Day Three – September 11, 2018
A very bright sunny day here in Iowa. The river view is gorgeous and we are anxious to see some more sights. First, we check the weather to see what Hurricane Florence is doing because we have family members that may be affected. Then we text our niece, Renee, to wish her a fabulous birthday!
A hot breakfast and we pack the car and are off for gas. The gas station just happens to be on the same street as our next stop: Davenport Street – Antique Archaeology – the shops where “American Pickers” conduct business. You may have seen their show on the History Channel. Sadly they are not open this early but we stop and take photos and peak in the windows! Still a fun stop.
Next we travel south to Moline, Illinois. We meander along the Mississippi and notice a lot of commerce but not much river traffic at this time.
Cute place, Moline, bridge construction and road construction downtown.
We arrive at our destination: The John Deere Pavilion! This is a large structure containing vintage and the most modern-day equipment. The sheer size of some of this equipment is amazing. Admission is free and there are docents to guide you and answer questions. Darryl was very helpful!
There are interactive displays, some of the equipment has stairways that invite guests to sit in the cabs of the rig, videos, and a play area for children of all ages.
Dale was able to sit inside some of the equipment and had fun trying to figure out how to operate them!
Of course, we had to go into the John Deere Store as well – we look around and decide we really don’t need a motorized go kart!
So, we are off through Iowa. It doesn’t take very long to see Iowa is serious about John Deere – we saw several transport trucks carrying John Deere equipment! We travel through Davenport, Des Moines, and Iowa City.
You may think Iowa is flat – but this part is more rolling hills – and miles and miles and miles of corn fields.
We did not equate Iowa with wind energy – but it appears they take that option very seriously. Seems like hundreds of them.
As we get closer to Council Bluffs the traffic picks up and then suddenly we are in Nebraska and the middle of Omaha!
We wanted to stop at the Union Pacific Railroad Museum in Council Bluffs but they are closed today. The speed limit in Nebraska is 75 so we are on the move and end up in Kearney for the night. Not sure what is going on here today but a lot of the hotels are filled so we feel fortunate to get a nice room in a newer hotel. Plenty of room to work and then relax.
Looks like dinner at a nearby Ruby Tuesday’s and then bed! But wait – there is something way cool in the bathroom area in this room – the mirrors buttons! One is for additional light, and the other is for defrosting the mirror! I can see this in our future bathrooms in both houses!
Good dinner – salad bar (healthy!) combo with 2 small sliders (protein).
