Let's go to... Iowa?

So yes, out next vacation was to Iowa.... Kurt's good friend Mike and his wife Rita live in Fort Dodge so we decided to take a little trip to see them.
Had to get up and get moving as we had to have Buddy to the kennel down by Beaver Creek by 9am or wait until the afternoon. So we were out the door around 7:30. Drop off for Buddy went smoothly, he never looks happy but he didn't fight it.
We don't usually like to take the interstate when traveling but really what's the difference watching the corn fields go by at 80 or 55. I chose 80.
Went to the Camp Algona POW Museum in Algona, IA. Very nice little museum. I didn't realize they had so many POW camps around the area. In the Algona Camp system there were like 35 different branch camps and this was just one branch of many. The museum started with a very interesting 10-15 minute video on the history of the camp. The museum had displays about the life of the people that lived and worked there. It is worth a stop if you are in the area, was a small but interesting place.
As most know, I always need to find a place to get out and wander a bit when traveling. So, next stop was Ambrose A. Call State Park just outside Algona. Was a nice little park. I had printed a map but it wasn't real clear so we just found a path and started out. All the option on the map were pretty short so didn't worry about getting too lost. We took maybe a mile walk through the woods. Was actually a pretty little walk, although it was getting pretty warm. Thankfully it was shaded almost the whole way.




We were pretty hungry at this point but nothing in Algona sounded so headed for Humboldt for some lunch. Went to 716 Main for some lunch. I had the poutine - was not real impressed. But the air and beer was cold so good stop.


Back on the road and headed for Mike and Rita's place. Visited for a while with them and met the new puppy, Dori. Found the hotel and checked in to get cleaned up a bit before we went out for the night. Mike and Rita came and picked us up and we headed downtown Fort Dodge for some drinks and dinner. We to ShinyTop Brewing. Kurt and I share a pretzel and queso (well queso for me and just cheese dip for Kurt). It was very good! I tried a flight and there beers were okay. Not my favorites but still love to try new places so I enjoyed. After dinner we went back to Mike and Ritas to hang out. Sat outside on a very nice night. There were some storms that were going by to the north so watched the lightning in the distance. There was a festival going on not to far away and they had fireworks so we could see those from their house too. Back to hotel and sleep about 11:00.                                                                        








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