Woody Cavenaugh

8/30/06

We followed a route from Granite City (Chain of Rocks Road!) up the border to Hannible MO (where I found internet access in a coffee shop. While in Hannible MO please visit Java Jive "The First Coffee Shop West of the Mississippi". From there we skirted the river up past Omaha (by passed it completely) and stopped finally in Onawa Iowa at the KOA.

It was late, we were tired, we had a lake side spot that wasn't a pull thorough. With great morning views comes great responsibility. Compounded by the fact you have the set up for a very funny joke. A Project Manager, a PHD, and a man were trying to pull a 31 ft RV towing a car into a spot designed for the RV to back in. I don't know the punchline exactly, but I learned that Sara hates traveling.

I was going to make the crack this morning that Iowa was beautiful if you happended to be an ear of corn. I would be lying however funny I had hoped to be. I like this place. According to our brochure and campground map there is even places (plural) to get food.

Looking around outside this morning I noted that there are about 50 Rv's that are set up for what looks like their summer lodging. I Guess late September and early October, they pack up and move south for warmer winters. Not a bad life if you can afford it.

We awoke this fine morning a little chilly with hail raining down on our roof. At least that's what we though it was. The trees we parked under are very similar but nothing like pecan trees and the hail was small dark berries that were being knocked down by hundreds of birds feeding on them. I don't know what's in those berries, but the birds aren't pooping it or anything else. We know this because Sally was up there sweeping the berries off the roof with a wisk broom while Sara showered, and I stumbled over the nose of the Saturn twice cutting myself on both calves in the process each time. Swell. Clearly I haven't had my coffee yet.

The fishing here looks good, I could see movement in the water pretty regularly and the "fish cleaning shelter" is the same size as the main office.

Up to now, there has been nothing to see at all. The states we passed through offered us little more than land necessary only to hold the world together. Someone planted corn on it. And eventually, someone else built giant factories in one part of it as well. I thought we might have been nearing a population center because I started signs for "Hustler", but as it turns out different people find different things sexy. The locals (as local as you can be over the course of three states) seem to find lawn equipment sexy. They don't even have to drape a half naked woman over it. And I learned that Hustler is also a brand of lawn and garden equipment. I'm thinking the centerfold is going to be boxey, and wearing red. Turn ons include lawns and gardens, turn offs include being stored outdoors and snow. To each their own.

Next stop? Who knows. I think we might spend a few minutes being tourest at Mt. Rushmore but I won't know til we get there.

More later.

Coffee supplies running low...I fear for the moral of the crew. Need more alcohol.