Couldn't resist my take on the famous line from the "Field of Dreams". Took less than two hours to get from Iowa City to Des Moines, but that doesn’t mean there weren’t some good tunes along the way!
Songs heard during drive to Des Moines:
· “On the Road Again” – Willie Nelson
· “Pump Up the Jam” – Techtronic
· “Reelin’ in the Years” – Steely Dan
· “Take Me Home Country Roads” – John Denver
· “Shake it Off” – Taylor Swift
· “Girls Just Want to Have Fun” – Cyndi Lauper
· “Philadelphia Freedom” – Elton John
Visited with Beth upon arrival as she prepared lunch. Was pretty easy to find the house, although the street numbering system is a bit strange depending on the relationship of the location to the cities of Des Moines, Polk County, and Ankeny (for example, 6th Avenue is near 72nd Avenue). I quickly befriended Sadie, their beagle, and Quincy, their beagle/poodle mix. Sadie is bigger than Maggie, but is certainly all beagle.
Chris got home and we had lunch. Took a walk around the neighborhood and then at Des Moines Area Community College. Felt good to get out and walk a bit.
Went downtown and walked around the sculpture garden and then walked to the restaurant where we had dinner. After dinner, Chris showed me some more of downtown Des Moines and we headed back home.
Monday morning after breakfast I showed Beth pictures of the Rome home and we took it easy. Closer to lunchtime we left for East Village near downtown and had lunch at the Iowa Tap Room; all the beers are from microbreweries in the state. Walked around the neighborhood and stopped in some unique shops, including the original Raygun t-shirt store (claims to be “the greatest store in the universe”).
After that we checked out a salvage store that had four floors of items large and small for sale. Once we were finished there, it was off to the Des Moines River and a walk across the pedestrian bridge. As in many cities, Des Moines has developed a series of trails along the river.
On our way back home, we went through a coupe of neighborhoods with neat old houses. Stuffed shells and asparagus for dinner and then spent the evening petting Sadie and playing cards. Off to the Cities Tuesday morning for Reunion Tour, Part 3!
Iowa City to Des Moines: 115.0 miles
Total so far: 1036.9 miles
Gallery pictures:
Top row (L to R): Casey's - an Iowa institution; Beth and me; Chinese Garden
2nd row (L to R): Capitol with Church spire; pedestrian bridge; in front of Iowa capitol
3rd row (L to R): Sadie, Iowa Tap Room, Sculpture Garden
4th row (L to R): Sculpture Garden, Beth and Sadie, Quincy