Part V: If you build it...
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Is this Heaven?
It's Iowa.
- from movie Field of Dreams (1989)
Day 3: Sunday, March 18, 2012
With a full day of stops planned for Iowa - plus some time needed to spend in Omaha...
...I decided to get up early and have a big ole breakfast.
Is this Heaven?
It's Iowa.
- from movie Field of Dreams (1989)
................................................................................................
Day 3: Sunday, March 18, 2012
With a full day of stops planned for Iowa - plus some time needed to spend in Omaha...
...I decided to get up early and have a big ole breakfast.
My drive through Southwestern Iowa was definitely an interesting one. Although my radio selection was really at an all-time low...
...the sky had a mystical quality to it.
...the sky had a mystical quality to it.
For as I drove through the Iowa's hilly areas, the sun peaked through hundreds of breaks in the fast-moving clouds.
This made the shafts of light hit the ground like spotlights that meticulously searched for something. At times, it even looked like the sections of bright light were alive and that they were gently caressing the landscape.
Seeing so many areas of light moving along the earth around me was really incredible and made for a delightful Sunday drive through the state. In fact, it even made the evangelical radio a little more tolerable.
I guess it even moved me.
I tried to capture this phenomenon with my cell phone, but it's not so clear...
...so try to enlarge the video and use a little imagination.
This made the shafts of light hit the ground like spotlights that meticulously searched for something. At times, it even looked like the sections of bright light were alive and that they were gently caressing the landscape.
Seeing so many areas of light moving along the earth around me was really incredible and made for a delightful Sunday drive through the state. In fact, it even made the evangelical radio a little more tolerable.
I guess it even moved me.
I tried to capture this phenomenon with my cell phone, but it's not so clear...
...so try to enlarge the video and use a little imagination.
As concerns my various stops, they all involve visiting a particular thing that had been constructed, such as a home, monument, structure or congregational hall.
For that reason, I think the title of this posting fits:
But, in this case, I'm the one who came and now I'm going to present these things to you in the same order as listed in the above-posted map...
1.) Clarinda
When I pulled up to the Glenn Miller Birthplace Museum, it was only 9 o'clock (opening hours were 1-5).
For that reason, I think the title of this posting fits:
But, in this case, I'm the one who came and now I'm going to present these things to you in the same order as listed in the above-posted map...
1.) Clarinda
When I pulled up to the Glenn Miller Birthplace Museum, it was only 9 o'clock (opening hours were 1-5).
But, fortunately for me, there was someone outside doing some yard work who offered to show me around when I told him I was only passing though.
Inside the museum...
...there was a small room with various Glenn Miller artifacts...
...and a much larger room with info...
...photographs...
...and even some instruments.
Inside the museum...
...there was a small room with various Glenn Miller artifacts...
...and a much larger room with info...
...photographs...
...and even some instruments.
Just to the side of the museum...
...was Glenn Miller's birth home...
...where the museum tried to keep true to the period.
Keep in mind that Glenn Miller was only here for the first few years of his life...
...but it was really interesting to see the detail in the kitchen...
...the bedrooms...
...and the private bath.
2.) Stanton
If you ever watched American TV in the 1960's, you are probably familiar with the Mrs. Olson of the Folgers advertisements...
...but here's if you're not.
If you ever watched American TV in the 1960's, you are probably familiar with the Mrs. Olson of the Folgers advertisements...
...but here's if you're not.
The reason I'm sharing this is that the actress playing Mrs. Olson, Virginia Christine, was born here in Stanton and, as a result...
...the town honored her with a rather interestingly-shaped water tower...
...the largest Swedish coffee pot in the world.
...the town honored her with a rather interestingly-shaped water tower...
...the largest Swedish coffee pot in the world.
On the other side of town, there's a second water tower built more recently...
...and it's shaped like a coffee cup.
...and it's shaped like a coffee cup.
The town of Stanton is a rather small one...
...but I did enjoy the building decor enough to take some photos.
Here's his home from the front.
Here's his home from the side.
...Elk Horn is home to an authentic Danish Windmill...
...and it's actually very beautiful and well-maintained.
...and then you had your meats galore.
My first round was pretty tasty with the red cabbage, bean salad, potatoes, potato salad, delicious ham, meatballs and sausage enhanced with cloves and other spices.
Round two added some beets, fried chicken...
...and samples from each of these rather frightening dishes.
It was superb!
Just north of Elk Horn, I only stopped here for the mural...
...and the Little Mermaid fountain.
...Albert is a 30 foot tall, 45 ton statue...
...with the bluest eyes...
...and the result of some anatomical detail.
...but I did enjoy the building decor enough to take some photos.
3.) Corning
Another birthplace town...
