RAGBRAI DAY 2 ROUTE
Milford to Estherville
MILEAGE
42.2
ELEVATION GAIN
1,090
HIGHLIGHTS
Monday, July 21, will long be remembered in the annals of RAGBRAI. It’s the day when the Register’s Annual Great Bicycle Ride Across Iowa adds an unprecedented asterisk: *and Minnesota.
For 15 miles, the ride, leaving Iowa for the first time in its 52 years, will venture into the Land of 10,000 (actually more like 14,000) Lakes. But first, there will be the pass-through town of Wahpeton. The lovely resort on the shores of West Lake Okoboji, home to Gull Point State Park, is making its RAGBRAI debut. Iowa doesn’t have as many lakes as Minnesota, but West O is one of its very finest.
Venturing north from there, RAGBRAI will cross the Minnesota line, then turn east to arrive at Jackson County, Minnesota’s Brown Park. an isthmus between Pearl and Loon lakes, it will serve as a virtual meeting town, with a collection of vendors that includes Minnesota eateries making their RAGBRAI debut, and the usual assortment of bike shop tents.
There also will be entertainment and two unique features: a tire dip site on Pearl Lake and a booth handing out commemorative coins for registered riders who want a keepsake of their participation in the historic moment. And the “Welcome to Minnesota” sign that’s usually at the state line has been relocated to the park for convenient (and safer) selfies.
Departing Brown Park, riders will head back into Iowa. With such a brief ride — the second shortest of the week after Sunday’s second longest, there’s only one stop before the overnight town of Estherville. It’s another first-timer, Superior. It’s home to just 130 people, but RAGBRAI veterans know that little towns can be big fun.
The comparatively cosmopolitan overnight town of Estherville will be offering as many experiences as it can dream up, including everything from a beer garden and agriculture show to IV therapy and walk-in flash tattoos. And don’t miss Estherville’s strangest claim to fame: On a May night in 1879, a nearly 750-pound meteorite plunged past the town, exploding with a window-shattering bang into three pieces that landed about 3 miles to the north. There’s a sculptural depiction of the big rock and a piece of the actual space stone at the Estherville Meteorite Center at 816 Central Ave.
TONIGHT’S ENTERTAINMENT
Punching above its weight, Estherville will offer performances by not one but two RAGBRAI faves: Des Moines’ Bad Friends at 5:30 p.m. followed by the legendary Pork Tornadoes at 9 p.m., without whom no RAGBRAI is complete.
FORECAST
Moderate temperatures in the low 80s and a rain chance continue Monday. Bring a raincoat.
LOOKING AHEAD
The longest ride of the week will take RAGBRAIers to Forest City, the original home of Winnebago RVs, on Tuesday.
This article originally appeared on Des Moines Register: RAGBRAI Day 2: Ride prepares to cross the line in Minnesota
Reporting by From staff reports / Des Moines Register
USA TODAY Network via Reuters Connect
