The day begins at Veteran's Memorial Hall and Soldiers/Sailors Park in Waterloo.
The stage concludes at Greene Square Park, near the American Discovery Trail mural, in Cedar Rapids.
NOTE: tomorrow's stage starts at Mt Trashmore, not here!
It's a perfect fall Saturday in Iowa and we have a great day ahead. But first, we start with a kick-off event in Waterloo at the Veterans Memorial Hall.
Event - Waterloo - Veterans Memorial Hall. 8am. A morning send-off with coffee, rolls, and snacks for the trail, plus a few words... and a group photo, of course!
Then, the route is long, but simple: get onto the Cedar Valley Nature Trail and pedal, pedal, pedal. Occasionally, the Cedar River winds back within view; at many other points, the trail slices through broad fields. Just when you might start feeling the burn, a town comes along offering a good reason to catch your breath. The first such opportunity arises just outside of Gilbertville.
Refreshment Stop - Gilbertville Depot - Stop by between 10am and 2pm for orange juice, fruit, and popcorn!
Thanks to the Friends of Gilbertville Depot for maintaining a great stop for the many foot and wheel travelers along the trail! The next leg pushes southward to La Porte City, and if you make a detour to grab an ice cream at Tootsie's, I can't blame you.
Refreshement Stop - McFarlane Park Trailhead (two miles east of La Porte City on the Cedar Valley Nature Trail).
The trail curves eastward for a bit, leading through Brandon and the biggest frying pan in Iowa, before resuming the southward progression. After rolling through Urbana, and its trailside coffee shop, we'll arrive in Center Point for another planned stop.
Refreshment Stop - Center Point Historical Society - The Historical Society Museum/Depot and Log Cabin will be open from 10pm to 2pm for visiting, as well as for water and bathrooms.
Event - Cedar Lake - ConnectCR/Sag Wagon event @ Sag Wagon - 827 Shaver Rd NE - 1:30 pm to 3:15 pm. Welcome event/gathering spot with refreshments. We encourage people to take a loop around Cedar Lake, if they like. ConnectCR will have a display board with "what's yet to come for Cedar Lake."
Once again, it's a great boon to receive such a warm welcome along the trail! Reenergized, we'll push hard to the finish.
Event - Greene Square - "Liberty Welcome" event - 4:00 to 5:00 pm. This event will feature a ceremonial baton handoff and activation stations throughout the park, local business participation, public art, and community engagement celebrating Life, Liberty, and the Pursuit of Happiness.
Support: A support vehicle will be available for assistance throughout the day.
Take Heed: TBD