Sites and Scenes of Iowa - Sep/Oct 2011
Drive past the corn fields on the way to Des Moines
Stay at Holiday Inn Express on the Drake U. campus
Campus church tolls its bells on Saturday morning
David in coat & Brad in shorts ready for adventure
Saturday morning breakfast at Drake Diner next door
Sausage, mushroom, cheese omelette w/hashbrowns
Drive past the corn fields on the way to Iowa City
Pass some sheep enjoying a good airing out
The Rest Stops are really nice in Iowa
Corn fields beside the closed Riverside Beef Jerky store
More corn heading back to Des Moines after Hoover & Kirk
Stop in Grinnell for late lunch at Taco John's
Our Wicked Combo was better than Taco Bell
Beer at Fong's Pizza in Des Moines after the UT/ISU game
Each enjoy the Red Rambler from Peace Tree Brewery
We each order a foo foo drink hoping to keep the glass
David enjoys his $7 Beach Comber drink
Brad has a $7 Angry Pirate drink
Dave orders the $9 burnt orange Tikinator
It is good, the wife will enjoy the glass at home
Loved it! What? We can't keep the glasses?
Sunday morning tour of Drake University campus
The church is really tolling the bells on a sunday morning
Doesn't every school has a Library Cafe/Bar?
Interesting old building with many antenna on the roof
Nice ornate Catholic Church in Des Moines
Waveland Cafe has the best breakfast and Caucus HQ
Brad will vote early in the Iowa Caucus today!
Another killer omelette with toast and coffee!
Head south to Winterset after visiting the Capitol
Farming equipment abounds in Iowa!
The old courthouse is being restored in Winterset
Front view of the courthouse obscured by trees
Visit the John Wayne's birthplace home
Marion Morrison was born here on May 26, 1907
The family moved to California in 1911 for dad's health
Gift shop had plenty of John Wayne memorabilia for sale
No photos inside but here is the home from the back yard
The house is full of photos & items from JW's movies
John Wayne statue faces main street & the court house
Noon time sun shines down on Winterset's favorite son
Young fella, if you're lookin' for trouble I'll accommodate ya
Heading west back toward Nebraska
Drive through a Wind Energy Zone along I-80
Iowa is 2nd to Texas in wind power electricity generation
Head north on Hi-173 & pass farms on the way to Elk Horn
Guess what? They grow corn in this part of Iowa!
Cattle in Iowa enjoy the shade like those in Texas
Danish Windmill, built in 1848, shipped to Elk Horn in 1975
Find a tiny church outside the Danish Immigrant Museum
The Morning Star Chapel was built in 1951
The 6x8 foot church was donated to the Museum in 1995
Dave poses by the church to give it some perspective
David has proof he "went" to church today
Morning Star's cavernous sanctuary
Excellent way to ensure a small wedding party
Dave reads the church story after a Danish Welcome
Charles Walensky built it at the age of 83 and died at 91
David starts the service for a half full house
Then he sits in a rear pew, even with only 2 rows
Dave finishes with a quick prayer for a safe trip home
Skip the Danish Immigrant Museum, our flight home awaits
Finally take a front and back shot of the rent car
We will travel 827 miles in our 2012 Chevy Cruze this trip