4 ½ days
4 States
2,133 miles
43 hours, 52 minutes driving time
32.1 MPG
49 MPH average speed
14 Restaurants
14 Bakeries
4 Ice cream shops
3 Drink places
Numerous downsizings the past few years at my employer escalated this year stemming from increasing financial problems and company performance. My luck run out October 16th as 200 more positions were eliminated leaving 700 employees. As an indicator of their massive financial problems it was immediate termination with no severance.
The week of November 3rd they cut several hundred more jobs then ended that week filing for Chapter 11.
So…time to travel. A planned Thanksgiving trip to Scotland was going to be moved up but thwarted due to an opportune interview. I chose to take a road trip after the election. With no job to get back to or return flight to catch this trip’s pace could be at my whim.
The German sedan was pointed west to Iowa, the best part of the map to fill in within driving distance.
Yeah, yeah, yeah Iowa- not exactly an epic destination. But you can see by the before and after that it needed to be canvassed and I was grateful to see more of Americana.
Of note: You might notice there are few scenery pictures and can assume why. Despite this repetitive vista monotony there's still something intrinsically satisfying about rolling golden hills of dry husks or the silhouette of an old leaning barn against a dusk sky.
Also of note: The food might seem to be limited to bakery. That is because the balance was A LOT of fruits, vegetables and salads. This doesn’t make for good writing or pics. And no, I don’t eat all that bakery; only a bite or two.
Wednesday, November 5th, 2008
On a previous visit to Weber’s Bakery in Lodi, Wisconsin I was steered into choosing their Caramel Donut which immediately made it on my best donuts list. Melt in in the mouth tender and astoundingly soft and airy the deep sugary sweetness punctuated every morsel. This time I went seasonal with a Pumpkin Donut.
Richland Center’s staidly downtown reflects a bygone era but is not stuck in the past. Admiringly it offers some good food stops. At Papa’s Donuts the picked over shelves showcased their popularity. The Beautiful Day Muffin at the organic co-op Pine River Market & Café was good and healthy enough to eat the whole thing. Finally Accents has an old time soda fountain.
Heading further west the countryside included a lot of apple orchards. A handmade sign at a remote highway intersection forced me to Apple’Licious Pie Depot. The Apple Fritter had crisp edges yielding to a chewy interior with veins of sweet cinnamon.
Further down the road…an apple stand and bakery. Fortunately for my health they had apple cider. A few more miles west another stop for cider this time at a more refined facility combining apple sorting, cider making, gift shop and bakery.
Crossed Old Man River and into Iowa at straight up noon.
Decorah has a proud downtown strip.
Swung through Mason City for their Frank Lloyd Wright buildings.
Wouldn’t this beacon be enough to pull you off the dark road?
Thursday, November 6th, 2008
How great is the miniscule Grand Diner in Spencer?! Spotting it the night before it instantly became the breakfast destination.
Inside was as cluttered as someone’s disheveled house indicating the tenure of this 7 stool treasure.
Isn’t that neon beautiful? I’m tearing up.
Take a look at this picture. Look at it again. OK, now a million more times. You just saw Iowa.
Orange City is unapologetically Dutch themed. A festive town square is surrounded by a town infiltrated with windmills and wooden shoes.
And I already had Dutch Bakery pre-scouted. Bowing to the Dutch theme this is an Almond Pretzel. Flaky yet sweet. Robust yet delicate.
Le Mars is labeled the Ice Cream Capitol of the World from it being the home of Wells Dairy. Recognizable by the Blue Bunny brand they churn out more ice cream than any other plant in the world; in addition to making yogurt. A huge fan of that yogurt and ice cream (fat free, no sugar added of course) this was a greatly anticipated stop.
First up was scoping out the downtown. And look at that! They have a bakery!
Alas, the Blue Bunny Visitors Center was lame. A lackluster ice cream museum and Wells Dairy history was easily disseminated in 10 minutes. Even the old time ice cream parlor and Huckleberry Ice Cream sample didn’t salvage the disappointment.
Sioux City was glum enough to move quickly through. Historic Fourth Street was a bygone reflection of a presumed once proud city.
One often has to go well off the proverbial beaten path to find the most unique of attractions. Surrounded by corn fields this is all of Gladbrook and home of Matchstick Marvels.
This gentleman creates these using only matchsticks and glues. The larger creations can take 200 hours and use upwards of 200,000 matchsticks. An impressive display of patience, creativity and detail.
