Day 16 - In and around Humboldt, IA

Ok, a couple of housekeeping items. First, I have for several days forgotten to take note of the mileage. Current odometer reading is 881 and I think that goes back to Olathe. I'll try to do better. Second, I just posted yesterday's update. There's not much in the way of internet access here, but our new motel is WiFi friendly. Should be good the rest of the way home.

We shunned the continental breakfast and headed for Miller's Landing in Humboldt. Having eaten there several times on a past trip, we knew there was a meal waiting that would last till dinner. The sausage and bacon are the best.

Today was spent driving around Humboldt county in roughly a counter-clockwise direction. After breakfast we hit Renwick, Lu Verne, Livermore, Bode and Rutland. A quick car wash in Fort Dodge and then back to Humboldt for the night. All told we covered only 148 miles. Other than Fort Dodge and Humboldt these are small towns, with populations ranging from 145 in Rutland to 384 in Livermore. So how could we spend so much time in these towns? By driving up and down each and every street. I know it sounds a little strange, but there is so much to see in small town America.

It's easy to spot these small towns, just look for a water tower and grain elevator. Once there you can check out downtown. It's usually a block long, maybe two, but never three. But don't look for much there. Oh, there's a library, a bank, maybe a law office and a small grocery store. The real real life blood of the town is right next door to downtown. The grain elevator.

This time of the year is about harvesting and everywhere we went today it was in full swing. Just as a water tower means a town, a dust cloud means harvesting.

In Livermore we headed out to the Union Cemetery and located the grave of my great great grandfather George McCauley. In Bode I stopped at an elevator and got a lesson on sampling incoming grain and measuring water content. And every time I stopped to watch soybeans or corn being harvested there was probably a farmer wondering what rock I'd been living under. But I've learned just enough to have a bunch of questions for Neal when I get home. Phyllis, warn him now.

A lot of the roads here are gravel. And dusty. Very dusty. So back in Fort Dodge we did a quick car wash and I found a Starbucks. Checking into our motel in Humboldt I found the first WiFi of the day and updated the blog for yesterday. For dinner we were headed back to last night's spot, but found it open for a private party. Not having an invitation we opted for roast turkey at Miller's Landing.

Tomorrow we turn back to the West toward home. Be ready to read about South Dakota the next two days.

Posted from my iPad

Late afternoon harvest
Renwick, Iowa

Nothing runs like a Deere

Case and Corn