We put Indiana, Illinois and Iowa in the rear view mirror. Driving was easy, the girls are good travelers. First day, Wednesday June 15 was from Bloomington to Hidden Hills Vineyard and Winery. A little south of the quad cities it was a convenient place to stop. We set up, bought a bottle of wine and then went to eat at Big Catz BBQ in Galesburg. Here’s a picture of the place, yoga going on on the patio behind us.
Will’s an expert at setting up and taking down Rosie. After some soccer practice in the AM we headed out. After lunch at one of Will’s known spots in Des Moine, the oldest chinese restaurant in Iowa, now a pizzaria/chinese fusion place, the second night was spent at Soldier Creek vineyard in Iowa.
Crab Rangoon and General Tso’s pizza, and Will’s birthday day present. A surprise but he won’t read this until after he’s gotten it.
We are set up just off the corner of the building, Rosie can be seen if you squint. There was live music on the lawn and a pretty good crowd. We had a bottle of their cider, two beers and two lemonades. Sautéed peppers, summer squash and summer sausage were our supper. The owner has 1,000’s of acres of corn and soy beans, his daughter learned wine making at Purdue, came home, got her masters at Iowa State and then set up this vineyard. The rows of grapes were labeled and numbered, I didn’t walk to them all but estimate 250 rows, about a dozen different varieties of grapes. Their house is just behind the crowd, that yellow building in the upper left is their garage.
Third day, Saturday June 17 we had a driving snafu, got separated. Will and Anne Kash, and Jackie, went north from Soldier Hill (Fort Dodge, IA), we went west. Too complicated to explain why. We met up in Sioux Falls S.D., just past the northwest corner of Iowa. Everything around here is Sioux, city, falls, center, rapids. We were pleasantly surprised by the falls and surrounding park.
Best picture of the falls. The pinkish red rock is jasper.
The whole crew. Jackie terrified of heights, who knew there was something that bothered that dog.
What could possibly go wrong? 20 yards upstream from the falls
‘Peggy’s reaction
It was so much fun we spent almost 4 hours there. Left for Mitchell, S.D., home of the world’s only Corn Palace, quite impressive. In the process of building 2023’s mural, here are some pictures of 2022’s circus themed murals that haven’t been taken down yet…..
Ate at Back 40 tap room across the street, some bikers couldn’t finish their steaks, and couldn’t take a box with them so Sammy and Jackie got a rare treat. It’s Sunday morning as I write this. On to Horse Thief campground with a stop at Wall drugs for lunch and groceries.
Roses 1.0 Van Life 
The amount of planning that must go into your trips is mind boggling! I would be interested to know if every stop is planned ahead or if you just see interesting things along the way? How would anyone know
about the corn palace???? Amazingly talented people in this world…
Your girls are growing up. I think these types of experiences are the memories that their futures are built upon…. You are great grandparents to put in the time and such effort. They will always remember that.
I love reading about and seeing the pics of your adventures! Have the best time!
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