Wednesday, May 29, 2013

Two Old For The Road

     In the merry month of May, two of us (of a certain age and abundant curiosity) decided to take to the road. Actually the plan was long in coming and just happened to come into fruition when E. found a blurb for Pella, Iowa's Tulip Festival. Great idea, let's go.

     Off we trundled on a grey overcast day. Oh well, not perfect...but onwards. Half way to Pella it started to rain and by the time we stopped for gas in Brooklyn, Iowa it was sleeting with about one half inch of snow on the ground. Mind you, this was May 7th. By the time we rolled into Pella there was three inches of snow on the ground and E. needed a pair of gloves (first order of business).

     The docents of the exhibits were all bemused by the amount of snow that had fallen. Nothing really prepares you for the sight of spring green grass, red and yellow tulips, and grape hyacinths covered with a thick coat of fluffy white snow. Everyone was cheerful and gregarious about the unusual weather. Except perhaps for the rather cross woman waiting in the washroom queue. When asked by myself "Is this the line for the washroom?" she replied "Yes. And I am no longer the last one. You are". Different priorities, I guess.

     In between clumping through the slushy snow and laughing with our peers as we partook of hot chocolate and Dutch cookies, we trooped through historically intriguing sites. We wandered through the grist mill - toured the miniature Dutch village (why they had a miniature version of the 40 horse hitch from Zearing, Iowa was puzzling but fascinating none the less) - waltzed through Wyatt Earp's house (Did you know five families lived in it while he was in town and at present there is a small gun room enshrining his pistols - glad it's small) - and played the tourists to the hilt by purchasing whole wheat flour, homemade bread, key chains and postcards. Most importantly we took lots of pictures which would be in this blog if I had figured out how to transfer them. I am just so thrilled that they have actually been downloaded. Next trip should issue in their debut.

     Our expedition was successfully completed with a lunch at The Windmill Restaurant. We did need to warm up prior to our journey homewards. Travelling is jolly fun when you have the right partner - who doesn't mind getting lost on the way home. Navigation is not my forte esp on country roads. However meandering country roads provide learning experiences when they weave by locations (Skunk River) which you just discovered on your tour of  Pella. Learning is endless. We are looking forward to our next adventure - wherever that may take us.