It takes about 2 hours to drive from Des Moines, IA to Omaha, NE. I had an AirBnB lined up there and had all day to get there. This was going to be one of my “work on the road” days. These are fun because I get to work from different types of places. The Bridges of Madison County are a little south west of Des Moines so it was the perfect side trip for the day.
I got my morning work routine completed and headed out of the AirBnB early. I grabbed a cup of coffee on the road and arrived at the first bridge.
Madison County used to have 19 covered bridges. There are only six left. I was able to see four of them.
Back when these were built, bridges were covered to protect the flooring timbers from the weather and make them last longer. The flooring wood was much more expensive than the rest of the structure.
The Imes Covered Bridge
The Imes Covered Bridge was easy to find. It’s right there when you get off the highway and is located in a well traveled area.
It was built in 1870 and had been moved twice over the years. I find it amazing that they can just pick up a bridge and move it somewhere else.
I took a walk across the bridge and noticed signatures all over the inside. Although this seemed to be a thing at all of the bridges, I opted not to sign.
There was another person there that morning as well. A dude that was traveling through Iowa and having his own road trip out of South Dakota. I ran into him later at a different bridge as well.
The Holliwell Covered Bridge
About 30 minutes down the road is the Holliwell Covered Bridge. This bridge was built in 1880 and is one of the bridges featured in Clint Eastwood’s movie. I found the area to be quiet and peaceful although there were plenty of tourists coming and going.
I took this opportunity to grab my chair and to walk down to the stream that went under the bridge. I fired up the hotspot and got some work done. There were no tourists down there and is was such a beautiful place to be. I feel blessed and grateful that I am able to work in so many unique places.
Getting work done at the Holliwell Bridge
Winterset, IA
The hub of Madison County is Winterset, IA. I had some meetings lined up in the afternoon so headed into town. I stopped at the Winterset Chamber of Commerce and used some of their space to take my meetings. I also walked around the town a bit.
I stopped in the local pharmacy for lunch. For those that don’t know, my grandfather started a pharmacy in the early 1900’s in Pottsville, PA where I was raised. My dad took it over and worked their his entire career. He would talk about back in the day when the pharmacy actually had a soda fountain and counter space. I often find myself stopping at independent pharmacies when I see them in small towns. They are rare now a days and a throw back to the past. The pharmacy in Winterset still had a soda fountain, so I stopped there for lunch.
Winterset Chamber of Commerce
Winterset City Hall
Cedar Covered Bridge
The Cedar Covered Bridge was built in 1883. In 2002 and in 2017, the bridge was destroyed by arson, however, was rebuilt both times. The bridge sits in its own park, the Cedar Bridge Park, (Quite the original name!) so I took advantage and fired up my hot spot for a while. In 1993, to promote the book, “Bridges of Madison County”, Oprah Winfrey hosted her show from this park. The Cedar Covered Bridge is the only covered bridge in Madison County that you can still drive over.
Cedar Bridge Park
Cedar Covered Bridge
Yup… video of me driving over Cedar Covered Bridge
My next stop was on my route, it was later in the day and I did need a gift for my friend that I would be staying with in Colorado. My work day was mostly complete, although, I would check the numbers and make some adjustments when I reached my AirBnB in Omaha. I bought a bottle for Wayne, and figured, since I was there, I’d get a tasting!
The facility was bright and airy and the woman giving the tasting was very knowledgable. I was allowed to have a small tasting of five different wines. I find wine tastings pretty funny because you get such a tiny little amount. But I guess that is the point. They were all excellent! She also helped me decide which of the final three bridges I’d go visit. The remaining bridges were all a little out of the way.
Hogback Covered Bridge
Built in 1884, this was my favorite of the four bridges. I had to travel a few miles of gravel roads to get to it and it was really out in the middle of nowhere. It was so peaceful and quiet that I ended up just sitting here for a stretch just being… and taking pictures.
