IOWA Today, NEBRASKA tomorrow...

I'm writing this post from a rest area about 20 miles outside of Omaha Nebraska. We are setting up camp here for the night - which essentially means, setting up the bed in the van (after moving the cases of beer Andre bought yesterday at the Minhas Brewery in Monroe, WI), closing the shades, turning the refrigerator to gas power (rather than battery), and saying goodnight. Pretty simple. And one of the many reasons we like traveling in a motor home that is so small.

This rest area works well for us because it is relatively quiet, has picnic tables, nice grass and trees, free wireless Internet and clean bathrooms with good wash facilities.  These rest areas in Iowa on Route 80 have also have free dump stations, which is handy when not staying at a campground.

We've spent the entire day today driving through Iowa, with stops in Dubuque, Cedar Rapids and Des Moines along the way.  About 6:00 last night we crossed mighty Mississippi, leaving Wisconsin to enter Iowa. We were quite excited to see and cross the Mississippi river and stopped just after the bridge to get out and walk around near the river's edge. As you will see from the photos, the river levels are quite high.  As you will also see from the photo's, Andre insisted on putting his feet into the Mississippi to more fully experience the mighty river - and chose to do it just by a "No Swimming" sign.

We spent last night camped in a Casino Parking lot, right next to the river then got an early start in the morning heading West again. Here are some photos from last night and today in the Hawkeye State.

You can't take the Pawtucket out of the boy..

This low-lying campground at the rivers edge was completely flooded out.
The family of ducks didn't seem to mind, though.
 

 

This scene was representative of most of our drive through Iowa,
where this year's corn crop is about to be planted.

 

Lady Liberty also watches over the City of  Cedar Rapids

Cedar Rapids is home to a giant Quaker Oats factory,
 as well as this sculpture that represents the city's nickname
"The City of Five Seasons"

 

The beautiful State Capital in Des Moines

Lincoln and Tad statue on the State House grounds

 

The Senate Chambers in the State House

 

Tomorrow morning we will cross over into Nebraska - yet another "new to us" state.  I'll end here today with one more Photo of Andre and the Mississippi.  Cheers!