, which are normally required for users of the RRVT, are waived for the day. 

The line-up:

ALONG THE TRAIL IN DALLAS COUNTY

A “Poker Ride,” with bicycle riders picking up a playing card at each of seven stops on the trail in Waukee, Ortonville, Adel, Redfield and Linden. 

Cyclists can start at any of the check-in points on the trail in Dallas County, but the turn-in place for their poker hands will be at the “1015 Riverside” events center in Kinnick-Feller Park in Adel. 

A $10 entry fee gets each cyclist a RRVT T-shirt as well as a chance to win several hundred dollars worth of prizes contributed by area businesses, which will be awarded for the best poker hands – and the worst one, too.  

Food and refreshments will be in Kinnick-Feller Park, and in Linden, there will be gourmet coffee from the Highland Elk Coffee House & Bistro, of Perry.

ALONG THE TRAIL IN GUTHRIE COUNTY

In Panora, a “Trick-or-Treat Trail Trek” for dogs will start at 10 a.m. at the RRVT trailhead adjacent to PJ’s Drive-In Restaurant, with dogs and owners walking as far south on the trail as they desire. Halloween costumes for the dogs and owners are encouraged, and at 12 noon, there will be a contest for best costumes and best dog tricks. The cost, to help defray the cost of prizes and treats, is “50 cents per paw.” Also in Panora, a three-piece band “37th Street” will perform at PJ’s. 

In Yale, a “bike stop” near the new restrooms at the trailhead, with apple cider and cookies, a display on the history of the Yale hotel that’s under renovation, a booth to purchase RRVT logo apparel and 2008 memberships in the RRVT Association.

ALONG THE TRAIL IN GREENE COUNTY

Between Herndon and Cooper, a quarter-mile east of the RRVT’s crossing of 320th Street: Open house at “Two Barn Farm,” where owners Rich and Reagan Osborne and their son Mason will show their progress on converting a 3-story, 70-year-old corn crib into their home.

Trailside in Cooper, homemade pie, coffee and drinks for sale by the Committee for a Super Cooper.  Coon Rapids Enterprise editor and publisher Charlie Nixon will be playing guitar and singing. And see the new “Garrity’s Garage,” which will eventually have vending machines for trail users, being developed by Linda and Rod Eighmy.

At Winkleman Switch, located midway between Cooper and Jefferson, a “volkswalk” at 10:30 a.m., and possibly again about 12:30 p.m., led by Don and Jean Van Gilder, of Jefferson, who will tell stories during the leisurely walk about the railroad and trail history.  

At the RRVT’s north trailhead at the Jefferson Depot, free tram rides on the trail to Winkleman Switch and back – leaving every hour approximately – especially for people who are not able to ride bikes or walk on the trail but would still like to see it. Also, a display of the new RRVT signs going up soon on the trail.  And Kevin Wilbeck, of Rippey, will display and chat about his whimsical drawings on what might be done to turn old agricultural buildings along the trail into new attractions. Just north across Lincolnway Street from the depot, there will be an open house to show the renovation progress at a former railroad hotel owned by Nancy and Jim Teusch, of Jefferson, who are redeveloping it to operate again as a small inn. And there will also be an open house at the new Raccoon River Wheelsports, hosted by owners Rande and Debbie Roberts, of Jefferson, also located north across Lincolnway from the depot, then just east of the trail.

FOR EVEN LATER UPDATES

Check this Internet site again, or telephone RRVT Association officers Carla and Chuck Offenburger at (515) 386-5488.

Article Published: 01-01-2006