I had spent the morning at the Iowa State Fair and was headed to my AirBnB. I was a bit early on check in time and had to find something to knock out a little over an hour. I thought I’d visit something from my Des Moines to-do list, the Pappajohn Sculpture Park. (Not related to the pizza guy) This sculpture park, located in downtown Des Moines, is considered one of the most significant collections of outdoor sculptures in the United States.
Some of my favorite sculptures from the park.
There was an entryway into the center of this sculpture of rainbow colored glass. I stood in the center and took a panorama shot. If you look closely…. there is a different color selfie of me in each panel.
I really enjoyed the following two sculptures, especially the one peering around from the back. I like the goofiness and emotion they have that makes me wonder what is going on in their heads. (nothing, they are sculptures!)
Ugo Rondinone sculpture in Des Moines
Ugo Rondinone sculpture that I recalled seeing in San Francisco!
I spent most of the day in my AirBnB working, however, I did have two excursions.
My first outing was to Mullets Restaurant. Mullets was recommended to me as a great place to eat breakfast. This recommendation came from the bartender at the Meskwaki Casino where I stayed the night before arriving in Des Moines. I have found that most recommendations that I’ve been gotten along the way have been spot on and my breakfast didn’t disappoint.
I loved the pictures covering the walls of people with mullets! There were pictures of some of my favorite Phillies from the 80’s as well as an area for patrons to send in their own pictures. I’m thinking of pulling my old mullet picture out and sending it in!
The staff was very friendly and the food was served quickly. I had the breakfast rarebit and it was rich and delicious. I was also able to get WiFi here so enjoyed a leisurely meal and spent some time getting work done.
My other outing was after work to Pickard Disc Golf Course. I was looking forward to this course as it had recently been used on the Disc Golf Pro Tour.
An elevated tee pad platform
It was another brutally hot day and I did get a little frustrated when I arrived. Due to the recent tournament, the baskets were not in the normal positions. I found myself wandering around in the heat trying to figure things out. This is a pet peeve of mine. I hate when I get to a course and the signage is so bad that I spend half my time just trying to find the correct basket. I did, after some time, manage to figure things out using my UDisc app. Otherwise… five star.
I really enjoyed this course. It was beautifully maintained and challenging with rolling hills, some wooded shots and water that was in play. Although I feel I played well, I did manage to land two disc in water but easily retrievable. I hope to play this course again some day.
This was one of my drives. I nailed the shot from here! One of my best birdies on the trip.
I really enjoyed Des Moines, IA. There are some good disc golf courses in the area, excellent food and some fun places to walk around.
Des Mones, IA
It was my first full day in Des Moines. After working the morning at my AirBnB, I headed up to Smokey D’s BBQ for lunch. This place was recommended to my by our Des Moines MaidPro owner. Unfortunately, he was not in town while I was there.
Smokey D’s boasts being the winner of over 90 State BBQ championships and over 1000 local, regional, and national awards. I ordered my lunch to go and ate it back at my Des Moines home so I could get more work done. The MaidPro owner had specifically recommended the mac and cheese which I did include in my order and he was right. It’s hard to go wrong with mac and cheese, but this was outstanding. Along with the Texas toast that was included and the burnt ends I ordered, it was an excellent lunch. My AirBnB host said she was jealous and I believe ended up going there for dinner.
Smokey D’s BBQ
At the end of my work day, I headed out to play Ewing Park Disc Golf course located in the southern area of Des Moines. It was in the mid 90’s with full humidity, but I had to play the course. It was a very pretty course that played around a lilac arboretum. Too bad they weren’t in bloom. I enjoyed the course which had some nice challenges around trees but also some big open shots. I guess most people were staying in and out of the heat. There was no one else there. It was so quiet and peaceful
One of the tee pads
You can see the basket
between the trees at the
bottom of the hill
And I played well!
After the round I decided to head into Des Moines to see the capitol building and explore that area.