...this time for Johnny Carson.
Another birthplace town...
...this time for Johnny Carson.
Here's his home from the front.
Here's his home from the side.
4.) Elk Horn and Kimballton
Probably the most tourist friendly of all the towns on this trip...
Probably the most tourist friendly of all the towns on this trip...
...Elk Horn is home to an authentic Danish Windmill...
...and it's actually very beautiful and well-maintained.
Inside the windmill is a museum and visitor's center...
...where you can stock up on all your Danish gifts.
...where the Sunday buffet was in full force...
...with typical salad bar products...
...vegetable, egg and marshmallow-laced salad dishes...
...where you can stock up on all your Danish gifts.
...where the Sunday buffet was in full force...
...with typical salad bar products...
...vegetable, egg and marshmallow-laced salad dishes...
...and then you had your meats galore.
My first round was pretty tasty with the red cabbage, bean salad, potatoes, potato salad, delicious ham, meatballs and sausage enhanced with cloves and other spices.
Round two added some beets, fried chicken...
...and samples from each of these rather frightening dishes.
I really couldn't tell if the brown mixture was chocolate pudding with bacon or liver mousse with bacon. But when I asked and the woman assured me that it was chocolate mousse with candy pieces, I tasted it to double check and it was rather delicious (very creamy and whipped).
The green jello, on the other hand, was spit back into my napkin.
Stay far away from it.
For dessert (included in the buffet price), I was given a choice from three desserts and I went with the cake.
The green jello, on the other hand, was spit back into my napkin.
Stay far away from it.
For dessert (included in the buffet price), I was given a choice from three desserts and I went with the cake.
It was superb!
Kimballton
Just north of Elk Horn, I only stopped here for the mural...
...and the Little Mermaid fountain.
5.) Audubon
Considered the world's largest bull...
...Albert is a 30 foot tall, 45 ton statue...
...with the bluest eyes...
...and the result of some anatomical detail.
6.) Council Bluffs
As it got around 2:30, I was near the end of my Iowa tour when I arrived in Council Bluffs.
I decided to stop at the Kanesville Tabernacle (a replica)...
...that was built by 200 (Church of Jesus Christ of) Latter-Day Saints as they temporarily settled here on their way to Utah.
Soon after, Elder Wright led me into the Tabernacle...
...and explained the use of impressive room before us...
...also pointing out the period wagon...
...the tools of the day...
...and Brigham Young as he was sustained here as the second prophet (after Joseph Smith) and president of the church.
By the end of the tour, I had been at the tabernacle for over an hour...a bit longer than I had intended.
Still, it was nice because both Sister Wright and Elder Wright were rather sweet people and I was happy to share my own experiences with them of the visit to Palmyra, New York (this is where Joseph Smith had the vision).
And although I'm not Mormon, nor do I even intend to become one (I'm drinking coffee as I write this), I'm fascinated with religion as a whole and love visiting places and talking to people of this nature.
In fact, just look and see where I headed once I crossed into Nebraska...
As it got around 2:30, I was near the end of my Iowa tour when I arrived in Council Bluffs.
I decided to stop at the Kanesville Tabernacle (a replica)...
...that was built by 200 (Church of Jesus Christ of) Latter-Day Saints as they temporarily settled here on their way to Utah.
My visit lasted a bit longer than originally planned, as Sister Wright explained the church's move from Palmyra, New York (where I have also visited), through Ohio, Illinois and Missouri to here.
I even watched a film on the Mormon Battalion.
I even watched a film on the Mormon Battalion.
Soon after, Elder Wright led me into the Tabernacle...
...and explained the use of impressive room before us...
...also pointing out the period wagon...
...the tools of the day...
...and Brigham Young as he was sustained here as the second prophet (after Joseph Smith) and president of the church.
By the end of the tour, I had been at the tabernacle for over an hour...a bit longer than I had intended.
Still, it was nice because both Sister Wright and Elder Wright were rather sweet people and I was happy to share my own experiences with them of the visit to Palmyra, New York (this is where Joseph Smith had the vision).
And although I'm not Mormon, nor do I even intend to become one (I'm drinking coffee as I write this), I'm fascinated with religion as a whole and love visiting places and talking to people of this nature.
In fact, just look and see where I headed once I crossed into Nebraska...
I'm finally caught up on your posts! Love reading about your journey!! Especially love how we get to see the bull's balls and the "fries" - there's some sort of theme here... ha ha!
ReplyDeleteHaha yeah, I'm noticing these themes myself. Crazy! :-)
ReplyDeleteReally enjoyed following your travels. Wish I had time to do this. I'll keep following!
ReplyDeleteThanks so much!
ReplyDelete