We were up, had breakfast and took scenic route IL-71 to STARVED ROCK STATE PARK just west of Ottawa. The rock formations on our first hike reminded us of Whipps Ledges in Hinckley.
The trail got muddy so we took to the road and resumed the trail where it climbed the hillside via a staircase. We continued on to Starved Rock Lodge and Visitor Center and hiked to the top of Starved Rock. The top of the rock provided a great view of the Illinois River and its lock and dam. The river can be navigated all the way to the Mississippi River. Here is the view from the top of the rock.
This trek represented our Illinois 2+ mile hike. We drove down to Utica and north to I-80 and were back on the road to Iowa!
Our next stop was Iowa City, Iowa. Here, we explored THE UNIVERSITY OF IOWA and DOWNTOWN IOWA CITY. We even stopped at Kinnick Stadium, home of the Hawkeyes Football Team. Interesting Fact: Kinnick Stadium is named after Niles Kinnick, who was the Heisman Trophy winner of 1939. He died during a training flight as a US Navy aviator during World War II at the age of 24. Here is a photo of Kinnick Stadium.
We then headed west another 112 miles to Des Moines. The landscape was dominated by long sloping rolling hills of recently planted or still unplowed fields and farms. We drove staight to the downtown Marriott and cleaned up for a work reception hosted by EMC Insurance at Johnny’s Hall of Fame Restaurant in downtown Des Moines. Teare and I met several of the participants we will have in class tomorrow and Tuesday for my work session here in town. I am in Des Moines for a couple days helping to facilitate a Dynamics of Company - Agency Relationship program on behalf of the National Alliance. Since I will be in class the next couple days, we may resume our blog in earnest when our travels resume. We will visit with you at that time, so until our next post, take care everyone!
Teare and Bill
Sounding fine so far! Those waters have me itching to cast a line out there, and see what's biting! Happy trails!
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