Sunday, June 19, Morris, IL

Wednesday morning we left Pender, NE under beautiful clear skies. We detoured from our planned route by only about 75 miles and crossed the MO River with no problems into IA. This route was narrow and bumpy through NE and IA but once on I-80 heading east we made good time and spent the night amongst about 300 trucks at another of the Bosselman's Travel Centers in Altoona, IA. We had a nice corner spot in the parking lot so we could put the slides out and let the I-80 truck noise lull us to sleep. NOT!

On Thursday morning we were up and on the road early. We had about 150 miles to the largest truck stop in the world called Iowa 80 with room for 880 trucks. We knew we wanted to stop there, if for nothing else, but to look around because if you need anything for a truck, it can be found there. They also have a nice CB shop and we needed new antenna's so after that was done, we had an early lunch, wandered around a little while looking at everything from bins & bins of truck parts to jewelry to stuffed animals. There is even a dentist, a chiropractor and a public laundry on the second floor of this truck stop. After a couple of hours we got back on the road & had about another 150 miles to my brothers in Morris, IL. We arrived safely at Jerry and Becky's mid-afternoon & settled in until Sunday morning.

Friday morning Dick cleaned the Honda and the rig both of which were dirty from the road grime and rain while my sister-in-law and I ran errands and shopped. Dick and Jerry went to town for lunch so Dick could have a breaded tenderloin (his favorite sandwich while here). I always like to come to the farm this time of the year because Becky's yard is spectacular with plants and flowers and Jerry's crops of corn and beans are always green. This year with all the rain, he has replanted some of his beans twice and still will have to replant some again for the third time hopefully next week. Friday evening we were included in a neighbors barbecue where we had the most awesome smoked pork chops that any of us had ever tasted. I used to babysit this neighbor when he & his siblings were kids and now they have a daughter graduating from high school and this was her party....wow, time flies! Another friend from MN brought these chops from one of their local meat lockers and they were huge and so tender......a meal in themselves, however, she also had wonderful scalloped potatoes, broccoli salad and for dessert a homemade rhubarb pie. Good ole midwestern homestyle cooking is one thing we love about this part of the country, however, it isn't good for the waistline. Jerry and Dick picked up some fresh strawberries that Becky had ordered and she promises that she'll send us away this morning with fresh homemade strawberry jam.....yum!

Saturday I had a haircut appointment and then a run to Wally World, and a few other errands before we leave in the morning. Saturday night we all went to our favorite pizza parlor called Bianchi's in Ottawa where Dick went to high school (about 20 miles from Morris where I went to school). During Dick's high school days it was the local soda fountain but became a pizza parlor some years ago and is still owned and operated by the same family.

Happy Father's Day today to all the fathers (and about to be fathers) in our family and our friend's families and to our own dads........we love and miss you!