Tomorrow, the Register’s Annual Great Bicycle Ride Across Iowa goes through Tama County for the ninth time. Garwin and Clutier are getting their third visits. The 2012 route duplicates 2004 through nearly all the county, except instead of turning south at the Benton County line it will go east.
Video frame of RAGBRAI XIV riders on E29 at V18, July 24, 1986. North Tama teachers and the Clutier Lions Club had food stands at the corner.
Garwin, RAGBRAI XXXII, July 29, 2004. Look at the temperature! Taken with the “bad camera.”
In 2004, it rained all day. In 2008, Chelsea was weeks removed from flooding worse than 1993. This year, the county is in the midst of the worst drought since 1988 — and ironically, it’s supposed to rain.
Tribal dance at the Tama County Courthouse, RAGBRAI XXXVI, July 23, 2008. Tama-Toledo was an overnight stop that year.
Clutier is a little odd stop on the route, because instead of going through, it requires riding in and then riding out on the same road. The town reportedly is going to have five thousand kolaches, so I assure riders: It will be worth it. (It’s also the only town in 34½ miles of travel, so there’s that.)