10 September 2013 Iowa into Nebraska

[Patrice is writing this blog-posting]

Yesterday (Monday, 9 September) we left Amana, expecting a very warm day. We continued across middle Iowa on Interstate 80, with lots of conversation about farming practices and crops grown. We agreed that Iowa was a "corny" state! The corn fields were turning brown, as were the soybean fields.

Along the freeway there were some signs that caught my notice:

--The town of What Cheer, Iowa

--"Brooklyn, Iowa, A Community of Flags"

--"Bar None Cowboy Church" [near Newton]

Philip worked for the US Geological Survey, Water Resources Division in Iowa City, and measured many of the rivers and streams near I-80. He tells a story:

Sometime in the early 60's, I-80 had just opened. He drove the new family Plymouth Station Wagon down to the freeway--there wasn't another car in sight. The speedometer on the dash showed up to 120 miles per hour, so he got the Plym to go 120 miles per hour. . .and a Jaguar passed him like he was standing still!

When we passed over the North Skunk River and the South Skunk River, he said that he had never seen the rivers so low. The Des Moines River was also very low--Philip built a gaging station on the Des Moines River at Des Moines (gaging stations are usually titled "such-and-such river" at "nearest post office").

It was a short drive today--we made it to Cutty's Des Moines Camping Club before noon--it was actually located in Grimes, Iowa.

This morning we anticipated a very hot day of driving, so we left at 8:00 am--we started out with puffy clouds in a blue sky, and 79 degrees.

More freeway observations:

At the Elkhorn, Iowa, exit, signs:
--"Danish Immigrant Museum"
--"Danish Windmill"
--"Danish Village"
--"Danish Winery"

Nishnabotna River and the West Nishnabotna River

Rest area in Pottawatomie County

Exit to Wahoo, Nebraska

After seeing many, many huge wind turbines on the countryside, and seeing their blades being transported one at a time eastbound on I-80, we were surprised by an upright blade, mounted like a monument at a Iowa Department of Transportation Rest Area in Adair County. It was very dramatic.

  Wind turbine blade upright at rest stop

(top third)  

The building was amazing, filled with murals and plaques explaining the history of wind energy usage and the development of the wind farms in Adair County (also including nearby Cass County). The floor and walls were imbedded with lines representing the power grid--black lines in gray polished marble. Manufacturers, architects, designers of all sorts contributed the making of the rest stop--the fanciest the I've been in along the freeways.

 One of several picnic table shelters

Described as the idea of old windmills in motion

One of several murals inside the building (this one by the Men's)

We crossed the Missouri River into Omaha, Nebraska. It was 86 degrees out.

When we crossed the Platte River, it was 95 degrees.

We arrived at the Double Nickle Campground in Waco, Nebraska, about 2 pm. Drenching rain and thunder and lightening have been happening on and off since we parked. Carlos has had a difficult time with it.

Marge and Jerry noticed that our 5th wheel was leaning to the driver's side as they followed us down the road (we alternate leaders). Discovered that one of the shackles on the suspension system is broken. After some calls to the manufacturer and local RV repair shops, we have an appointment tomorrow morning with a shop in Grand Island, about 50 miles down I-80 from here. 8 am, so we will be getting up early and on the road.