9-15-2021 Lehigh, IA

 Errata:  In my description of the first odometer in the previous t-log, I used the word, “spline.”  I was wrong.  It’s a, “worm drive.” 

 

Beautiful Brushy Creek
Recreational Area

We are camped at Brushy Creek State Park in Lehigh, Iowa.  It is spacious, groomed like a golf course and overall just gorgeous!  And Girls, the DNR Ranger is drop-dead handsome.  Oh.  My.  God!  (Just thought you should know.)  Iowa’s got a good gene pool! 

 

Iowa’s got their act together.  This state park is incredible.  They have free wifi at the rest areas along the highways (not that we ourselves need it, but still).  You can buy walleye at the Hy-Vee Markets (We bought 4 lb.).  The Mineral City Mill and Grill in Fort Dodge where we are dining this evening serves walleye.  And here’s another little detail:  The Shiny Top Bar has an ax throwing competition in which you can participate, but you can only have two beers beforehand.  The size of the beer is not specified (or how many you had before you got there).  Rob’s going to practice when we get home – not the beer part but the ax part.

 

Lehigh is tiny and not much is happening so we headed back a bit to Fort Dodge.  The locals pronounce it, “For’Dodge,” you don’t say the “t” and make it 2 specific words, you sort of slur it into one word.  It has a population of 25,000 and originally went on the map due to agriculture and gypsum mines.  Naturally, the railroads passed through town.  The people must love it here, we have met several locals who were born here and stayed.  One fellow is Cory. 

Rides Bar and Grill Harley fairing

He owns the Rides Bar and Grill where we had lunch.  He was laid off when the gypsum/dry wall manufacturing plant where he worked went belly up.  He tried other jobs but finally gave up, bought an empty building and turned it into one of the most cool, fun, successful places in the area.  Rides refers to classic wheels, old cruisers and motorcycles.  The menu features items such as Kickstands (fried pickles – my lunch) and the burgers such as the Hot Rod, ’75 Nova, ’55 Chevy Stepside, Burnout, ’64 Impala, Deuce Coupe, ’51 Mercury, ’67 Mustang Fastback and ’69 Camaro Supersport win all the local competitions.  Paging Guy Fieri!

Useful information sign at Rides

 

Cory told us how to get to the painted silo.  It is actually a cluster of silos 110 feet tall that was a grain terminal abandoned for as long as the locals can remember.  An artist named Guido Van Helten, a 35 year old Aussie, created the mural on the silo and it represents seven real people and their positions in the community.  They are passing stoneware to each other because this area’s claim to fame is the quality of the clay and their stoneware was nearly famous and foundational to their economy.  Van Helten studied and photographed local folks and the mural includes a farmer, teacher, student, mine worker and African community leader.  He finished the mural in the cold Winter months of 2018 for a payment of $132,000.

Guido Van Helten finishing 
up in the Winter

Lindy is in this picture.  Just to
give you an idea of the size 
of this beast!

Backside of the silo

Frontside of silo

 

Front gate of Fort Dodge

Next was Fort Dodge, originally built in 1850, obviously to protect wagon trains traveling west from the wild natives.  It is named for Henry Dodge, the Governor of the Wisconsin Territory in 1836.  Three buildings are all that is left of the original structure; the rest is replicated based upon old records.  The museum and fort were closed but we found an opening in the fence and strolled right in to look around.  One old barracks contains period home furnishings.  

Fort lookout tower

Original cabin, 1850

The Sutler Store, 1857

The Post Sutler is a civilian who operates a PX where soldiers could purchase stuff that the Army didn’t provide.  This Sutler Store, dating back to 1857, was operated by a fellow named Bill Williams and is the second oldest building in Fort Dodge.  Another old building in the fort is a cabin, a part of the original fort, built in 1850.  Very interesting place to see.  We were caught intruding and even though he wasn’t too happy, he didn’t arrest us or anything so we’re good.

This is NOT how
we did the laundry a
few days ago!

 

It became time to go on about other business, shopping for a few supplies and heading for a walleye dinner and then, back to camp.  Next stop, McFarland, WI.  I will be incommunicado for a few days as we are going to be spending time with family and friends.  Love to all!

Walleye for dinner!  Hurray!