69 sweaty uphill miles for day one

Temperatures for the morning's ride will start in the 60s but across northwest Iowa the projections are for the temps to shoot up into the high 80s, possibly even up to 90. So a sweltering day is in the offing.

Now, Okoboji looks like a great place to spend a week, but after the hot ride, (Sue best have lots of water ready in Boyden) a dip in the lake or a shower will be what's planned.

And it isn't just all traditional corn fields out this way. There's even modernist designed houses like this one overlooking West Lake Okoboji in Iowa. Min|Day architects of Omaha, Nebraska developed the plans..

Okoboji is also home to Iowa Lakeside Laboratory, a field station for Iowa's state universities. As a Regents Resource Center, Lakeside offers programs in lifelong learning for the people of northwest Iowa.

Although education is Lakeside's primary function, it also serves as a nature preserve and historic district. The north part of campus is being restored to prairie, while other areas remain wooded. The Lab has 12 structures on the National Register of Historic Places, including five stone classrooms built by the Civilian Conservation Corps. The grounds are open during daylight hours, and guests are welcome.

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IMAGE CREDITS: Route Map - RAGBRAI; Lakeside resort picture - Jensen Real Estate; Modern lakeside home - The Contemporist; Civilian Conservation Corps - National Park Services

First challenge of the trip ~ Floods in Rock Valley

We haven't even left for Iowa and know that the starting town of the ride had been hit with floods around June 17th.

Our campsite, we hear, may still remain under water.

Yet I am confident that Iowans are a resilient and tenacious lot. Moreover, as quoted in the Music Man Iowans "...will give you their shirts, and the back to go with them..." if adversity strikes. Other towns have already come to help with cleaning up flooded homes and low-lying venue sites.

Even less than two weeks after the floods Keloland News reported, on June 25th, that Rock Valley Will Still Host RAGBRAI. Rock Valley's mayor, Kevin Van Otterloo, said in a press release that "It’s hard to let go of something that we have worked for months to organize," and that the town looks forward to "...having the opportunity to showcase the community that we have seen rally together over the last week."

What and where and how large is Rock Valley? It is a city in Sioux County, Iowa, United States, along the Rock River. The population was 3,354 at the 2010 census.

That said, once again, we too are giving Iowa a Try.

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PIC CREDITS: Tim Hynds, Sioux City (Iowa) Journal

The RAGBRAI Travel Itinerary for 2014

Here's the route this year:<br>
Rock Valley, Okojobi, Emmetsburg, Forest City, Mason City, Waverly, Independence, Guttenburg