Leaving Iowa for Dayton, OH

Tuesday, 7/12/11 - First off, a great big THANK YOU to our dear friends, Chuck & Ann of Wheatland, OH for their incredible hospitality. It was a wonderful visit and one we will remember for a very long time. How lucky Will and I feel to have been parked right behind you 2010/11 in Mesa, Arizona and made a lasting friendship. We look forward to you guys joining us sometime in the future in Clovis/Fresno, CA. Of course the plan right now is to meet up at Mesa Spirit in the winter of 2013.

This morning was met with a knock on the door to join Chuck & Ann for a pancake breakfast before we leave Iowa this morning, which of course we gladly did. Amazing, just as I was getting ready to take my walk the pancake invite came and of course that was the end of that! After breakfast we hooked up the car to the RV and Chuck & Ann led us down the road to "the world's largest truck stop" - Iowa80 www.Iowa80.com

Now I couldn't have really ever imagined what the world's largest truck stop could look like but it was truly amazing. It is located in Walcot, Iowa on I-80 and exit 284 and I'm going to list a few of the amenities at this place: Food Court with Wendy's DQ, Taco Bell Pizza Hut and more, Convenience Store, Truck Wash, Super Truck Show floor - 30,000 sq ft of more than 50,000 items to customize, repair or maintain your truck, Dogomat Pet Wash, 7 Bay Service Center, Driver's Den with fireplace, dentist, hair stylist, chiropractor, laundry, 24 private showers, Fuel Islands with 16 lanes and so much MORE...... They also have a truck museum on the grounds www.Iowa80truckingmuseum.com And this weekend is the Walcott Truckers Jamboree with a Marty Stuart concert. Among the events they will have is a Super Truck Beauty Contest, Iowa Pork Chop Cook Out, Fireworks, Antique Truck display (Chuck & Ann are entering their 1919 Osmobile) and so much more. The event is Thursday 7/14 and Friday 7/15.

We had a great time walking thru the complex, me taking pictures, and spent all of the morning there. We decided to have lunch before we hit the road with Chuck and Will dining on chili cheese dogs at Dairy Queen and a side note: Will who has a rating system for hot dogs gave this a 10 and he has never had a 10 hot dog. Ann & I had Wendy's salads that were very delicious also, and we all finished off lunch with a Dairy Queen ice cream. I had my first ever DQ peanut butter mini blizzard and boy was it good. After lunch we said our good byes to our wonderful friends Chuck & Ann and headed East on I80 heading for I74 through Illinois for Dayton.

This evening we are staying in a real nice Passport America RV park, Kamp Komfort Campground, Carlock, IL for a bargain price of $12. Of course Chuck & Ann's front yard was OUR best deal.....them & free. Much love to all our family and friends.