What was that about out of the way unique attractions? The World’s Largest Treehouse outside of Marshalltown.
The picture in front of Capitols ritual was not in effect during my last visit to Des Moines.
Friday, November 7th, 2008
In the western themed Ames it was elbow to elbow at the counter at The Grove Café. Next ducked out of the blustery wind to get a rejuvenating Steamer at Café Diem.
This modest home in a quiet neighborhood in Boone is the birthplace of Mamie Doud Eisenhower.
A characteristic plains town rugged Boone has a bakery. Kept it healthy with addictive 7 Grain Bread.
Take a look at this picture. Look at it again. OK, now a million more times. You just saw Iowa.
Typical river town Council Bluffs.
Logan.
Sidney feels out of place both geographically and in a time warp. Sidewalks are still elevated for horses and Penn Drug Co. soda fountain remains as when it opened in 1863.
Glenn Miller was born here in Clarinda.
Not all towns survive.
The town square of Winterset evokes nostalgia with various eras exhibited in its storefronts. The 19th century can be felt with the faux expanse of second story pinnacles and Ben Franklin and a movie marquee induce the mid 1900s. And look here, there is an old bakery. Expanses of well worn wooden floors lead to cases of enticements.
A few blocks off this town square is the birthplace of another great American. Marion Robert Morrison was born here in 1907 and later become the legend of the movies as John Wayne.
Luck shined down having the night’s lodging located across the street from one of only 3 chains I will go to again and again. My admiration for the Santa Fe Grilled Chicken Salad can be proven by this being the third time getting it from a place that I am trying to have every menu item. Plus, it is one of the few healthy things on it!
Saturday, November 8th, 2008
A very early morning start offered a couple appealing town squares. First in Albia.
Then in Claridon.
Preplanning did tweak the morning route to another Sonic. Sticky Bun Dough Blast- breakfast of champions!
Take a look at the yellow counter in Snook Inn Sandwich Shop in Newton. Think quite a few decades of elbows have worn it off?
Maid-Rite is a unique institution being a local chain started in 1920. Their sandwich of the same name has been dubbed loose meat in an attempt to describe it.
Maytag Dairy Farms is renowned for their blue cheese. I stopped by the office and was graciously offered a sample of the pungent, complicated and tangy crumbly dairy product.
Instead of the usual courthouse Pella’s town square has an expansive park. Boxing in this park is an amalgamation of building design.
Among these shops is the classic Int’l Veed Meat Market (got a beef stick). Further down is Van Veen Chocolates where after selecting a Marzipan filled chocolate the nice lady offered a cup of their sinfully rich Hot Chocolate.
One one street were two bakeries! Medic! Both are Dutch oriented so big on the Dutch letters.
Can one ever get sick of meticulous town squares that can only have a magnetic attraction attributable from decades of character? Also in Oskaloosa is another bakery where I deviated from more Dutch treats for a Pumpkin Cream Cake.
Keosauqua.
Sometimes one has go out of the way to find treasures. Isolated Bonapart was a delightful step back into time.
Red brick ambience of Fort Madison.
How did this Sonic not turn up on my preplanning?!
Isn’t Lombard Street in San Francisco the World’s Crookedest Street? Burlington lays claim dubbing their Snake Alley with this tag.
Sunday, November 9th, 2008
No vacancies in Iowa City the night before due to some college sporting event and subsequently having to find lodging much further east derailed plans for today. Anticipated highlights were the Herbert Hoover Presidential Library & Museum and Wilton Candy Kitchen.
Iowa 80 dubs itself the “World’s Largest Truckstop”.
Debating on how this claim is quantified I wandered through a maze of square footage full of kitschy gifts, a food court, huge truck department, laundry, barber, dentist, custom service department, convenience store, semi museum, 2 arcades, showers and theatre. The mini tour ended with breakfast at the 24 hour restaurant.
The steep street of Mt. Carroll accentuated the architectural delight of this NW Illinois town.
A few blocks off Freeport’s downtown lays the spot of the legendary Lincoln-Douglas debates. In 1858 15,000 spectators eagerly assembled to listen to 3 hours of deliberation of issues of the day.
In the shadow of some grain silos and along railroad tracks is K’s Outback Café of Orfordville, Wisconsin. This outside atmosphere for an ideal breakfast spot was further supported inside with every table and counter stool occupied.
Upcoming trip preview: An invite has been extended by Rodolfo, Monika, Rachel and Julia to join them in Spain November 21st through the 27th.
Thanks for reading.