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Post date: Jul 2, 2015 2:20:02 PM
The Iowa House served breakfast in the large dining room. The room was furnished with two large tables and a long buffet. Coffee was strong and plentiful. Breakfast was made to order. Not being much of a breakfast eater, I sat with Ron while he enjoyed pancakes and bacon. I drank coffee. The cook offered Ron a Bloody Mary which he eagerly accepted. Today he claimed the backseat and navigator duties. Shaelyn was driver. I returned upstairs to my room to shower, while Shaelyn joined Ron in the dining room. The two of them had an extended conversation with the cook.
–Lisa
Once my dad and I were finished with breakfast we headed outside to check on the car. The oil was right where it should be and I was just setting a few of my things in the car when the cook, Carl, came out the back door to talk to us.
"Nice ride."
The conversation went on for us to find out that he had a GTO when he was younger, he travels a lot, he loves China, and he runs a dojo in town. His son is currently in LA working as a trained fighter. Not only did he cook, but he is also a restaurant designer. While his son was growing up he was working at redesigning McDonald's up and down the west coastline and when his son grew up he returned to college to study architecture and interior design (has a masters). He and I exchanged information so that I could contact his son when I (hopefully) set out for LA myself as well as him should I be in town and in need of a martial arts lesson.
Following this encounter we set off on the Old Lincoln Highway (Route 30) across Iowa, ducking in and out of old towns. We were making a beeline for the Picker's Store (not including my mother's stops for corn photos and ice cream).
Frankly, I was disappointed by the Picker's Store, where antiques took a back seat to merchandise, but not by a man we met there. AJ Fisher from Louisiana. He was out in Iowa visiting an old Air Force buddy and had been taken up to the store. He informed us that he used to have a 61 Valiant that he owned for 17 years then sold to his nephew who had it for another 3. By the time the 20 years was up the Valiant was beat up at the least but still running – an endorsement for the 225 Slant Six. During his time in the Air Force he drove his Valiant all over the West, installing radio towers. He told us countless stories about his time with his car in a delightful Louisiana drawl. AJ was a wonderful storyteller, speaking with charm and animation and keeping us engaged through each reminiscence.
For dinner, we settled in on a deck beside the Mississippi, where the breeze was so strong we had to go back for towels that we would use as blankets. The dinner itself was quite good, Mexican burritos and fish tacos at the Blue Iguana.
~ S.H.
When we went back to our hotel, I decided to go to the front desk and ask if they offered a AAA discount. The young tattooed lady working the front desk replied they did offer AAA discounts. She then added, that she could give us an even better discount than AAA because we had such a cool car. Thank you again Lola. You saved us $50.
Lisa
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