Hey! First, I didn't post this last night....the wind was up again today - about the same as yesterday and when we finally arrived in Norwalk, Iowa, we were exhausted.....
FYI (and I will say this again on Facebook) - we are just going to "Facebook post" until Monday night - as we are going to concentrate on spending time with family for the rest of this week/weekend. Any detailed stories - we will save for the blog on Monday night.....but the trip is quickly wrapping up - as we plan to be home (Lord willing) next Thursday evening.
Okay, Wednesday morning - we had the "continental breakfast" at the Holiday Inn and headed down Hwy 18 in Iowa. Hwy 18 runs basically east/west - so the wind was blowing directly from our right to our left. I have learned how to drive hundreds of miles at "a lean" to compensate for the wind - the problem comes in when you hit an overpass or go under an overpass.....all of a sudden, the wind stops (it feels like you are being pushed the opposite direction - but really it is a "vertigo" thing where all of a sudden, the absence of wind on one side feels like pressure on the other)....but you have to quickly compensate on the bike. The wind alone is not the tough part....the trucks going by in the other direction sometimes (not always) - gives you a direct "BLAST" of wind - which can really smack you around. Combine that with a REALLY bumpy/torn up road - where you are constantly swerving to avoid potholes or "tar bumps" and - well, it just makes for a fun day.....but enough whining....Jeanette and I got through it - and that is part of the fun....
So we went into Emmetsburg, Iowa for our first stop and got some gas. It was a quiet little town (as most of them are) - but the sky was pretty threatening - so I took a few photos from the gas station...
Then we turned south onto Hwy 169 (which we followed most of the day) - this route was a few miles out of our way, but allowed us to go to the "metropolis" of Rutland, Iowa. This is a small town where Jeanette's grandparent's lived. Jeanette and her cousin Tomi Sue (whom we are visiting now in Norwalk Iowa) had many tales of them spending the summer together when they were 15 & 16 years old and visiting for their grandparents 50th wedding anniversary. I thought I lived in a small town - (Girard, Kansas - population about 2500)....well Rutland is TINY compared to Girard (population is 122 or so)....so we drove around and took some photos...
So then, we drove to the nearby "big city" of Humboldt, Iowa (population 4,190) - where Jeanette's grandparents would do their shopping (it is about 5 or 6 miles away) and it even has a movie theatre....
Tomi Sue and Jeanette's "big date"......yep....when they were 16 years old and visiting their grandparents, they were "invited" by two of Rutland's finest strapping young boys to go "out on a date...."
Now, I am sure (like any young girls) they were excited by the prospect of their "first date" and I would have loved to be a "fly on the wall" and hear them discussing what it would be like....would they hold hands? Would it be like in the movies Would their dates try and steal a kiss at the end of the evening?? (heaven forbid! They would have to tell them NO!)
Well, most of those hopes were quickly dashed - when the young men picked them up. The boys both sat in the front seat - and the girls sat in the back....talk was awkward - and they basically sat at a drive-in movie in the same formation, drove around Humboldt, and then came home.... alas - for Tomi Sue and Jeanette, true love was still a few years away..... But I wonder about the boys (especially knowing that they were related to Jeanette's grandmother - who as stated above, was a pillar of the religious community...) - were they told beforehand that if they didn't "behave themselves" they would feel the wrath of Granny? I think there is probably some glimmer of truth in there...but whatever, the boys could safely live out their days......
Okay, then we drove into Fort Dodge (where Jeanette was born) and drove around for about an hour....(read that as - Wade got lost)....and the main reason is that I turned on the "wrong" 5th Avenue....apparently within the city, there are several 5th Avenues (are they selling candy bars or what???) - but the streets totally had me messed up - and after several stops, we wound up getting out of there.....
After getting gas in Fort Dodge, we continued down Hwy 169 to the town of Ogden, Iowa....where we stopped for lunch at "The Lucky Pig"....(hint - not sure what was so lucky - as the "special" was a stuffed pork chop)....but anyrate, I ordered the Patty Melt and Jeanette ordered the grilled fish sandwich..... BUT we got a cup of Chicken Corn Chowder for a side.....well, we were talking to the waitress about our trip - and she decided that we needed fuel for the rest of the day's ride - so she brought us a BOWL each.....and it was REALLY good...big ole chunks of chicken and lots of corn....so I finished the bowl - and couldn't eat a bite of the patty melt. Jeanette was a little more selective and she just loved the fish.....so, the next time you are in Ogden, Iowa, I highly reccomend the Lucky Pig....
So we drove into Adel, Iowa, turned left on Hwy 6 and finally made it into Norwalk, Iowa....once in town, the wind was not so much of a problem, but Jeanette and I were thoroughly exhausted and wind blown once we got here.
So again, it was a great day - even though windy....we had fun - we really enjoyed spending time with Tomi Sue and her husband Mike....Pictures later.
I look forward to sharing with you again on Monday night (we should be on our last "leg" of the trip - heading home....)
We hope you are enjoying sharing our adventure.
