Letters from Base Camp 23
27th & 28th July
2007
Day 19 - Friday 27th
Pete has been looking forward to today for a very long time and I am so pleased to be able to share it with him. Today is the 'Field of Dreams', ie: "Is this heaven? No, it's Iowa." The book and film have really inspired Pete, along with the fact he would love to be a sports journalist. Combine the two and you have the basis for this trip! So, excitedly, off we go. Pete only does cool, hidden excitement, but I know he's excited inside! He is also very much a realist and believes when you build yourself up for something, the more of a let down it tends to be, or it's completely different to how you expected, and we immediately realise it's not going to be as amazing as we'd hoped as there are several thousand cyclists going to the same place. Oh well. We still make the most of it and it feels amazing to finally be here. It is a very special place. The kind of place you would love to bring your family to. Shame about all the people, which takes away the charm a bit. Still, he had me to share it with, and even though we never bothered running the bases or playing catch, as that's not what it's about to us (and we're not very sporty!) but also, it's not as special when there's several other people around you doing the same thing. But we strolled around, talking about the film and the story behind it all and did the 'walking out of the corn' bit. That's as 'corny' as we get ;)
I spotted a little kid with a lemonade stand on the way, so we stop off and get some lovely home-made lemonade and a rice krispie cake from him. You don't get much more American than that! Bless him, he's so cute. I read one of those 'Life's Little Lessons' posters the other day. They always seem to be in the 'rest rooms' here. I love stuff like that and take it literally (what I can remember anyway!). It said 'Buy whatever kids are selling on card tables in their front yards'. So I did. And it was yummy :) And he had a gorgeous dog with him, so that was a bonus. Probably not the healthiest thing to do, cuddle a dog just before I eat something with my hands, but hey, it'll build up my immune system!
We have some more driving to do, to get to Cedar Rapids for the baseball on Sunday. So another hours drive and we can chill for the evening in, what will hopefully be, our home for the next three nights.
Today we passed Raymond, Gilbertville, Jesup, Independance, Manchester!, Dehli!, Cascade, Monticello, Anamosa, Springville, Marion & Bertram.
We arrive at Cedar Rapids and find a great hotel with lovely big rooms - fab :) Pete has just realised we've got nothing to do on Saturday. We don't quite know what to do with ourselves!? Probably relax, have a look around, more shopping no doubt and just catch up on those little jobs he never has time to do. So we're looking forward to having a base for a few days after driving half the country, pretty much non-stop! Not that I'm complaining. I love getting up and not knowing where we're going from one day to the next! Road tripping rocks!
Without hesitation, we go to the Granite City Restaurant and Brewery for our dinner (Pete saw it as sign that we were meant to stay at this hotel), one of the many restaurants surrounding our hotel, and have yet another amazing and hearty meal of steak and garlic mash, which still makes me feel full just thinking about it. Pete gets to try out several unusual beers. He's a very happy man. I then make the he-uuuge mistake of being tempted by the ice-cream parlour next door. Pete refuses because he is sensible. I ask for a medium cookie dough, in a chocolatey waffle cone bowl thing. It's very cool how he mixes it all up in front of me, like he's making a pizza! But as soon as he takes out a supposedly 'medium' scoop I remember that medium actually means ridiculously, massively, f***ing humungous! I don't know what I was thinking! (I lose all sensible thought processes when it comes to ice-cream). I get about three spoonfuls in until I have to give up. Just looking at it makes my stomach want to burst! Pete ends up eating it cos it's just too good to waste. His stomach hates me. We both collapse tired and very full but happy :)
Day 20 - Saturday 28th
I have a lovely big lie-in while Pete does his chores and then we pop to the mall down the road to do some (more!) shopping. I intend on buying gifts only but I just can't resist these prices, plus everything's on sale! I really have to use my will power as I'm not sure my suitcase is going to be big enough any more. I have some serious 'Wilky' packing to do!
Pete's been telling me about these great, unique German villages, called the Armana Colonies. They are self-sufficient and have kept their original, simple way of life for all these years. A real community spirit. Something worth seeing. So we head off on what seems to be a straight forward journey, but immediately go the wrong way and drive in circles for ages until we give up and head back to Red Lobster which Pete has been saying I must try since the beginning of my trip. Oh well, our intentions were (initially) were good! I, very daringly, as I'm a very fussy eater, try out a new fish, Tilapia, Cajun style. Tastes a bit like cod. Fine by me :) I even try some of Pete's sea food platter. I'm feeling particularly adventurous this evening! I even wash it all down with a couple of gee-orr-gee-ous coconut and strawberry Pina Coladas! Now i've had a few Pina Coladas in my time, but these were, by faaaaar, the best yet. I don't even care that I have the hiccups for the rest of the evening. Some may find this annoying but we just find it hilarious! I'm not a big drinker, and this is one of the reasons why!
I really do feel spoilt rotten. All these great journeys, sights, experiences, food, shopping, and now the best cocktails, ever! I am such a lucky girl... hic! ... Let me tell you.... hic!... what woz I sayin?... hic!... I'll tell yoooo when I've had enuff ...hic! ...come 'ere and say that ...why I oughtta! ...hic! ... I love you sooo much! ...hic! ....zzzzzzzzz
The great-hic! ....signing out x |