Shattering Silence Monument
Des Moines in the background of the Shattering Silence Monument
“The sculpture is adjacent to the building that houses the Iowa Supreme Court and at the top of the hill overlooking the Des Moines skyline. It is in commemoration of the 170th anniversary of the landmark 1839 Iowa Territorial Supreme Court ruling that prohibited slave Ralph Montgomery from being extradited back to Missouri after he failed to raise the $550 he promised to pay to buy his freedom. The Iowa Art Council’s newsletter describes the art as a commemoration of “those moments when Iowa has been at the forefront of breaking the silence of inequality and commemorates those Iowans who refused to stand by silently when they saw injustice.” – Greater Des Moines Public Art Foundation
I finished my day eating dinner at Jethro’s BBQ. This place was recommended to me by the bar tender at the Meskwaki Casino. I had stayed at the casino the final night before getting to Des Moines and we had a nice conversation. She enjoyed hearing about my trip and had a few places she thought I should visit while here. She said the wings at Jethro’s were her favorite. I sat outside, drank a local beer, watched football and ate the wings. It was another successful recommendation and a great day in Des Moines.
I left Pottsville on my way to Myrtle Beach and decided to see Gettysburg. I was not in any kind of rush and although it was a really cold day out, I wanted to go explore. I had visited Gettysburg on a field trip when I was in middle school but didn’t recall much of that trip.
It was 27° – cold – that day
Gettysburg has over 1300 monuments, markers and memorials
The guy that invented baseball fought here.
I enjoyed reading about the history and seeing where both sides fought from
Since I couldn’t get into my AirBnB in Des Moines until later in the afternoon, my plan was to arrive early in the day and get to the Iowa State Fair. How often would I have the opportunity to go to this fair. I arrived in time to catch the last day.
What do you do when you go to a state fair? Eat!
I ate the Bacon-wrapped Rib on-a-stick
I ate the curly fries with cheese
I ate the hard boiled egg with
Old Bay Seasoning on a stick
I did not eat the Iowa lobster
There were fun things to see including the famous butter cow! Yes…. it is a full size sculpture made of butter which is housed behind glass in the butter room.
I was curious what they did with the cow after the fair. So I did a little digging. After the fair, they turn off the fridge and let the butter soften. They then put it into about 20 5 gallon buckets and store it until the next year. They store the butter and will use it for future butter cow sculptures…. about 4 years worth!
Just like other fairs, there were other interesting things to see.
Lots of people here and I could see Des Moines in the distance.
I left the fair around noon but did go back in the evening to see the Doobie Brothers close out the fair.
When I embarked on my journey from Portland, ME, with the goal of heading west, my primary objective was to cross the Mississippi River and venture into Iowa as swiftly as possible. I reasoned that exploring the eastern side of the Mississippi could be accomplished over a long weekend or a week-long trip at some point in the future. For now, my sights were firmly set on the uncharted territories to the west.
With over 22 hours of driving and two overnight stops behind me, I finally arrived at my first major destination around 9 A.M. on a Saturday morning. My plan was to spend the night at an AirBnB in Des Moines, so I decided to make a slight detour to the Field of Dreams in Dyersville, IA. What made this side trip particularly appealing was the opportunity to leave the major highways behind and navigate the scenic backroads of Iowa. At times, I found myself traversing gravel roads in the heart of Iowa’s picturesque countryside.
Driving through Iowa
Gravel roads in Iowa
As I approached the Field of Dreams, I noticed that it was free to park and enter, welcoming visitors to explore its hallowed grounds. The field buzzed with activity; families and friends scattered across the landscape. Children played catch with their fathers, while others enthusiastically ran the bases. Families lounged on blankets, and groups posed for photographs, capturing cherished moments.
I decided to take a moment to unwind and appreciate the tranquil atmosphere. I reclined in the exquisitely manicured outfield, allowing the serenity to wash over me. I wandered into the cornfields and gazed out at the iconic field. My journey then took me up to the house, where I explored the bleachers and visited the charming gift shop. As I soaked in the ambience, I couldn’t help but observe the diverse crowd, spanning all age groups, with a few individuals even donning complete baseball uniforms.
Unexpectedly, an announcement echoed through the air, instructing everyone to clear the field. It turned out that I had arrived just in time for the last “Ghost Game” of the season, an hour-long, interactive comedy performance presented by the renowned Ghost Players, aptly known as the “Greatest Show on Dirt.” I had no prior knowledge of this delightful surprise!
