Clive Hotel and Suites Des Moines

Day 15<br>10/22/2009<br>Witchita, Kansas to Des Moines, Iowa<br>Huh, yeah, reality is coming back slow but sure and that should just about say it all. It was insanely cold this morning, 40 degrees. Ok, so a week ago I was sweating bullets in the 90 degree weather on the first full day of vacation that we did not have any rain, and now 40 degrees and rain with predictions of heavy wet snow and I 70 is closed to the west ...

... Creek shopping centre on the other side of Des Moines.<br><br>This was the first trip in the car without the help of a local so we were all a little worried, especially with my less than 24 hours driving experience and all. Thankfully the trip was mostly interstates so it was fairly easy though I did sit on the edge of the road (Mark copped the full brunt of rumble strips a few times) and I was a little on edge when I saw the fire department racing up behind and past me and then ...

... I were moving to a motel while Alicia had to pack for her honeymoon in Madrid. Nate arrived home around midday so he, Alicia, Nate's best mate Chris (who had come up from Indiana) and myself went down to the Indianola Country Club to set a couple of things up for the reception. An hours hard work and the boys headed back while Alicia took me on the grand Indianola tour to get my bearings. I saw Simpson College where Alicia studied as well as Smith Chapel (where Alicia and Nate were to ...

... city among a farm area. Ain't no terrorists coming here. Unless they have found a new use for corn. Anyway, we head inside and subtly join the tour that had already begun; Alicia had a nice little shuffle going and we kinda followed. The inside of the building was beautiful with many colours and materials as well as an elegance missing from many modern buildings and, well, any building from Perth really. The tour itself was very interesting though the information escapes me ...

So we left Chicago and was stuck in traffic for a little while longer and then finally started heading west. We made it about 100 miles outside of Des Moines before we stopped to sleep. We found some random campground right off of the interstate and slept there. I have never seen a place with as much dew as that place. One good thing was it was so dark and the sky was clear, so we could see alot of stars. And they were so bright! Once we woke up, we ran for the first time in a while. It was ...

... attached is a museum and the opportunity to take a tour through the place John Wayne wore diapers. The garden was full of Red, Blue and White flowers, it was very patriotic.<br><br> Just a quick stop off before we head to Grandmas house for a few days! So far enjoying the corn state. We hope you are all well. Love and Peace to you all, the corn(y), Bek and Jesse Train<br>

... honey."<br><br>I smile and look at a few more, she really has an amazing collection. These things could be GOLD on Ebay. Too bad I don't have enough room in the truck to start my Barbie selling business. I look around at some other stuff and decide to buy a real Air Force shirt. It's got buttons and could be warm enough to be a jacket. I will need a jacket. It's already cold in Kansas, it's only going to get colder on the way north.<br><br>Everyone is STILL ...

... Mom picked us up (thanks Mom!) and took us home. I went and got the kitties from boarding, cuz I was missing them. We're now vegetating away the evening, as I deal with my jet lag and the kitties re-adjust to home. A lovely trip. I'd do it again in a heartbeat.

What's not to like about a trip to scenic Maine and colorful Nova Scotia. Of course, other than the 6:00 AM flight out of Des Moines to Portland Maine! Not to fear, it was painless and after securing our rental car, provided an entire day to reach our first destination of Bar Harbor Maine. With only 10 days to see and savor each location on our agenda, we hit the road!<br>

... without question, sitting on a hill, flags flying. Also garish inside - just too too-too. (Sorry Des Moinians, like I said, we were in a bad mood when we arrived.) From Des Moines we headed to Lincoln, Nebraska. Facts: Iowa was the TWENTY-NINTH state. Date: December 28, 1846 State Nickname: Hawkeye State Key Words: Farm, Military, Garish, Insurance, Settlers, Territory Fort Des Moines (De-MOYN) began as a military garrison on the Raccoon ...