Why We Hate Iowa

Ok.  This has nothing to do with the great people of Iowa, it's corn, or anything other than the horrendous driving conditions we endured on both legs of our recent trip to Wisconsin.  Just so you don't read the title of this post and get angry.

Here's a look at what Iowa looked like Saturday (I don't know who took the picture...I found it on the internet...I would have taken one myself but was too busy grabbing the door handle in fright for eight hours).

Actually, this picture makes Iowa look rather pretty.

The truth is, on our trip up to Wisconsin last weekend (Feb 16th) we started driving around lunch, the sun shining, all was well.  Until we hit Kansas City.  Snow.  More snow.  LOTS of snow.  We spend HOURS getting through KC.  Driving 10 mph.  Then snow through Missouri.  And snow through Iowa.  It was so bad we started counting cars in the ditch to pass the time.  When we got to 20, we started to worry.  It was now 11pm and we had only made it to Mason City, just shy of the Iowa/Minnesota border.  Did I mention we were heading for northern Wisconsin?  Let's just say we stopped for the night.  The next day, clear driving all the way through Minnesota and Wisconsin.

I'll talk about the activities during the week next post.

Now.  The trip back.  After dutifully watching the weather on the news all last week, we felt sure that leaving Wisconsin Saturday morning would be fine.  The snow was supposed to be limited to Wisconsin and Illinois, and further south (i.e. Iowa) would be rain. 
We woke Saturday morning to almost a foot of snow covering our car and in my dad's driveway.  Hubby got a kick out of using the snowblower (I may have him converted to living up north yet!) We drove through sunshine all the way to, you guessed it, Iowa.
Sleet.  Freezing rain.   For the whole state.  We were diverted off the interstate twice in 10 miles because of ice and accidents.  This time, we weren't seeing cars in the ditch.  We were counting semis.  And lots of them.  We didn't get home until 1:30am, after leaving Wisconsin at 9am.  This is a 14 hour drive, normally.

So I'm sorry my whole first post back is about the drive, but it had to be told!   Trust me, the vacation in the middle was wonderful.  So hang in there, I'll post that soon!

Comments

[Old School Acres]

Don't worry, I'm from Iowa and I hated it this weekend, too LOL I've got the photos on my blog to prove it LOL I just glad you made it to your destination!!

[Olivia]

Crazy! I'm glad you made there though!