We’re home. We arrived here around 3:00 yesterday afternoon.
What an incredible adventure we’ve had! I’m so proud of the way we did it: 10 days to cross the country, taking our time, not planning too much, being open to new experiences and being willing to stop and stay a while when something or some place spoke to us. I wouldn’t have done it any other way. We had such a wonderful time and we met so many interesting people.
I thought I might share some photos over the next few days of places we visited. The last time I posted was several days ago – there just wasn’t time to write a blog post after a full day of driving. I found Instagram to be a better vehicle for posting on the fly.
I want to thank everyone who offered to take us out to dinner or grab a cup of coffee or offered us a place to stay. You are all so generous and kind. As much as we would have loved to meet you all, we did have to reach our cottage by a certain date and we had a lot of miles to cover. (I have to prep for my next stint at Hartford Stage, which starts in a few weeks.)
We thank you from the bottom of our hearts and sure hope that we can do it again, stopping to meet you along the way.
Corn everywhere. Green, beautiful – we saw it in Nebraska and all over Iowa. Nebraska was lovely. We made a special stop in Omaha for Don. He lived there for a few years when he was much younger and there was a special place, dear to his heart, that he wanted to see. That was a high point for him. It was very moving.
The night before we headed into Iowa, I remembered that there was some town that was known for antiques, so I googled it and came up with ‘Walnut, IA.’ So we made plans to stop there. It was a Sunday, so not all of the shops were open, but we had a bite to eat and explored the shops that were open and they were wonderful.
As we were driving into town, a lady who was all dressed up for church, carrying her Bible, flashed a big smile and waved at us. (I’m a Midwestern girl and recognized that Midwestern friendliness!)
They’re in the process of doing some work on the sidewalks. Love this brick street.
The restaurant where we stopped for a bite to eat.
One shop had tons of Roseville. But it was pricey. Nevertheless, I drooled a little. Okay…a lot.
I loved this shop. I could have gone nuts here! Full of wonderful finds (including really pretty clothing for women.)
This bird cage was the largest I’ve ever seen on a stand. It’s huge!
I found these there:
Had to, simply had to, have them.
We were leaving a restaurant when this happened. Some Jimmy Buffett fans were traveling back to Iowa from Chicago, where they had just seen him in concert. (I believe reader Kathy also went to that concert.) Anyway, they saw Don’s shirt and the rest is history. Such fun ladies. The lady on the left is doing ‘fins’ which I now understand as I’ve become acquainted with all things Jimmy Buffett through Escape to Margaritaville. They wanted to know all about the musical and we wanted to hear about the concert, so we had a great conversation.
Throughout the trip, we met people who shared their stories with us. I am in awe of the resilience and strength and humor and goodness that we found in just about every person we met along this journey. The connections are everything, aren’t they?
More tomorrow. I will now be back to posting every day and replying to your comments. Don’t forget Monday’s book review! I’m picking the winner tomorrow.
Happy Thursday.
Awwww. Weelcome home! It’s good to have you back.
I simply MUST read my comments before posting! Maybe someday…
xo
Thank you, Shanna!
glad you had such a wonderful and safe trip (and the time to take it), seeing our beautiful country and meeting nice people along the way! glad that don could visit that sentimental spot in omaha and that you are home now.
thanks for taking us along to see more of America The Great via your photos and posts!
yes, walnut (iowa) is a nice little town. hope you stopped at the bakery and got yourselves some goodies!
i like the photo of don and two iowa parrotheads … cute. i am happy for the lady on the right for getting one, but sad for me (but not too sad) being unable to get a “jimmy buffett at wrigley field” t-shirt when he played there this past saturday. those t-shirts sold out fast! but, as is my tradition, i bought a (different) jimmy shirt and am glad my sister and i could go see him there. looking forward to seeing the musical there and hope don will be in it!
hope you have lots of time to put your feet up and relax before all the hartford prep begins.
kathy in iowa
So sorry you didn’t get that t-shirt, but I bet you had a great time!
The bakery wasn’t open when we were there. I think Sunday was not the best day to visit – we’ll go back another time, for sure.
thanks, claudia. i’ll make it just fine without that specific t-shirt (i have many, many other jb t-shirts). the main thing was being able to spend that fun time with my sister! :) :)
and, yes, don’s most-recent-and-maybe-future boss puts on a great show!
oh, too bad you missed the bakery in walnut! if you get back this way, i hope you can stop there (or the amana colonies) when it’s open and get some treats … and will stop by here for dinner.
know you will enjoy being home together!
kathy in iowa
I wish I could have stopped at the Amana Colonies, too. We both said, “Next time!”
