All American

With September creeping in quickly and me starting a new job on Monday (details to follow) we decided to take a week off and go on an All-American Roadtrip.  By All-American you may be thinking Texas with a dash of Dolly Parton thrown in now and again but no....we're talking deep fried everything, Milwaukee's best beer, junior ranger style All-American.

On Friday, my last day of work, we packed up the car and headed back to Des Moines.  Yes, we go to Iowa fairly frequently but this time was different.  This time was the mecca of all trips because it was the IOWA STATE FAIR.  For years I've been hearing about this phenomena.  I've heard tall tales of the butter cow, deep fried butter on a stick and the excruciating stomach ache that follows.  But now, I was going to see it for myself.

We got in to Iowa late Friday night/Saturday morning.  We hit the sack in anticipation of what was to come.  On Saturday we had a "typical" Des Moines day...farmers market in the morning, Tasty Tacos for lunch and just lounging and drinking with friends and family in the evening.   Saturday was great and it felt good to be back but it was just the appetizer of an amazing weekend.

Monday was the big day.  I woke up already with a stomach ache, not from the fried food (yet) but with pure excitement.  We packed up, made our game plan of things to do, see and eat and headed to the fair.

We took a shuttle from Altoona to the fair which conveniently let us out right outside the swine bar.  How convenient for a girl who is literally obsessed with pigs.  I was in hog heaven.  I quickly retreated back to my 7 year old state and zoned out to a hum of "awwww".  With the exception of the 1300 pound hog which reminded me why I cannot have pigs as pets.

We left the swine bar and started to eat, naturally.  We started off with local beer, cajun chicken on a stick and fried cheese curds.  This was only the beginning.

After a few hours of exploring solo we met up with the family.  We made our way to the infamous butter cow, visited some art booths, ate some more food.  We even managed to buy iphones in that time frame.  We are proud to say we are now members of the 21st Century.  Awesome.

After that, things really got intense.  We found the "baby animal" room.  Y'know, baby cows, baby goats, baby chickens, baby pigs that were born 4 hours ago...WHAT?!?!?! Baby pigs that were born 4 hours ago?!  This is when I start to hyperventilate with pure toddler excitement.  They were adorable.  Perhaps the cutest things I have ever seen. (sorry Munson)  They're little pink bodies and curly little tails, it was precious and extremely hard for me not to slip one in to my purse.  I was content.

After the pigs, we ate some more (surprise surprise) and decided to head home.  Our total count for the day food wise was: cajun chick on a stick, deep fried cheese curds, deep fried veggies including broccoli, green beans, mushrooms and cauliflower, battered and deep fried pineapple on a stick and our favorite, a deep fried pickle dog.  Which was a pickle dipped in spicy cream cheese wrapped in pastrami then deep fried, and put on a stick. Of course. Delicious.

We left the fair very happy campers and hopeful that we could make this a regular summer trip.  With days of fasting before hand.

Tuesday we were off for another adventure.  We packed up the car and headed back West, this time taking a different route through South Dakota.  We were planning on doing some camping and touring the country as we go.  Our plan for the first day was to make it to Badlands National Park.  However, before you can get to the Badlands you have to pass through Mitchell, South Dakota.  Home of the Corn Palace.  Literally, a palace made of corn.  Perhaps the "corniest" place I have ever been, but you just have to stop there.  We loaded up on post cards and belated wedding gifts for my dear friend Joanna Cobb.  You're welcome, Jo.

After corn palace, we made a stop to see the worlds largest prairie dog right as we entered the Badlands.  For those of you who know us, you know that we're pretty obsessed with Moab, Utah.  Badlands is not far off from the feelings we get in Moab.  It's a whole other world that looks and feels like outer space.  It's gorgeous.

We camped one night at a public campground in the park and decided to do some exploring in the morning.  Unfortunately, national parks have a pretty strict dog rule so hiking around wasn't really an option for us.  It was also the windiest day known to man so even if we did go hiking, Munson would have likely been blown away.

We went through another prairie dog town that was swarming with literally thousands of prairie dogs and hit the road again. This time our ultimate goal was Spearfish Canyon.  However, before we reach spearfish we had to go through Wall, South Dakota.  Home of the famous Wall Drug.  Tommy had never experienced Wall Drug before and with the 3 million billboards we saw on the way we just had to stop.

