Iowa's public transit system
As we were driving in our separate cars from Chicago to Iowa City, I gave my Dad a call to pass some time. “Are you going to stop at The Machine Shed in Davenport?” he inquired. Apparently he’d been to this classic establishment (“A Restaurant Honoring the American Farmer”) many moons ago on an officiating trip through Iowa. This sounded like a no-brainer to me, so I promptly called John & let him know that there would be no stopping to pee until we got to Davenport.
Unfortunately, we’d just eaten lunch & were too full to stuff down either the “Country Fried Chicken” or the “Full Pound Chicken Liver Dinner”, but the ambiance did not disappoint. We took the obligatory photos of me riding a pig and John driving a tractor near a 10 foot ear of corn. Walking away, two emotions coursed through our veins: a) good ol’ Midwestern pride, and b) sheepishness for having used a restaurant’s bathrooms without eating there.
John envisions what 'working the land' might be like
We had a lovely visit at Paul & Juliana’s home in Iowa City, where we were well impressed with the flurry of baby prep. Mark my words, this child will be the best dressed girl in Iowa City, thanks to the fortuitous hand-me-downs of her trendy cousin down in Texas! After a tasty diner breakfast on Sunday at the Hamburg Inn, Iowa City’s premier “Meet the People Stop” for all aspiring politicans, we headed up for a visit to George & Wini in Albert Lea, MN. John’s grandparents were a pleasure to chat with as always, and of course didn’t let us hit the road without some tasty peach cobbler!
my natural state in any moving vehicle
In Mankato, MN, we had more excellent food & fellowship with John’s mom Penny (who is the new proud owner of my ‘07 Nissan Altima!), hung out on the farm with John’s dad Bob & wife Pam (in their impressively mosquito-free screened-in deck), and even got a little time with the soon-to-be newlyweds, Ryan & Melea. As we departed Minnesota, now consolidated into one car, I was happy to resume my normal role: Passenger Seat Slug.
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