October 2 - 4, 2017:
It was a bout 60 miles of nothing but corn fields and farms on route 30 west from Cedar Rapids, luckily I like corn fields. This section of route 30 is an original section of the “Lincoln Highway” the first transcontinental highway. The highway bypassed all the towns and was a good ride. At Marshalltown, Iowa we exit on route 330 into Des Moines, Iowa and find our way to the Yellow Banks County Campground. It’s electric hookup only with a dump station, water spigots and a shower house.
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| Miles and miles of corn fields |
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| We're on the Lincoln Highway |
We head into Des Moines in the afternoon, about 9 miles from the campground, stopping at the visitors center and then walking a few blocks of the central downtown area. The Des Moines River runs through the city and the heavy flooding in 2008 did much damage. As in Cedar Rapids, it appears that much of the riverfront area has been totally rebuilt and some areas remain under construction.
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In Iowa they say "Hell Yes' a lot
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A large metal sculpture near the visitors center
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The World Food Prize Hall of Laureates is home to the
World Food Prize known as the "Noble Prize for Food and Agriculture"
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View of the Capital from Locust Street
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The Royal Mile was calling me, but I never made it there
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A great building facade, it's now a dry cleaning shop
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These massive colorful murals really stood out
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The Lion heads were ferocious looking
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The Des Moines River tore up the surrounding city, it's still
being repaired
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The City Hall is still closed for repair and renovation
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| Beautiful Polk County Courthouse |
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Lobby of the Hotel Randolph is classic art deco
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They have skywalks all around the central downtown area
which must be nice on frigid winter days
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| Great building at Walnut and 5th avenue in downtown |
Des Moines is the capital of Iowa with the capital building constructed between 1871 and 1886. Unfortunately the exterior of the capital is currently undergoing repair and is covered in scaffolding. This capital is unique as there are five domes on the building. We were most impressed with the overall quality of the woodwork, the various shades of granite used and the colorful floor tiles, definitely one of best Capital buildings.
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The cloudy day makes it stand out dramatically
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The top of the dome
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Looking straight up into the dome
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Looking down onto the Grand Staircase
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Inside the impressive law library
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Coming down a stairway
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Floor and bannisters were amazing
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Going up the Grand Staircase
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Looking straight down a winding stairway
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Could be a cover for Mad Magazine, very sad
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| Senate Chamber from the balcony |
There were also many great monuments on the capital grounds, I include a couple of them.
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The Solders and Sailors Monument completed in 1894, but due to
controversy over location and artistic details was not dedicated
for nearly 50 years until 1945
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Great artistry and detail
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Have a feeling this might be one of controversial artistic details
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The Allison Monument for William B Allison
who served in the Iowa Senate for 43 years |
We have noted that like Cedar Rapids and LaCrosse, it must be a Wisconsin thing, they have many one way streets and four way stop intersections. Contrary to many other places, drivers here at the four way stops know what to do and alternately zip through them without issue. They are also very bicycle friendly and have new bike lanes on streets to the right of car parking lanes, it looks and seems odd, but is probably safer.
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It's safe for the bikers, but with cars parked far way from the curb,
its easy to be driving in the parking lane without realizing it ? |
I managed to find a music venue that had a show that sounded interesting in place called “Lefty’s Live Music” in Des Moines. The band, “King of the Tramps” plays a mix of original roots rock, rhythm and blues, country rock and something often called "whiskey gospel". They were one of the most entertaining bands I have seen on the road this year. In talking to the lead guy after the show, I told him that as a full time Rv’er, I’m also sort of a “Tramp” and he asked where I was going. It turns out, he also spends time in the Tucson area during the winter, in the Oro Valley area and he said to look him up there.
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| The King of Tramps Band |
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| The walls of the club are covered with murals |
We gotta keep moving on, the next stop is Lincoln, Nebraska,
Twinkles and Slick
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