Mile 1880- Des Moines- We actually started out a little slow
for the first time in over a week. We are staying in a really cool historic
hotel in Downtown Des Moines. Our day started with a trip to the Iowa History
Museum and it was much more interesting than it sounds. They even had
taxidermy. My favorite was a rather
graphic display of baby foxes dining on a recently departed lamb. There was
fake blood and it made Mae cry. That is a taxidermist who knows his craft. One
who can convey the circle of life with enough realism that it makes a 5-year-old
run away in tears. After that, we headed to the unbelievable Historic State
Capitol building. It is absolutely
glorious. If you are ever in Des Moines, which you probably won’t be, you
should go see it. Then we made our hungry kids walk 12 blocks back to the car.
They loved that part.
Mae and the Mastodon 
OMG!
I just carried this statue from Des Moines, now give me some candy.
Des Moines, You are Des Fabulous!
Beautiful twisting stairs in the Iowa Capital Library
Look, Ms. Kenworthy! We went to the library!
Our hungry, tired kids love walking 12 blocks in the blazing Iowa sun.
Can't you tell?
Mile 1890- Smitty’s in Des Moines- Home of the original tenderloin sandwich! I’d never had a tenderloin sandwich, but they are well known around these parts. It consists of a piece of pork tenderloin beaten into submission until it is the size of your head, breading it in cracker meal, and deep-frying it. It then dwarfs a regular size bun that has been slathered with mustard, ketchup, onions and pickles. Served with onion rings. I am going to have to go on some sort of cleanse after this trip. I haven’t been able to get my rings off since Wednesday.
Mile 2000- Somewhere between De Moines and Davenport, Iowa. Corn!
Mile 2046-Wolcott, Iowa -World’s Largest Truck Stop! The road trip fairies felt bad that I didn’t get to see the albino squirrels, so they decided to reward me tenfold.
Mr. B- “That sign says World’s Largest Truck Stop, do you think we should stop?”
Me- “Can you actually hear yourself asking me that question? Of course we should stop! It’s the world’s largest!”
Now, the world’s largest truck stop is every bit of awesome that you would imagine. But wait, there’s more! It was packed to gills with trucker people and their people because it just so happened that the 2013 TRUCKER JAMBOREE WAS IN PROGRESS! Yes, you heard me correctly! Iowa’s finest truckers engaging in such activities as the Big Rig Beauty Contest, Balloon Pop with a Dart, and live music. Who was the live music, you might be wondering. It was BLACKBERRY SMOKE!! John and I have seen them a couple of times in Atlanta and they are GOOD! And, they were playing for FREE!! Score! Thank you, Iowa 80 World’s Largest Truck Stop, you are kind of a big deal.
Yesssss!
Sheriff Buford T. Justice in the Hizzouse!
World's Biggest Truckstop cures what ails ya!
Yesssss!
World's Biggest Truckstop cures what ails ya!
Mile 2060 Scenic Davenport, Iowa. One such scene was out of our lovely hotel room. Until you’ve seen the Iowan sunset over the shiny wares of a GMC car lot, you haven’t lived and I feel sorry for you. We have really run the gamut of hotels this trip. We left quickly as soon as we took all of our electronics and valuables into the room. This was because the sign in the parking lot said that the Fairfield Inn was NOT going to be responsible for any damage to our car so we didn’t want to be too careful. We wanted to take in the site of Davenport (not a typo). Raise your hand if you have walked on a skywalk that has lights that change colors! Me! Me! And, did you then feed your kids dinner at 10:00 from Taco Johns? We are so gangsta.
No comments:
Post a Comment