Update

We've now spent the last 3 nights in Iowa, a state we had not previously visited but a state with which we have been quite impressed!  The terrain is mostly flat but with some rolling hills. Farming is BIG, especially the growing of corn!  However, our biggest revelation about IA was the wonderful people! Everywhere we went, people were extraordinarily both friendly and helpful.  Friday-Saturday, 8/9-10, were spent at the 103rd annual Hobo Reunion, yes, it really was!  The town of Britt, IA, goes all out for the hobos, especially for the reunion.  A camping site for the hobos at the edge of town near the train track is set aside each year, with boxcar, there's a permanent hobo museum, the town residents served mulligan stew for free to everyone (several hundred), they had a  11/2 hour parade and they blocked off some downtown streets & filled much of space with inflatables and many other activities for kids.  Richard Haworth of Elon & his brother Rob, both of whom have been coming to the Hobo reunion for 8 years, introduced Linda & me to several of the better-known hobos, which made our time there far more enjoyable.  We left Britt this morning and drove to Minneapolis, MN, where we will spend at least 2 days.  More later.  Dick