Name: Stephen Schnitker (Omaha Bike Club Prez)

e-mail: SSchnitker@aol.com

Route Type: Multi-Day Tour

Starting Point: Des Moines, IA

Starting cross-streets: Ramada Inn, 1600 NW 114th St.

Destination Point: Omaha

Miles Estimated: 147

Difficulty (Approx.): 1 (easy) through 10 Raccoon River Valley trail-1, Hwy 44 - 5, (Hilly) , Hwy 191-2:

Misc. helpful tips: Cities along route (in order, from and to) included:

0 miles- Clive, a West side Des Moines suburb
Clive Greenbelt Trail leads to Raccoon River Valley Trail
5.8 miles- Waukee, a West side Des Moines suburb
15 miles- Adel, Converted Brewery on Path, Restored County Courthouse
25 miles- Redfield, Hanging Rock Park, Neat Brickyard ruins near trail
31.3 miles- Linden, Friendly Librarian, Dorothy Lamb
37 miles- Raccoon River Valley Trail connects to State Hwy 44
37.5 miles- Panora, Beehive, restored Hotel Panora
47.5 miles- Guthrie Center, New water park 2006
56.3 miles- Mississippi/Missouri Divide, 1440 ft. elevation
67.6 miles- Hamlin, Award winning Pork tenderloin at Darryl's-Plan for lunch!
77.8 miles- , Kimballton; Posthuset, Little Mermaid, Ship model in Lutheran Church
93.6 miles- Harlan, Court House Square
104 miles- Hwy 191, Portsmouth, Pretty little town
110.5 miles- Persia, Highest watertower
119.5 miles- Neola, Hoo-Doo Day Labor Day Weekend, Schnitker's Ancestral Home
124 miles- Underwood, UMBA Hall
129 miles- Weston , Roadside memorial
137 miles- Council Bluffs, Bike Path,Garden entrance to City, Wabash Trace
142 miles- Omaha, Get someone to drive you across the river
Roads, streets and paths used to complete this route (if possible note general
length ridden before each turn as well as direction of turn)

Hill Profile: Easy

Best Times: 6-9am, 6-9pm

Hill Work: None

Construction: None

Excess Traffic: Near Guthrie Center and Harlan Ave daily traffic is 3000 cars

Bad Roads: Trail is rough south of Loveland in spots.

No Shoulder: ?

Bike Lanes: None

Sights to See: Note the road names in Audubon County

Camping locations: City parks in the very small towns.

Lodging locations: Des Moines, Harlan, Omaha area

Shower locations: Unknown.

Drinking water locations: All towns Except Weston and Linden (Library Open 9-Noon for water).

Food concessions: Sit down except for Linden and Weston - No services

Bicycle type: Road bike

Last time taken: 6-20-05

How often taken: First time

Thoughts or comments: This has to be one of the best routes across western Iowa..I had a good time on this ride. I stopped in each of the city halls that were open, or in a bar if not, and asked 1)who is the mayor? 2) What one thing should I see before leaving town? This gave me a chance to talk to someone in every town, and broke up the ride nicely. I then wrote out a short note about the ride and left it for the town mayor.