Wall Dug was an adventure.  Taxidermy animals of every kind, life size jackalopes, and every sort of crappy souvenir  you could ever imagine.  After a few photo shoots we left with a stuffed jackalope for Munson and an indian head dress.  Overall, a pretty successful trip.

We left Wall Drug and finally made it to our destination.  Spearfish Canyon was gorgeous.  Tucked in the woods of the black hills surrounded by waterfalls, streams and tall cliffs.  It was a picturesque setting.  We set up the tent and settled in to our home for the next 2 days.

We were feeling pretty 'loungey' and mostly just sat around playing card games, drinking and taking pictures.  Unfortunately, there was still a fire ban so we couldn't have a campfire but we managed to still have our jumbo s'mores.

After a chilly morning, we decided to explore the town.  We drove about 20 minutes in to Deadwood, South Dakota.  Based on our love of HBO and Tommy's love for Westerns, we had to stop.  The town was really cute with old-timey buildings and streets.  It reminded me a little bit of Harpers Ferry, where I used to live.  Just a lot more casinos in Deadwood.

We visited the cemetery to see Wild Bill's and Calamity Jane's grave and then tried our luck at a hand of Blackjack.

With one day left on our All American Adventure, we explored the canyon a bit more and found some beautiful waterfalls on our way out.  

We were on our way back to Denver in the morning when we decided to make one more pit-stop. We weren't sure when we'd be back out this way so thought we might as well drive a few more hours and check out Devil's Tower.  It was well worth the drive.

The rock is incredible and definitely got us wishing we did some more climbing in hopes that we could climb that some day. We did the mile loop around the tower and stood in awe of how amazing Devil's Tower really is.  Pictures do not do it justice.

With a final roadside stop in a sunflower field, we finally made our way back home to Denver.  The trip was amazing.  We realized that aside from our 3 week mainland/Disney adventure a few years ago, this was the first vacation we had that was longer than 4 days.  A full week to take in all that this beautiful country has to offer. An All American Roadtrip.

Everything was great.  The fair, the cheesy pit stops, camping, the woods, the national parks....we couldn't ask for anything more.

Back in Denver, we're thankful that the extreme heat has finally died off and we are ready for fall.  The summer was simply amazing.  We packed a lot in and still have 2 weeks left.  ADVENTURE IS OUT THERE!

As always, love and aloha,

Dani, Tommy and Miss Munson

Big Day

Hello friends, Tommy here. As the title hints, yesterday was a day larger than average in relation to events and proximity to famous people. Our good friend Tami Parker, who is now practically the President of the United States of America's best friend, got us tickets to see him speak while he was here in Denver. Dani couldn't go because of work so I flew solo to see President Barack Obama address a crowd of Coloradans on Women's Health Security. I still had to wait in line for awhile in the hot Denver sun, but it was well worth it... well worth it. Eventually I got into the conditioned air of the Auraria Events Center. A few senators spoke before Obama came out and the crowd was getting amped- lots of cheers and waves. There was an amazing energy around. And then he came out. It was awesome. Amazing. Whether you agree with or like or disagree  with or dislike the president, you have to admit, the man can work a crowd. It was an emotional speech with a climactic rally at the end. I felt so privileged to be part of it.

After seeing Obama speak, I took the only logical next step. I made pasta salad. We had to make some food for the other big event of the day -tailgating for and then attending Jack White at Red Rocks Amphitheater. Dani made several delicious batches of Sangria the night before. We were meeting some great folks from the best bar in the world for a pre-concert party featuring chicken sausages, fried sweet potatoes, avocado bacon pasta salad and a decent dose of booze. It was an interesting crowd getting ready for the rock and roll- hippies, families, hipsters, punk rockers and elderly.
Overall a great great feel. We missed the opener. But its my belief that if you make to the opening band, you're not trying hard enough.  After some brief run ins with security regarding our camera and my inability to hide it in my pants, we made it into the amphitheater. Not before a full on molestation from a Samoan bouncer of course. Our seats were twenty rows behind our friends' so right before the show started, we snuck down and hung out with them for the whole show. It was absolutely fantastic. PURE Rock and Roll. Jack White got soul. He had a band of 6 seriously B.A. women backing him up. Them babes could rock. He played some old stuff and some awesome new stuff. And yes Susan, he played "I Can Tell That We Are Gonna Be Friends" and we thought of you the whole time.


This morning was a little rough, but I absolutely cannot describe how fun my first Red Rocks show was. Thank you Dani for the present. I love you.

miss and love you all.

d&t