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RAGBRAI DAY 1 ROUTE
Orange City to Milford
MILEAGE
72.9
ELEVATION GAIN
1,541 feet
HIGHLIGHTS
This is one of the shortest, flattest RAGBRAIs on record. But don't be lulled by those superlatives: Day 1, Sunday, July 20, will be the second-longest ride of the week and also second in elevation gain. That's despite traversing the Northwest Iowa Plains, which is actually a collection of rolling hills.
Leaving oh-so-Dutch Orange City, the riders will pass through Granville, famous for its homemade pies. The breakfast town, it will feature Chris Cakes, RAGBRAI's most beloved pancake vendor. Next is Primghar, the O'Brien County seat that, legend has it, exists because only because it sits exactly in the center of the county. Among its fun offerings: a human slot machine.
The meeting town is Hartley, which proudly claims a role in the creation of one of the world's biggest pool table makers, Olhausen Billiards, founded in San Diego by the sons of the operator of the one-time Olhausen Pool Hall in Hartley.
More: Fun, but 'a lot of work': Hy-Vee, Pizza Ranch, Casey's dish on feeding the RAGBRAI masses
Next is May City, one of the smallest towns on the ride, with only about 40 residents but big plans: Local school boosters will be offering bacon-wrapped pork loin on a stick. That sounds like some fine swine!
Busy in the summer, the overnight town, Milford, is a commercial center for the Iowa Great Lakes region, a string of large, clear glacial remnant lakes. So, although it's Milford's first time as an overnight town, it's well prepared, with plenty of tourism-oriented businesses and amenities.
If you see or hear references to Boji, that's short for Lake Okoboji. Downtown Milford is just a few miles south of the west lobe of the lake, and Wahpeton — a town riders will pass on the way into Milford and which will serve as a pass-through town on Monday — is right on the lake's Millers Bay, with Gull Point State Park and a beach. Don't miss it.
FORECAST
The good news is that the Sunday outlook calls for moderate temperatures. The bad news is the reason: It'll be overcast and there's a chance of rain. Even in July, Iowa showers can bring a quick temperature drop. Be sure to tote a raincoat.
ENTERTAINMENT
The Schmidt Brothers, who've quickly become a RAGBRAI favorite, performing at the January Route Announcement Party at Waukee's Vibrant Music Hall, will be the headliners in Milford, bringing their eclectic mix of rock, pop and country starting at 9 p.m. They'll be preceded by Rock a la Cart, a Queen cover band, at 6:30 p.m.
LOOKING AHEAD
Monday's riders will make history, veering outside Iowa for the first time in RAGBRAI's history with an excursion into Minnesota on the way to the overnight town of Estherville.
This article originally appeared on Des Moines Register: RAGBRAI begins with ride from Orange City to Milford
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