Much like in the movie, the Ghost Players emerged from the cornfields, each introduced by enthusiastic announcers. To my amazement, some of them had actually appeared in the original film. The performance included the rendition of the Star-Spangled Banner and a brief history of this long-standing tradition, which had been captivating audiences for over 30 years. The Ghost Players engaged in a friendly game of catch before mingling with the crowd. Selecting a few lucky kids from the audience, they allowed them to bat against the ghosts and round the bases.
I watched in sheer delight for a while, savoring this unexpected spectacle, before eventually resuming my journey towards Des Moines. This impromptu stop had set a perfect tone for the adventures that lay ahead.
I need to plan an upcoming roadtrip stemming from my parents getting a house for our clan in the Orlando area. The clan includes my folks, my siblings, my kids and my nieces and nephews. I figure since I’ll be driving to Florida for this, I should take advantage of warm weather and see where I can explore. Based on the timing of the Orlando reservation, I think the most I could spend on the road, before needing to be back, would be up to 11 weeks.
Here are my original thoughts for the best strategy to approach this trip….
Get an Airbnb in Raleigh for the week and work there on the way down. This will break up the trip nicely and allow me to get most of the driving done on the weekends. Besides MaidPro Raleigh located there, I have a few friends in the area that I have not seen in way too long. Raleigh is one of those areas in Virginia that I’ve yet to visit. It will also give me a good working location as I really enjoy working and living out of AirBnBs. I get to experience, rather than just visit, locations.
Then I’ll take a vacation week while at the rental in Orlando with my family.
From there I’ll head down the east coast and stay with my Uncle and/or his daughter and family in Boca Raton for a work week. I’ll be able to visit a handful of Florida offices from Boca.
Go down to Miami and the keys for a week. The Keys, especially Key West, has been on my list for a long time and I’ve never had the opportunity to get there. This will also allow me to visit our Miami and Miami Beach offices.
Cut across the Everglades and head up the west coast to my folks in Sarasota for a few weeks.
During my stay in Sarasota, I’ll take a week trip and do a northeast loop to work and visit MaidPro offices including Tampa, Orlando and The Villages. I’ll do this while based at my folks but be on the road for the week.
Leaving Sarasota, I’ll head north and follow along the gulf coast around the panhandle to New Orleans and stay with an old friend that I have not seen in decades! I’m really looking forward to catching up with him and revisiting the city that I lived in for about 18 months. I haven’t been there since I left in 1993. I’ll also visit the Baton Rouge.
Head out to Lake Charles, up to Shreveport and across to Jackson, MS. I think I can do that in a weekend while working that Monday in Jackson, MS. When I lived in New Orleans, my work territory was Jackson. I wonder how much it has changed.
Birmingham, AL looks to be at the right distance to fit into the drive home. I’ll take the opportunity to see as many of our Alabama offices as possible.
Drive home through Tennessee, Virginia and maybe a stop over with cousins in NJ.
Mapped out, it looks something like this (the green pins are MaidPro locations).
I like the thought of following the full Florida coast. This will end up being a full investigation of Florida and if possible, get to see all of the Florida offices.
I also like that I’m going to explore alot of Louisiana and follow along the length of the Texas border without actually getting into Texas.
I did consider traveling a little further out west to the Texas offices. It would add about a month in order to get to all of those offices and there isn’t enough time on this trip.
I also considered heading home north through Arkansas, up to Kansas City and through St Louis. We have alot of offices in those areas I’d like to see. Unfortunately, again, there isn’t enough time on this trip. These will just have to wait for another time. Possibly when traveling to or from the river trip later next year.
Leaving Portland, ME on Aug 16, 2021 Arriving in Missoula, MT on September 15, 2021 Arriving in Boston, MA on October 13, 2021
These are posts from my trip to Missoula, MT and back. I haven’t added everything yet but continually add new posts. I really enjoy writing about this trip after the fact because I get to relive it as I write, dig up old pictures and research some of the facts of the locations I visited.
