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Out in Greene County, Iowa
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 Perfect autumn weather forecasted on Saturday for the Raccoon River Valley Trail Fall Festival
By CHUCK OFFENBURGER
October 2, 2008
COOPER, IOWAIf you haven't been out on a recreational trail all season long, this Saturday could be just right for you to experience one, with nearly perfect autumn weather in the forecast.
And on our Raccoon River Valley Trail here in west central Iowa, we are hosting our third annual RRVT Fall Festival on Saturday.
The 56-mile hard-surfaced trail runs from Jefferson, on the north, to the Des Moines metro area on the southeast. And on Saturday, there will be special fall festival activities happening in a lot of our trail towns.
You can learn more about the Raccoon River Valley Trail by clicking here.
Meanwhile, here is the latest line-up of RRVT Fall Festival events for this Saturday, October 4:
-- Redfield American Legion Hall serves breakfast from 6:30 to 8:30 a.m. And those showing their 2008 trail pass will get a free breakfast, compliments of the RRVT Association (with a grant from the tourism group Discover Dallas County, Inc.). The menu includes pancakes, eggs however you like them, biscuits & gravy, potatoes & gravy, plain potatoes, toast, bacon, sausage patties, coffee and milk.
-- In Linden, the Shiloh Bible Church youth group is planning a bake sale, raising funds for a mission trip to Argentina. They are also planning a little guitar music to entertain you.
-- In Panora, the “Trick-or-Treat Trail Trek” for dogs. This was hilarious when it was held for the first time last fall, with 15 dogs competing, 11 of them (and several of their owners) in costumes. The actual dog trek is scheduled from 10 a.m. to 12 noon, starting at the trailhead in Panora that is adjacent to P.J.’s Drive-In Restaurant in that community; the judging of dog costumes and tricks is at 12 noon. The admission cost is “50 cents per paw,” with no charge to the humans accompanying any dog, or for those who want to check out this pet spectacle on their bikes.
-- Also at P.J.’s in Panora, lunch and ice cream are for sale, there will be the three-piece band “Star Dusters” performing. And RRVT apparel, including several new items, will be for sale at the Sew Inspirational booth outside P.J.'s.
-- In Yale, it’s the all-city garage sale day. About five miles east of Yale is a “Pumpkinpalooza” from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. There are crafts from area artists, a petting zoo, homemade pies and baked goods, gourds and ornamental corn. Signs will be posted from Yale, and most of the way there is on pavement. More information: (641) 439-2435.
-- In Greene County, there will be free tram rides for the public on the trail, running from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m., with hourly departures from the Jefferson Depot trailhead. All are welcome, but the tram rides are especially offered for those who cannot normally see much of the trail because of an inability to walk or ride a bicycle very far. The open-air tram will travel from Jefferson four miles south to Winkleman Switch and back. Departures from Winkleman Switch will be on the half-hour, beginning at 10:30 a.m. There is parking for vehicles at both trailheads.
-- “Burgers & Brats at the Bridge” will be grilled and served (for a small charge) at the North Raccoon River trestle bridge. Serving begins at 11 a.m. and will probably continue until 2 p.m.
-- In Jefferson, The Old Lincolnway Hotel, across the street from the depot at the trailhead, will be open from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. so people can see its accommodations. And the bicycle shop Raccoon River Wheelsports, celebrating its first anniversary, will be open from 9 a.m. to 12 noon, also across the street from the depot.
Questions about the Fall Festival can be directed to Carla & Chuck Offenburger in Cooper at (515) 386-5488 or Bob German in Dallas Center at (515) 993-2004.
You can write the columnist at chuck@Offenburger.com. 
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