What a great trip. My sisters and I love antiquing in Iowa and have made some good friends along the way…..a beautiful state. Hope you had an ear of their corn….it’s the best! Know it feels good to sleep in your own bed after a few days away. Enjoy!
No time for corn, but we think our local sweet corn is the best we’ve ever had so we’ll be buying some very soon!
I have enjoyed sharing your trip, Claudia. But there’s no place like home!!
Enjoy a little rest before you take off for your Hartford job.
I will. After I finish mowing our very, very long grass!
I’ve enjoyed all the photos on IG and will enjoy the posts you will write. I love how you met so many great people on your trip! We do live in such an amazing country. Diverse, hardworking and proud. Love the Buffet fans you met. Oh the Roseville (drooling with you). I know you are glad to be home and even if it’s just a few weeks until you travel to Hartford. Hugs to you both!
Thank you, Linda! We’re adjusting to being together in the cottage. Don has been away so long that he has to remember where everything is, and I have my own routines, etc. It will all smooth out quickly!
It sounds like a fantastic adventure you two had. Those are our favorite road trips….the take off and see what’s out there! Winging it! Looking forward to hearing more stories. Now…take some time to rest! ;)
Winging it is the best!
I’m mowing the lawn – started yesterday and more today. It’s incredibly long and the temps are in the nineties. Yuck!
So happy you are back safe and sound! The trip back sounded wonderful. My kind of people. Love from Becky in OK
Thank you so much, Becky!
Dear Claudia, it’s been forever since I’ve commented but I’m still here. So much going on here but reading about your road trip has been a breath of fresh air in my stressed to the hilt life. My 2 sisters and their husbands flew to Salt Lake City and then enjoyed a driving tour of the states out that way just a few weeks ago.Glad you enjoyed your trip so much. Have a wonderful day!
Thank you, Janie! I’m sorry you’re under so much stress, my friend, and I hope things ease for you soon!
Welcome back to blog and home. You had quite a fun adventure.
We did. We really had the most wonderful time!
Welcome home! I love that kind of road trip — open to spontaneous discoveries and adventures.
It was absolutely the best kind of trip. Much more spontaneous and fun!
Welcome back to New York. Glad you had an enjoyable time. You look so refreshed and relaxed with those sunglasses. Take it easy doing any outside work,it is too hot! I look forward to your photos.
Marilyn
I did it anyway and you’re right – it was so hot and humid. But the grass was so long after 2 1/2 weeks away that it had to be done!
I had a wonderful time looking at your pictures on Instagram!..I checked at least twice a day to see if you posted any more…Thank you again for taking the time to share them with all of us!…I love seeing that brick street…we have one left here but they covered it up years ago…pity…every few years the road wears down and they are exposed again….I’ve always wished they would uncover them it would look so nice!…Tap your heels together 3 times and say… “There’s no place like home”…Welcome Home Claudia and Don!
We’re happy to be home but still glowing from our happy adventures.
Yay for making it home!! Sounds like the trip was wonderful. Your IG pics were fun to follow.
Hope that Don is sharing in the mowing joy! Do you need a hay-baler after being gone for a while? So much rain and heat here has made it a lovely shade of green everywhere, but more mowing than we have needed in many years.
Hope you had a wonderful first full day at home. Bet Don can hardly believe he is finally home again!
He did some today, but his knees have been bothering him, so I took on most of it. Also – the grass was so long that it was making me crazy!
Well that was fun! GO WOLRD CHAMPION CHICAGO CUBS. Love the lady’s shirt in the last image. All of your images on this post are lovely as usual! It is corn time here in WIsconsin too
They were such fun! Happy and smiling after seeing their fave, Jimmy Buffett.
Welcome back!
That bird house is something else. I’m glad I don’t know exactly where it is located. And no, don’t tell me. haha
Love the shades. Looking good on you.
Monica
Thankfully, we have no room for that bird cage!
Sounds like such a wonderful experience, but I am sure you are happy to have Don back home again. xo Laura
I am. I have to leave in three weeks, but…
So glad that everything worked out so well and you have a little time at home together . And yes, so nice to see you here again!
Thank you, Grace!