This was my first roadtrip that lasted more than two weeks and it went very smoothly. I saw so many new places and had so many new experiences as well as meeting people from all over. I enjoyed working and living in new places making me feel happier, healthier and even more engaged with our home office.
(Note: Some of these posts were migrated from my old blog platform. I’m going through all of my posts and updating the formatting, however, I have not gotten to some of the older ones yet. So formatting might not look so great.)
Embarking on this journey was like stepping into a dreamscape. The first leg traced the gentle curves of the Payette River, offering a serene soundtrack to my adventure. Amidst the breathtaking landscapes, I made memorable stops – savoring my first taste of huckleberry pie and delving into history at the White Bird Battlefield. Yet, as the sun dipped below the horizon, the latter part of the drive unfolded under a starry sky. This was more than a road trip; it was a scenic odyssey through the heart of nature’s wonders.
Embark on a thrilling journey from Craters of the Moon to Boise, featuring a scenic hike, a homemade rest stop lunch, and explorations in the vibrant city. Join the adventure!
There were moments on this trip were I felt I was able to get a better understanding of different perspectives of people and why they may do the things they do. On this particular day, it was that of the stupid tourist. You know….THAT guy.… Read more: Bison Tales
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A few hours north of Salt Lake City and on the north east shore of the Great Salt Lake is the Spiral Jetty. I visited here as a recommendation from a friend and it didn’t disappoint. What a magical place. I felt as if I were on a different planet.
I spent about a week in Salt Lake City with an old work friend. We hadn’t seen each other since he left Boston a few years ago and it was really great catching up. Although most of my week was inside his condo working, I… Read more: Visiting Salt Lake City – Sep 2021
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I arrived into Omaha late in the day and spent my first night exploring the Old Market. The Old Market in Omaha is the most historic and most entertaining neighborhood in the city. There are all kinds of shops, galleries, restaurants and taverns along its… Read more: The Old Market in Omaha – Aug 2021
Continuing on into Nebraska! It was a full day working and exploring the Bridges of Madison County. See my Bridges of Madison adventure here. A few hours driving and I crossed the Missouri river into Nebraska. Welcomed into Omaha I checked into my AirBnB in… Read more: Into Omaha, NE – Aug 2021
Des Moines to Omaha Bridges of Madison County It takes about 2 hours to drive from Des Moines, IA to Omaha, NE. I had an AirBnB lined up there and had all day to get there. This was going to be one of my “work… Read more: Bridges of Madison County, Winterset, IA – Aug 2021
Sometimes…. I found myself driving down gravel roads in Iowa. At times I would come to crossroads. Occasionally I stopped and I would look around and I would notice myself standing in the middle of nowhere in Iowa. I enjoyed the peacefulness of it. Sometimes… Read more: Gravel Roads in Iowa
I had spent the morning at the Iowa State Fair and was headed to my AirBnB. I was a bit early on check in time and had to find something to knock out a little over an hour. I thought I’d visit something from my… Read more: Pappajohn Sculpture Park, Des Moines – Aug 2021
I spent most of the day in my AirBnB working, however, I did have two excursions. My first outing was to Mullets Restaurant. Mullets was recommended to me as a great place to eat breakfast. This recommendation came from the bartender at the Meskwaki Casino… Read more: Exploring Des Moines – Day two – Aug 2021
I really enjoyed Des Moines, IA. There are some good disc golf courses in the area, excellent food and some fun places to walk around. Des Mones, IA It was my first full day in Des Moines. After working the morning at my AirBnB, I… Read more: Exploring Des Moines – Day One – Aug 2021
Join me on a cross-country adventure as I head westward, crossing the Mississippi River. Along the way, I make an unexpected stop at the legendary Field of Dreams in Dyersville, IA, where I explore this iconic baseball field and encounter the whimsical Ghost Players. Get ready for a surprising twist in my road trip narrative.
Made it into Iowa today…. Went from Niles, IL to the Meskwaki Casino about 1 hour shy of Des Moines. The casino is open 24 hours and is a really good place to stop for the night. I have access to clean bathrooms at any… Read more: Into Iowa – Aug 2021
