Day 4 Sioux City, IA to Iowa City, IA
Trip Start
May 04, 2008
1
4
18
Trip End
Jun 08, 2008
Coralville,
Iowa,
United States
Friday, May 9, 2008
Total Time In Car: 37 Hours
States: Idaho, Montana, Wyoming, South Dakota, Iowa
On iPod: Didn't turn in on all day
Tourist Activities: Johnny Carson's Birthplace, John Wayne's Birthplace, Roseman Bridge (aka Bridges of Madison County), Amana Colonies
Johnny Carson Slept Here
John Wayne Slept Here
Bridges of Madison County
Non-Tourist Activities: Red Oak, Iowa (Connie's father and sisters were born in Red Oak. She's been hearing about it her entire life but had never visited). Made a ceremonial stop at the local Dairy Queen.
Bob on Vacation
Culinary Experience: Family style german dinner in Amana Colonies, IA...Spatzle, Schnitzel, Sauerkraut, Bratwurst, Potato Pancakes...and beer!
Oops: Traveling on a scenic tour of Iowa before corn is even planted. "Knee-high by 4th of July" means "Dirt in May".
Weather To Date: Not a single drop of rain - truly unbelievable - but this should change on us as we move toward Chicago tomorrow
Number of Healthy Meals Since Leaving Spokane: 0...unless you count Bob's lucky charms and yogurt this morning
Today was Iowa...lots of back roads and small towns. We have much to say about Iowa...but we must digress to yesterday.
It is time to tell you that Bob is obsessed with counting crosses on the side of the road. He has counted them every single time we have gone anywhere in a car. (Connie is obsessed with roadkill, but that is for another time).
Typically he counts between 10-25 a day. On the trip between Rapid City and Sioux City he counted 147. 147!!!! Why would that be? We have a theory, can you guess why it might be?
By the way "Hurray hurray for the 8th of May"!!!
We have officially left 'wild west/cowboy' county and entered 'prairie/pioneer' country. 'Boots to bonnets' so to speak. Most road trip maps do not take you through Iowa. In fact, we never found a single itinerary that included Iowa. What a horrible omission...Iowa has been the biggest surprise thus far. In fact, it may just be the Switzerland of America...without all those pesky mountains and 5 foot elderly swiss ladies to maneuver around. It is centrally located, has lots of cows and is the cleanest, tidiest, loviest place you'll find. It appears that Iowans just don't tolerate lazy. One cultural difference: we were getting our tires balanced in Red Oak and the owners had a very politically incorrect, blue joke about a midget trying to purchase a horse posted in the customer seating area! Right next to it was a bumper sticker that read "I'm proud to be a barn raiser".
Catch y'all tomorrow! Bob & Connie
Comments
Marion Morrison
John Wayne was born Marion Robert Morrison in Iowa, but by age 4 he was living in Palmdale, California, and then moved to Glendale, Cal, (my home town). He attended my junior high school and high school. Once again, BobandConnie connect with BobandSheila in a deep and mystical fashion.
Glad you like Iowa. Spring is just sprunging up there, as I noted in northern Nebraska earlier this week. Down here in Okie country it's almost summer.
Sheila and I leave tonight for a weekend at the Quartz Mountain Resort (www.quartzmountainresort.com) on Lake Altus in southwestern Oklahoma. We need to rest and prepare ourselves spiritually for the arrival of the Travelling Wil(son)burys later in the month.
Bob & Shiela
147 Crosses
Hmmmmmmmmmmmmm, my guess would be too bored to be sober and they drank too much at the wheel, what is your theory?
Heh, Bob - get off the phone :)