(Radio Iowa) – Thousands of cyclists on the Register’s Annual Bicycle Ride Across Iowa left Forest City very early this morning to hopefully complete the 70 mile trek to the next host city of Iowa Falls before the most intense heat of the day. Walt Weiland of Fresno, California, was relieving to make it to Forest City yesterday. “I love coming back to Iowa again and just connecting with all the folks from all over the world and it was a great challenge today, Weiland said, laughing. “It was 76 miles and I barely made it, but I’m quite happy to have done it.”

This isn’t a solo RAGBRAI trip for Weiland. “I’m with a group of friends and it’s kind of a party all across Iowa, basically,” Weiland said. “So I’m enjoying the heck out of it.” Weiland added that Iowa’s humidity “is bad,” but he’s used to higher temperatures of 100 to 110 degrees back home in Fresno.

The RAGBRAI route officially opens at 6 a.m. every day. The National Weather Service has issued a heat advisory, starting at noon today that includes the route to Iowa Falls.