The last couple of days have been a whirlwind good time! Monday we drove over 200 miles in a circle to the east and south of Osceola. We visited Pella....a very quaint Historical Dutch Village with some buildings over 150 years old, a vermeer windmill, that is the tallest working windmill in the U.S., produces flour for the local bakeries and meat shops. We strolled in the shady square park where they hold the annual tulip festival in May. The grounds are groomed and kept very clean. We stopped in a Dutch bakery and had a sampling of a traditional pastry, an "S" shaped pastry filled with Almond paste. Followed a suggestion by some folks who live there and had lunch in a meat shop on the square, home made bologna sandwiches. The Klokkenspel clock, on the odd hour has figures in small windows above the sidewalk that perform actions that tell a story. Awesome! Pella is the foundation and headquarters for Pella Windows and lots of the buildings downtown have replacement windows by Pella, and a Interpretive Center in the windmill displays a timeline that outlines the history of the town. Later in the afternoon we drove south and through Ottumwa Iowa, and on through Davis, an Amish based county. We stopped in an Amish furniture store and looked at furniture made locally. We passed a horse and buggy on the road being driven by an Amish boy. The weather was beautiful for the drive and it was a long day but very enjoyable. Tuesday, another beautiful day, the route was North and west and although we had to drive between attractions and on gravel roads, it was only half the total miles.
We toured 6 covered bridges and the towns of Winterset and St. Charles Iowa. There was a movie several years ago...the Bridges of Madison County, with Clint Eastwood and Meryl Streep, A love story based on a true story filmed in the county. Now I need to rent that movie and watch it again to see if I recognize anything. John Wayne was born and raised for his first 4 years in the town of Winterset...and we took time out to tour that house yesterday also, but they didn't allow any pictures inside the house. They have a wonderful park in Winterset that is h
ome to one of the 6 bridges, a stone foot bridge that was in the movie also. It has a campground and a 25 foot limestone tower, a memorial to one of the pioneer families. We sat downtown in the courthouse square and looked at all of the early architecture, the ornate Courthouse being built in 1822. Iowa has a signature sandwich, called the "Maid Rite"....the same as Nebraska has the "Runza." It's a loose meat specially seasoned sandwich on homemade bread that you can't get anywhere but Iowa. You guessed it! We had to go there for lunch. Coffee break was downtown in the Mercantile store....with coffee and English Toffee. Just experiencing a little of the local and historical flavor. At one of the bridges, we saw a water moccasin at the river below that ducked under the water. The last bridge, had a small park, gazebo and grill for picnics. We then hit the nearest carwash and headed for home. The casino had a prime rib buffet and hot slots. We
have really enjoyed this place and after our winnings have pretty much stayed here for free. night before last, I was sitting there and they called my name! I won money in a drawing. Wheel of fortune is my friend! We will go back over there today sometime...if we get rested up, so that may change. I would recommend this place to anyone travelling through. It's a blast. DH is going to play in a poker tourney tonight. I will stay home and sleep! Tomorrow we will press on over to Amana to sit down over the 4th of July holiday. I sent for our mail, and we have to take the coach into Cedar Rapids for a repair while we are in that area, so will be there for 6 or 7 days. Today we are getting a slow start and don't think we'll do much. I'm tired.
The last couple of days have been a whirlwind good time! Monday we drove over 200 miles in a circle to the east and south of Osceola. We visited Pella....a very quaint Historical Dutch Village with some buildings over 150 years old, a vermeer windmill, that is the tallest working windmill in the U.S., produces flour for the local bakeries and meat shops. We strolled in the shady square park where they hold the annual tulip festival in May. The grounds are groomed and kept very clean. We stopped in a Dutch bakery and had a sampling of a traditional pastry, an "S" shaped pastry filled with Almond paste. Followed a suggestion by some folks who live there and had lunch in a meat shop on the square, home made bologna sandwiches. The Klokkenspel clock, on the odd hour has figures in small windows above the sidewalk that perform actions that tell a story. Awesome! Pella is the foundation and headquarters for Pella Windows and lots of the buildings downtown have replacement windows by Pella, and a Interpretive Center in the windmill displays a timeline that outlines the history of the town. Later in the afternoon we drove south and through Ottumwa Iowa, and on through Davis, an Amish based county. We stopped in an Amish furniture store and looked at furniture made locally. We passed a horse and buggy on the road being driven by an Amish boy. The weather was beautiful for the drive and it was a long day but very enjoyable. Tuesday, another beautiful day, the route was North and west and although we had to drive between attractions and on gravel roads, it was only half the total miles. 
ome to one of the 6 bridges, a stone foot bridge that was in the movie also. It has a campground and a 25 foot limestone tower, a memorial to one of the pioneer families. We sat downtown in the courthouse square and looked at all of the early architecture, the ornate Courthouse being built in 1822. Iowa has a signature sandwich, called the "Maid Rite"....the same as Nebraska has the "Runza." It's a loose meat specially seasoned sandwich on homemade bread that you can't get anywhere but Iowa. You guessed it! We had to go there for lunch. Coffee break was downtown in the Mercantile store....with coffee and English Toffee. Just experiencing a little of the local and historical flavor. At one of the bridges, we saw a water moccasin at the river below that ducked under the water. The last bridge, had a small park, gazebo and grill for picnics. We then hit the nearest carwash and headed for home. The casino had a prime rib buffet and hot slots. We 
have really enjoyed this place and after our winnings have pretty much stayed here for free. night before last, I was sitting there and they called my name! I won money in a drawing. Wheel of fortune is my friend! We will go back over there today sometime...if we get rested up, so that may change. I would recommend this place to anyone travelling through. It's a blast. DH is going to play in a poker tourney tonight. I will stay home and sleep! Tomorrow we will press on over to Amana to sit down over the 4th of July holiday. I sent for our mail, and we have to take the coach into Cedar Rapids for a repair while we are in that area, so will be there for 6 or 7 days. Today we are getting a slow start and don't think we'll do much. I'm tired.
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