dmrdc5-6dqkmj4lf3b52auh4g7_originalThe RAGBRAI route pickers once again stumped the masses this year, as just five towns won this year’s Guess the Route Contest.

Several hundred entries were received in the 12th annual Guess the Route Contest to pick the RAGBRAI XLII towns, but five of eight towns were the best that the contestants could figure out.  Five people picked five towns correctly who were then entered in a drawing to decide who won first, second and third place.

Here are this year’s winners:

Kandace Kelly (Tekamah, Nebraska) – 1st Place
James Buchholz (Cedar Falls, Iowa) – 2nd Place
Sue Fletcher (Cedar Falls, Iowa) – 3rd Place

Kandace Kelly of Tekamah, Nebraska was the big winner and will receive a gift certificate for $100 that can be used for RAGBRAI Merchandise.  “You just made my day!” said an excited Kelly. She was curious about the RAGBRAI logo correlation to the announced route and asked, “For curiosities sake, could you fill me in on how each city tied into the emblem? Rock Valley= manufacturing= screws/bolts. Waverly= the Knights= the shield.  The three stars one for Meredith Wilson (the music man)/Mason City. The rest I tried to make a path between?”  I think she cracked our code!

Kandace picked correctly on Rock Valley, Okoboji, Mason City, Waverly and Independence.  Guttenberg was the town that was select by most contestants this year.

James Buchholz of Cedar Falls took second place and wins a certificate worth $80 of merchandise, and Sue Fletcher also from Cedar Falls, Iowa placed third and will receive a certificate worth $60 of merchandise.  Sue claimed “The contest was a fun way to dream about RAGBRAI 2014 while passing the snowy winter days. I can’t wait for RAGBRAI 2014!” 

How do this year’s results compare with previous contests?

2003 – Winner guessed 7 towns
2004 – Winner guessed 7 towns
2005 – Winners guessed 5 towns
2006 – Winners guessed 3 towns (wow, we stumped you!)
2007 – Winner guessed 5 towns
2008 – Winner guessed 6 towns
2009 – Winner guessed 8 towns (perfect!)
2010 – Winner guessed 6 towns
2011 – Winner guessed 6 towns
2012 – Winner guessed 5 towns
2013 – Winner guessed 6 towns

We hope you enjoy the ride!

via RAGBRAI http://ift.tt/1bMeg8V