Pedalwheeling - The newsletter of the Quad Cities Bicycle Club. December, 1998

By Anonymous (Guess who the author is and it isn’t Dave Lefever.)

TIGER - 1998 The Report

  It was August 1 and another organized bicycle tour for many of us, but for many their first bicycle tour. The first day of August can be hot and it can rain, but the organizer has had 3 rides already this summer (12 days in fact), and not a drop of rain. It sure didn’t look like rain as we met at North Scott High School in Eldridge. In fact, it was beautiful. Our luggage was accepted and traded for packets including maps, cue sheets, a fanny bumper (name and home I.D), meal ticket, etc.

  At the 16 mile mark some riders stopped for a snack in Dixon. It was only a convenience store, but it had a picnic bench, which rider Thiara Smith said was perfect She mentioned the great scenery and the ideal weather. Other riders were starting to recognize the wind was favorable, and those more experienced said, "We’ve got a SW. wind which means tailwind all the way." Our organizer, Dave Lefever, has done it again.

   The corn fields, the farm buildings, the wild flowers all look more attractive when you have tailwind. It was a delight bicycling and talking as we proceeded. A short rest stop in Bennett at the ice cream and snack spot. and onto Tipton. Tipton was the breakfast stop of choice. Our group stopped at Bob & Marge’s, across from the Tipton Court House. Joe and Rosemary Jamison arrived shortly after us. even having left Eldridge a couple hours after we did. Had a delightful full breakfast, took some pictures and moved out.

  Had to stop in Cedar Bluff. even though it was off the route. To our pleasure, we found the historic Cedar Bluff General Store was being restored, but as a home, not a commercial establishment. The tailwind continued to move us into Morse, a town with no services, but
Dave had arranged with a resident to have a hose available for water. Filled up our water bottles and moved onto Solon. Most took the long route, which toured past beautiful Lake McBride.

  Solon is an interesting town. At one time it had more saloons that a town 5 times its size. The University of Iowa students, after spending time at Lake McBride, ended in Solon before returning to the campus. It got dubbed the name of Saloon, Iowa. Our group stopped at Joensy’s, the home of the world’s largest pork tenderloin sandwich. Some had a few beers, but most were waiting for the highlight of the day, which would be Sutliff.

   This historic Sutliff Bridge and its cafe and bar on the Cedar River is a picture impossible to describe. It is an attraction that has been kept alive by a local business family in Solon. The bridge’s fate was to be destroyed upon completion of the new bridge. This stone pillar, wood plank bridge is now used only for hikers and bicyclists. All TIGER riders enjoyed their stay in Sutliff.

   Only 8 miles now to Lisbon, and then to the Cornell Campus in Mt. Vernon. With the King’s Chapel and the mid 1800’s history, the college has been titled, "An Eastern College in a Corn Field." An excellent dinner, briefing and a good night’s sleep in the dormitory
concluded the day for most of us. However, several felt with there only being one more day, a few hours in town was appropriate. After all, an organized ride always offers more than just the memory of the bicycling.

   Day 2 started with a excellent breakfast in the College Union. The day appeared to extend the perfect weather to 14 days. A short stop at the Martelle General Store. and then a visit to the Riverside Cemetery outside Anamosa, east of Stone City. This was, of course, the burial site of Grant Wood. Stone City was where he did much of his work. We would be in Grant Wood country almost to Wyoming.

   Many had a second breakfast in Anamosa at the Opera House. Most took advantage to gawk at the spectacular Anamosa State Prison. This turn of the century architectural accomplishment, built with native limestone, is awesome. In addition, the hanging flower baskets and landscaping would be expected only in a city the size of San Francisco. Fortunately, it was only 1 block off the route.

   We passed the Grant Wood museum on the way to Wyoming. This 15 miles is as scenic as any area in Wisconsin. In fact, the hills are similar. After Anamosa we would have headwind the rest of the way, so while the hilly area was beautiful, we were going to pay for our day I tailwind.

   Most had lunch in Wyoming at the Trio Cafe. The favorite item were pancakes with blueberry syrup. Due to the head wind, it was difficult to do much sightseeing. Wyoming has a historic pharmacy that had been turned into a museum. The other interesting event is their Christmas decorations. They light the whole main street with strings of colored regular-size bulbs in December. Worth a return trip.

   Only 7 miles south was Oxford Junction, but the wind made it seem farther. Beverage stop at Schakey’s Place, and an opportunity to watch part of the Cubs baseball game. Then another hard 7 miles to Lost Nation. Most stopped for a snack at the Pub Club, and some were able to get excellent bread pudding. You don’t expect this in a tavern. The regulars at the bar kept the late arrivals advised as to when the early riders stopped.

   Calamus had a cafe in downtown, but most stopped at the convenience store on Rt. 30, the famous Lincoln Highway.

   It was head down and grind it out over the Wapsi River, over St. Ann’s Road, and onto the Long Grove Tap. With only 3 miles to go, it seemed it wasn’t too early to celebrate. We had a couple adult beverages, and regained our strength for the final stretch.

   Another nice touch was the TIGER finale of a meal of your choice at Slagle’s in Eldridge. Again a chance to discuss the day’s events with the other riders before saying good-bye.

   As the TIGER acronym states, we "Toured Iowa’s Greater Eastern Region", and will have memories to last through the winter months.