I am back in Elkton...what a wonderful time I have had. After leaving Des Moines, I headed north to U.S.Route 20, the Ulysses S Grant National Highway (something I didn't know, but it is called that in Illinois, at least) These U.S. Highways were the precursors to the Interstates, and all had names, besides numbers. U.S. Route 30 is called the Lincoln Highway, and runs through Dick's town of Nevada, Iowa. U.S. Route 20 ran through Sudbury, MA, where we lived for 27 years, and also through Fort Dodge, Iowa, where I was born and raised. It is indeed a small world.

There was a little rain, but not too much. Passed by fields of Black Eyed Susans, waving gayly to me as I waved back. Got to Dubuque in about three hours, but I had left DM around 10:30AM and I was tired and hungry. Stopped at the Best Western, and got my room, and basically stayed put. Decided I deserved to stay another night, and spent most of the next day, exploring the National Museum of the Mississippi. What a wonderful complex. I saw every aquarium (about six or eight of them) each showing a different aspect of animal and plant life, from the head waters, to the delta and out to sea. I saw a blue catfish, which lives in the deepest parts, and had to be fifty pounds or more. I used to catch bullheads and catfish in the Des Moines River...off the shore or in the rowboat. Stopped fishing when my brother Dick refused to clean them anymore...never liked them much anyway...but mother was always good and cooked them up for us. The only fresh water fish I really like now is trout.

I also read every display, watched three or four movies and slide shows, and tried to steer a tug boat, pushing 6 barges, under a bridge. Failed the two times I tried. Not an easy task.

When I was finished seeing everything I wanted to see, had a bite to eat, and of course visited the gift shop, I called the hotel, and someone came to pick me up.
Dubuque is a beautiful old city, and there are lots and lots of places to see...I will come back with my niece, Casey, who was born and raised there. She can be my guide. Right Casey????

The next day there were rain clouds in the west heading east. I got into Matilda and on to U.S.20, crossing the Mississippi as I drove into Illinois. The first town I went through was Galena, which is an old beautiful town, with wonderful houses, and shops. Another time...The sky was getting dark behind me, an almost navy blue, and I knew a storms was brewing. When I crossed the Illinois River, there was one black and white men's shoe lying on the side..looked like a golf shoe...do you think that a golfer had hit his ball so hard that it landed in the river and he went in to look for it?

When I got to I39, heading south, the heavens opened up, with incredible thunder and lightning. The rain was so heavy that many of us just pulled over, with our emergency lights on, and sat it out. As the rain lightened up, I got back on the road. Then the rain stopped but those blue black clouds were still a-comin...both ahead of me, and behind me. Just slightly left of center, there was an opening in the sky, right along the horizon. It reminded me of a stage, with the curtains pulled open...then slowly, the curtains began to close. I was fascinated. I just love clouds anyway...

I got on to I74 in Illinois, and headed southeast, for I 70 in Indiana. I made reservations outside of Indianapolis for that night. I was ahead of the clouds, but they were slowly catching up. One huge thunderhead was in the shape of an enormous blacksmith's anvil...it was to my left, and I watched it change in size, as I sped along. Every once in a while, I would turn off my tape, and put on the radio...the air waves were full of warnings - heavy storm, heavy lightning, high winds, tornadoes...all coming straight towards where I was headed! The lightning was spectacular, cloud to cloud, and cloud to ground. I was listening to a book on tape, but I sure could hear the thunder overhead. It was just sprinkling a little. When I got to my motel very near to where I would pick up I 70, I went over to a nearby Jimmy Buffett restaurant, Cheeseburger Lagoon or some such thing, and got take out. While I waited I had a margarita, and watched the people and the sky. The winds were now blowing 50-60 MPH I am sure, and there was plenty of thunder and lightening, but no rain. As soon as I got my food, and started out the door, it began to pour...and I mean pour! I was soaked by the time I got to my car and drove back to the motel. It was so hot and humid out, it was really like being in a steam bath...I could have just stripped down and taken a bath and washed my hair, with no problem...an open air shower!!!

Left for Elkton yesterday morning, around 10 or so. I am never in a hurry...not any more. Got to I70, and headed east. The worst part of my trip was handing out nearly nine dollars to the Pennsylvania Turnpike! I didn't realize that one part of I 70, runs with the Pennsy Pike I 76. When I went west, I took I 68 through Maryland and then picked up I 70. Lesson learned...

Lots of mail, some checks...always welcome...two books, and junk mail awaited me. June and Bucky were at a reunion, and came in about a half hour after me. Today, with June, daughter Jennifer, daughter-in-law Joy, we went to be pampered...all of having pedicures, sitting in massage chairs that every once in while gave you a tush massage...luxury, sheer luxury. And now I am back a the house writing this, while June is at Costco getting stuff for the impending wedding ... this Saturday...Bucky just went over to his son-in-law's to help with the completion of a new deck. And the beat goes on...

Adieu, adios, mahalo,
Love,
Sally