Wade and Jeanette
GNTNYCGTB LY <3
FYI (and I will say this again on Facebook) - we are just going to "Facebook post" until Monday night - as we are going to concentrate on spending time with family for the rest of this week/weekend. Any detailed stories - we will save for the blog on Monday night.....but the trip is quickly wrapping up - as we plan to be home (Lord willing) next Thursday evening.
Okay, Wednesday morning - we had the "continental breakfast" at the Holiday Inn and headed down Hwy 18 in Iowa. Hwy 18 runs basically east/west - so the wind was blowing directly from our right to our left. I have learned how to drive hundreds of miles at "a lean" to compensate for the wind - the problem comes in when you hit an overpass or go under an overpass.....all of a sudden, the wind stops (it feels like you are being pushed the opposite direction - but really it is a "vertigo" thing where all of a sudden, the absence of wind on one side feels like pressure on the other)....but you have to quickly compensate on the bike. The wind alone is not the tough part....the trucks going by in the other direction sometimes (not always) - gives you a direct "BLAST" of wind - which can really smack you around. Combine that with a REALLY bumpy/torn up road - where you are constantly swerving to avoid potholes or "tar bumps" and - well, it just makes for a fun day.....but enough whining....Jeanette and I got through it - and that is part of the fun....
So we went into Emmetsburg, Iowa for our first stop and got some gas. It was a quiet little town (as most of them are) - but the sky was pretty threatening - so I took a few photos from the gas station...
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| I love the water tower.... |
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| beautiful downtown Emmetsburg.... |
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| There are about 20 buildings in the town of Rutland (not counting houses) - this is the Post Office... which is just the same as Jeanette remembers it... (Jeanette note: My grandma & grandpa's P.O. Box had a huge glass knob on it so we could always find it) |
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| This, my dear depraved readers, is the infamous "POOL HALL" that Jeanette's grandmother would NOT allow her father to go visit.....as it was a den of inequity.... |
(Jeanette note: My grandma once told my little cousin, Mark, "We do NOT go into the pool hall" to which he replied "I do!!!") Not sure if it is still open - but there was a "bud light" sign in the window (not on) and the door was padlocked shut..... As we were driving through Iowa, I asked Jeanette - "So what do you think your grandma would say if she knew that there were gambling casinos in Iowa??" She didn't say anything - but just kind of grunted - like saying... "are you kidding?"
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| This is the Rutland Water Tower (obviously) - but Jeanette's grandpa was "in charge" of the tower. I asked what that meant and she really didn't know.... but she did say that he got to climb up it occasionally (cool)... and it used to be directly in their backyard (a large backyard) - but since Jeanette last visited - they have built several new houses between her grandparent's house and the water tower. |
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| This is the Methodist Church where Jeanette's grandparents attended church and celebrated their 50th wedding anniversary. Jeanette remembers her and Tomi Sue sitting in there during Sunday worship, watching the wasps build nests..... and trying to sit still and avoid the wasps as they flew around.... |
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| The Rutland "Town Sign" |
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| A cute little town....BUT.... |
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| I included these photos for a reason..... |
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| and that is to tell you the story of...... |
Now, I am sure (like any young girls) they were excited by the prospect of their "first date" and I would have loved to be a "fly on the wall" and hear them discussing what it would be like....would they hold hands? Would it be like in the movies Would their dates try and steal a kiss at the end of the evening?? (heaven forbid! They would have to tell them NO!)
Well, most of those hopes were quickly dashed - when the young men picked them up. The boys both sat in the front seat - and the girls sat in the back....talk was awkward - and they basically sat at a drive-in movie in the same formation, drove around Humboldt, and then came home.... alas - for Tomi Sue and Jeanette, true love was still a few years away..... But I wonder about the boys (especially knowing that they were related to Jeanette's grandmother - who as stated above, was a pillar of the religious community...) - were they told beforehand that if they didn't "behave themselves" they would feel the wrath of Granny? I think there is probably some glimmer of truth in there...but whatever, the boys could safely live out their days......
Okay, then we drove into Fort Dodge (where Jeanette was born) and drove around for about an hour....(read that as - Wade got lost)....and the main reason is that I turned on the "wrong" 5th Avenue....apparently within the city, there are several 5th Avenues (are they selling candy bars or what???) - but the streets totally had me messed up - and after several stops, we wound up getting out of there.....
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| One of the several bridges over the river in Fort Dodge, Iowa ....what you (luckily) don't get to hear, is Wade whining about the stupid town council and how could they name the stupid roads all with the same stupid name..... (I think after about the fourth "stupid," Jeanette turned off her intercom....) Jeanette Note: All I heard was "Charlie Brown adult-talk - "Wah-wah-wah-wah-wah" |
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| Wade at the lucky pig.....with a food review.... |
So again, it was a great day - even though windy....we had fun - we really enjoyed spending time with Tomi Sue and her husband Mike....Pictures later.
I look forward to sharing with you again on Monday night (we should be on our last "leg" of the trip - heading home....)
We hope you are enjoying sharing our adventure.
Wade and Jeanette
GNTNYCGTB LY <3
I think I can hear dad griping about the streets....why yes, I can! But at least he's not griping about the traffic. Or commercials. LY guys, have fun and can't wait to see you soon!
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