The Best Laid Plans....

Clinton, Iowa

The drive to Iowa continued as planned.  I got up close to the giant wind turbines east of Peoria.  I have always seen them from a distance.  This time they were next to the interstate and were humongous.  Previously I have seen single blades being transported on extended trailers.  The blades are so large only one blade fits on a trailer and special highway escort is required. Seeing a whole field of them bordering the interstate was fabulous.


Saturday morning Sarah and I made an early run to the farmer's market to buy eggplant, cherry tomatoes, peppers, eggs, chocolate fudge, and cantaloupe. We stopped by the local bakery for pastries to take home for breakfast.  The fried cinnamon roll was wonderful.

 Later in the morning we watched a women's collegiate soccer game in the wind and sporadic drizzle.  The home team lost but it was great to see their game on a regulation field this year.

At my request we had lunch a Culver's, the home of the ButterBurger and the best frozen custard I've every had -- though we decided to save the custard for another day.  The burger was fabulous, just the way I like it, with everything:  cheese, onions, mayo, the works.  I even skipped the fries, just to totally enjoy the burger. After lunch we took a tour around Clinton.

And then it hit.  My digestive tract wasn't feeling normal.  We had planned to attend a second soccer game at 4:00 but on the way, I told Ed I needed to go home.  By the time Sarah unlocked the front door of the house, I dropped my jacket on the floor and made a mad dash for the bathroom.  The awesome Butter Burger was way better going down than coming up! I don't believe Culver's was the culprit -- it was just the last thing I ate.   Long story short, I stayed in bed, except for an occasional trip to the dining room for a few sips of Green Tea Ginger Ale, and to lay my head down on the table.  Sometime in the evening Sarah suggested we take my temperature:  101.8.  At that point she announced, "Mom, you're sick!"  Now, it was official. I took Tylenol to relieve the aches and pains and returned to the bed for the rest of the night. I slept well with no more intestinal disruption but the fever persisted at 4:00 a.m.

By this morning I was back in the land of the living, though I skipped church and napped on the couch for most of the morning and afternoon.  I continued my diet of gingerale, saltine crackers and Tylenol and have continued to improve throughout the day.

In the meantime, I was thinkingabout how to rearrange my trip if necessary.  I certainly don't want to take illness to others, especially Walter who is 100 and has his own health issues.  If necessary I figured I could skip the visits in Minnesota and Montana, as long as I am in Oregon the week of September 10.  Sarah and Ed graciously invited me to stay on as long as I need to until I am well.

I have been sick during travels before.  I can say for sure that being sick, while never my choice, is better when you are with family who cares, who will check on you, and will fetch the thermometer and gingerale as needed.

Late this afternoon, I was able to do my laundry and straighten out my car and feel I am ready to go in the morning.  Dinner will be light -- potatoes and banana and crackers.  I am determined not to tax my system after yesterday.

As of this moment, I will be departing early in the morning, to travel the Wisconsin side of the Mississippi River north to Minneapolis and St. Paul, with a stop in Hastings to visit with Walter, Mother's cousin.

Stay tuned......