Published: July 21, 2009 09:25 am      

RAGBRAI Day 2: A hilly ride complete with a scary tour

GREENFIELD — Anyone thinking Iowa was flat simply needed to do Monday’s 72-mile route of RAGBRAI (Register’s Annual Great Bicycle Ride Across Iowa).

The route included hill after hill during many parts, totaling more than 5,000 miles of climb ... that’s nearly a mile.

I left Red Oak Monday morning for a short nine-mile pedal to Stanton, a community proud of its Swedish heritage. Stanton, by the way, is the birthplace of Virginia Christine, who played Mrs. Olsen on the Folgers commercials when I was a kid. In fact, the town's water tower is shaped like a coffee pot.

From there is was about 10 miles to Villisca, which I was really excited about. Why, you ask? Villisca is home to the famous “Axe Murder House” where in 1912, eight people in a house were brutally murdered. I’ve watched a wonderful documentary on the unsolved crime and always wanted to see the house, and Monday I got the chance.

Two other people were there while I was, taking pictures of the house, but neither would go in as it’s said to be haunted. I decided to take the tour and it was amazing. I asked the tour guide if she thinks it’s haunted and she said after several very unusual things that happened there, she won't even go into the house by herself anymore. She told me some of the things and it does sound pretty strange. I also saw a picture taken by a guest a while back and it does look like a small child looking out the window, although nobody was in the house at the time.

They do let people reserve the place and spend the night. I think that sounds like a cool vacation.

Also during the trip to Villisca I ran into some old friends from Clinton, Tom Jordan (who spotted me as I rode by him), Eric Peters and Doug Rempfer. We spent much of the ride talking Clinton High sports, which was a lot of fun.

From there it was a short trek to Nodaway, which really isn’t a town, and then another 13 miles to Corning (birthplace of Johnny Carson, although I didn’t stop at the house). During the trip to Corning is where we encountered not only more hills, but some head wind. Not a nice combination.

After a nice stop in Corning there were trips to Prescott (which I never saw, but allegedly exists), Williamson and Fontanelle. Many people stopped for refreshments in Fontanelle since from there it was a mere six miles to our end town, Greenfield. From Williamson on we battled rain on and off, but nothing too serious. Just enough for me to put on my jacket (so I didn’t have to purchase an infamous rain poncho like last year).

Well, tomorrow we head to Indianola. It’s a longer trip than today’s but less hilly, so that’s good. I’ll check in then.