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Gravel Promenade July 31st 8am

 Post #16: Well I have finalized the route, and part of me doing routes is I do not do recons.  Why?  Well it is half the adventure of finding a random county bridge removed or a road closed.  Notice the route starts and stops at different places.  The ride begins at Dinosaur Park in South Waterloo, and will end at Anton's Beer Garden, in downtown Waterloo.  You can park on the street around my house and be fine.  Arden, Clough, and Kingbard are completely fine streets to park side of the roads, pay attention to which side you can park on.  I will be departing my house at 7:30am for the park.  

    The Route is hyperlinked to the word Route.  It is strava based.  Expect 77 miles, with a good healthy dose of gravel and a few paved roads I have never been on.  Laporte City has a bakery that has donuts, so if we want to stop and get a donut, yes we can do that.  Otherwise, we will motor on to Jesup for the first stop at a Casey's or a Kwik Star (group choice)(Mile 45).  In between Laporte City and Jesup near the Cedar River is the area I have never been before, so it could be fun.  

    After Jesup we will motor on to Dunkerton via a few re-routes and cross a closed bridge.  Be prepared to dismount.  We hop on pavement for 2 miles to a Kwik Star south of town (approx. mile 63).  From there we will take another 1/2 mile of pavement to a gravel road and work our way in to town.  If there is a strong desire we can re-route to Dewar for a hole in the wall bar.  It use to be the type of bar with $1 and bras on the ceiling.  Not sure what it is like since the sale of the bar to a new owner.  

    After we cross Raymond Road we will work our final miles in to the eastern side of Waterloo.  It is mostly industrial park roads and bike paths.  No need to worry about the perceived Waterloo reputation, that is just a lot of Cedar Falls jealously.   

Expectations:

- Wolf pack ride: Slow riders up front and we go at that pace

- If you want to race it, well you have the map, you can FKT it on your time.

- Commit to doing the ride and be honest with yourself.  I would like to have this wrapped up from 8am to 4pm. That is an 8hr window.  I think with stops that is viable, if we travel at a 12mph pace.  

- Start is 8am, not 8:01, not 8:05, not 8:20am.  


Cheers and Godspeed

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