Iowa

We left Kankakee and headed for Iowa where we met up with Pat & Morrie at a truck stop for breakfast.

We spent one night in Oxford on the way & Richie BBQd us up some Monday night burgers.  Damn... we got them faster & cheaper than $6 burgers at the point.  Not to mention better!  Good thing we got dinner before the rain.  It rained most of the night & still going strong in the morning when we left.

 Somewhere along the way we passed the 
World's Largest Truck Stop.

I guress it must be a big deal, but luckily no one had the urge to stop.  :)

This guy didn't look like he got to stop there either.  :(

I'm throwing these pics in just for Scott... You're welcome dear!

We spent 2 nights at the Viking Lake State Park near Red Oak, Iowa where our friends Dale & Sharon live.

It was a beautiful little park.

Just a little hard to level the MHs.   But we managed fine.  :)

Just down the road in Villisca they have this famous house where someone killed 8 people with an ax.  The killer was never caught. You can spend the night here for  a mere $300.00 a night.  Really???  I don't think so!

Of course the boys had to go to the Legion for a few drinks.

We girls figured if we didn't join them we would never get them out of there for dinner.  Tim & Mary came from Colesburg, Iowa & Jimmy & Marilyn, from Georgia, had just finished a 7 week trip to the West coast with Dale & Sharon.  It was great to see the whole gang.  Or should I say the crew from the hood?  

We had a great dinner next door to the Legion.  

Thank you Jimmy & Marilyn!

They are famous for the pork tenderloin.  It was good.  I ate the whole thing!  (Not good).   :(

Jimmy Green and Dale Wheeler are partners in a hunting lodge in Iowa called the Nodaway River Lodge.  

 Dale smoked some Ribs & we all had dinner at the Lodge.

I loved the chandeliers. 

 It was really beautiful & we all had a great time.

Thank you Dale, Sharon, Jimmy & Marilyn for the hospitality!  For all you hunters out there it's a great place to go!  

You can find it on the web at nodawayriverlodge.com.

Well, the next morning it was time to say adios. 

Pat & Morrie will head on with Tammy & Rich to see some things in Colorada and the National Parks in Utah.  We saw all the parks a few years ago with Kathy & Bob so we are taking a different path.  We had a great time these last 2 months with the Staads and the best part is we are still friends!  See you guys in a couple of weeks at the Point in Mesa.