Disclaimer: This blog was written at a significant delay (October 2018). As in, the delay was so significant, that I don’t feel that I can accurately represent our time at this location in story form. So, I am just going to post photos I captured here and then ramble about some of my clear memories of the place via some bullet points.
How did I get so far behind? Well, there was a summer visit from a nephew, and also a giant party in Rochester that needed to be planned for. But, also, if it comes down to blog writing or sleep – I will always choose sleep. So anyways, back on the blog game. But in abbreviated form until I catch up to the present day.
Des Moines seemed like a rational place to stop between Omaha and Chicago. So we stopped there. We only had a few days to spend before we desired to be in Chicago. But, those few days were good days.
- Dyna stayed up at The Iowa State Fairgrounds – when they were not having the State Fair. The campground there is mad hilly, but workable. We shimmied into a front row slot that gave us a view of downtown if we worked our eyeballs really hard. Our leveling chocks dug pretty deep into the ground, but we worked with it. The Fairgrounds has no water restrictions, so I gave Dyna a quick wash down while we were here. She was freaking filthy.
- We wandered into the city one evening and grabbed two cupcakes from Molly’s (freaking yum) and a beer on the patio over at Peace Tree Brewing (also freaking yum). Also, Molly’s Cupcakes has a sprinkle station. Where has this been my entire life? After I spent ample time sprinkling my cupcake and everything else I could think of sprinkling, we walked around downtown and spotted the Capitol building. Unsurprisingly, the Iowa State Capitol looks similar to most every other capitol building except this one has a golden dome. Extra special.
- Our friend Annie, who we met while living in Rochester, is currently residing in Des Moines. We lucked into spending an evening with her. She served us gas station pizza and allowed us to play with her kids, which was very brave of her. Last time we enjoyed Annie’s company she didn’t have any kids – and now she has two! And good lord, her little girl Raina is Annie reincarnated. What a gem! We thoroughly enjoyed our gas station pizza and variety show performance starring Raina. We’re lucky to have an Annie (and co.) in our lives.
- Gas station food is apparently a big thing in Des Moines. Annie introduced us to gas station pizza, which is societally acceptable to order even when sober. We then noted that the gas station serves ice cream. FORTY NINE CENT ice cream. Well, hot damn! I love ice cream AND I love a deal. I got that ice cream.
We didn’t spend nearly enough time in Des Moines – the downtown area looks explore worthy. And I’m all about eating more cheap gas station food. Hopefully our path will lead us back through the area in the future. Until then – East we go!