RAGBRAI 2024 Day 3, Atlantic to Winterset

If this is not the type of terrain and distance that cyclists are used to, it might be a good idea to join the large crowds that set off early in the morning. This will help you beat the heat and give you enough time to reach the overnight stop of Winterset.

This is what we’re going to do.

Tuesday’s RAGBRAI route

Atlantic Ocean to Winterset.

What to know

‘A War Zone’: Greenfield, Iowa Resident Describes How He Survived a Tornado

Greenfield resident Anna Larson talks about surviving the tornado that hit the small Iowa town Tuesday night.

It’s a long route with lots of towns — seven between Atlantic and Winterset — to stop at along the way. A few highlights:

• Cumberland’s tap has a selfie-worthy name: Middle of Nowhere. Whether it’s open or not — hours are a bit erratic — the city is planning a big party.
• Massena has a strong sense of history, with well-preserved buildings from bygone eras contrasting with the towering turbines of a vast electricity-generating wind farm that stretches along the RAGBRAI route.
• Greenfield is the highlight of the day—and a perfect opportunity for RAGBRAIers to give back. It’s the gathering place, despite being hit by an EF4 tornado on May 21 that destroyed hundreds of homes and killed four people (plus a fifth outside nearby Corning). The picturesque downtown of the Adair County seat was relatively untouched, and survivors of the tornado’s fury will be on hand to share their stories with riders. In addition, a portion of the route, carefully cleared of nails, glass and other debris, will pass through the destruction zone, allowing riders to see firsthand what nature has done. Riders can show their appreciation by dropping any money they can spare into one of the donation bins to help with the ongoing rebuilding effort.
• It’s not really on the trail, but avid gravel riders who can spare the time might want to visit the Wallace Farm just northeast of Orient. It was the birthplace of Henry A. Wallace, who helped introduce hybrid corn seed to the masses and went on to serve as secretary of agriculture and vice president in his third term under President Franklin D. Roosevelt. Take a stroll through the vegetable garden and enjoy the beautiful prairie.
• Macksburg is home to the National Skillet Throw and — of course — lets riders try their hand at the age-old art, according to its Facebook page. Add in some locally-made fried pies and it’s a stop you can’t miss.
• Winterset is on the edge of metro Des Moines. Getting there will be a bit of a challenge, with a final climb up the long incline of Clark Tower Road. But the town square is packed with attractions, including a museum dedicated to the son of the original settlers, John Wayne. And it’s also the setting for the novel and film “The Bridges of Madison County.” More on that as we preview Day 4.