Zombie Burger. No, really!

So, this is a thing in Des Moines, Iowa. A zombie-themed burger joint that is usually too packed to attempt a visit on a long car ride...but if you are running late for lunch and get there after 1:30 - no worries. Here is where the adage a picture being worth a thousand words is an understatement.

Brits will appreciate this cheery sign greeting the diners.
British zombies will, anyway.

Think the murals are interesting? The establishment seems to have a
tattoo/piercing requirement for all employees. Might be how the zombie plague starts...

Clearly, this is a non-standard directional sign....

Y'know, the movies these parodies depict seem a bit more interesting than the actual flicks. "Breakfast is Tiffany"? "Horde of Dead Things"? Awesooooome!

Actual creation at Zombie Burger....Undead Elvis. Google it, if you dare.

Your milage may vary, but here is what one of our party looked
like coming out of Zombie Burger. 

Iowa

Iowa was our first "New State" on this trip (fun fact...we will hit all the I states).  We knew we were in for something special when we crossed the Mississippi river.  Then it was a series of small highways, roads, a dirt road, and then another dirt road. When we topped a rise on one of the last roads we saw road kill number 100+, but this one came specially supplied with a trio of huuuge vultures that lazily flapped away as we approached...the last one swooped right at our onrushing van. We were hoping for a rural Iowa experience, and we got it!

We received a very warm welcome from the Gentrys, proud parents of our wonderful neighbor Tara Lewis. This is perhaps the furthest ranging play date we've ever set up for Julia...guess we just couldn't have the summer go by without a chance to play with her great friends down the street who are spending the summer in Kansas City. 

The kids eyes were immediately drawn to the pond out back, complete with dock and swinging rope. Undeterred by the cold water or the annoyance factor of our having to dig out their swim suits, all three plunged right in.

John was particularly fearless...

But everyone had a great time.

There was then much feasting.  We certainly could have (and should have) run a 10K or done some hard-core farm chores after a delicious meal of pork chops, baked beans, green beans, potato casserole, Asian crunch salad, watermelon, etc., etc., topped off by dessert of homemade texas sheet cake, homemade ice cream, and homemade chocolate sauce.  I really hope there aren't any weight limits on the bridges to come.  

All of this was then followed by a bonfire, tenting in the yard for the big kids, and a sleepover for the middle kids.  More than once we heard: "This is the best day ever!"

The next day, we used the tourist excuse to drag the Lewis family to the American Gothic House, made famous in Grant Wood's painting.  The Iowa Historical Society has put a lot of funding into this landmark, and it's all worthwhile.  The interpreter at the information center saw us coming and opened early--2 hours early--so we could come look around.  That also meant learning a great deal about the painting and Grant Wood.  But best of all, and Joe's absolute favorite thing, the photo op:

It was REALLY hard not to crack up.

Off to South Dakota, but first a remarkable lunch stop...

Rest Stop

Most of us along the I-95 corridor probably associate rest stops with huge parking lots, lots of noise, lots of smells, and fast food.  But leave that corridor and you find state-funded parks along the highways.  These rest stops all have the usual parking, rest rooms, and maps.

In addition, they often have picnic facilities that you would actually use, playgrounds, and other amenities.  In Illinois, we stopped for lunch at the Mackinaw Dells rest stop.

Sandwiches and some time out of the car.

Dad's It!

There was a lovely trail winding through a prairie preservation area.

This 45-minute stop recharged our batteries and helped us through the next several hours in the car.

The Indy 580

Lesson One:

Do not begin your cross-country trek with 12 hours in the car--unless, UNLESS you are fortunate enough to have gracious, easygoing, generous hosts waiting for you at the other end.


The motorcade rolled out of Alexandria almost on time (new for us!) and we were off!  Traffic is not bad at 7am in the DC area on a Saturday...


Here is another travel tip for driving cross-country from DC: Plan as much of your route west through West Virginia as you can. Sen. Byrd's many decades of service in Congress has its physical manifestation in the infrastructure of the Mountaineer state...should be good for a couple decades more.



Another fun fact...the Wendy's in Cumberland, MD is open at 9am, but does not sell breakfast. They will sell you a granola bar of some kind-um, no thanks. Turned out to be a good thing: we got an early lunch at some WV Cracker Barrel, in all its Americana splendor.

A little time out of the car.

Ah... Cracker Barrel

Then back to the road! We're not sure what the kids clamored for more--the candy stash from Cracker Barrel, or "are we in Indianapolis yet?"

Rest areas are less for rest and more for running around!  A very nice gent from the Ohio Rest Stop asked us if we didn't want to explore the path through the woods.  It's probably lovely, but a game of tag was really what everyone needed to get the wiggles out!






But it was all worth it when we pulled into the Weber's driveway to a very warm welcome, and a very welcome glass from Paul's famous wine collection.

Maria and Isaac Weber

Off to the great state of Iowa...

Stuff

Well, this isn't all of the stuff piled in the living room, but it is most of it.  Without boring you with the detailed list--and there is a detailed list--imagine 5 each of many things, plus food, clothes, gifts, personal bags, etc.  A sure sign that we are making this trip in the 2010's:  "Box of cords:" All of the adapters, chargers, and other peripherals that we seem to need to function on a daily basis. I wonder if it will all fit?

Lessons from last time...

Hey, we've done this before, right? Now, what were those lessons from last time?

Not -that- song again!!

If you were stranded on a deserted island, what one thing would you take?  Ever played that game?  Sometimes we vary the "thing:" what food, what CD, what person, etc. Let me tell you from personal experience...that song/band you love? You get sick of it by the 3rd interstate.

But hey -- what would be your desert island disk/tune? Maybe we'll add it...

Less food, more underwear

As it turns out, clean skivvies (and everything else) really outweigh just about anything when you're on the road.  In the U.S., you will always find somewhere to eat.  There is ALWAYS something to look at, even if you have to really stretch the imagination.  But if you're on the move, laundry is not a guarantee. And when it is, do you really want to spend your vacation at the local Fluff 'n' Fold?

Empty threats...

"So help me, I'll turn this car around !" Yeah, that doesn't work so well when you are a time zone or two away from home. Threatening to drive another 4 hours before a break, however....

Funky smell

It is important to control what gets consumed in the back seat. The most innocuous snack can turn pretty nasty after about 800 miles. And, we are driving to bear country...

I'm sure we've forgotten more valuable lessons than we are remembering. That's why we do the trip again!

Pre Flight

Mats vacuumed: Check.
Cup holders emptied: Check.
All trash disposed of--Ew!  What is that?  How long has that been there?

The boys were troopers today and helped completely empty and (mostly) clean the van.  Then tomorrow it's to the dealer--(gulp! the Dealer?!) for a final once-over before we hit the road.

Road snacks procured. Still not one stitch of clothing packed.  I wonder how long we can hold out...