Cap'n Kirk

8/12/15

Visited The Nelson-Atkins Museum of Art and the National World War I Museum and Memorial today. The WWI Museum has a lot of artifacts and a neat timeline discussing the war. Drove up MIMAL's chest to his face to stay the night at Kissing Hens Farm. They've got some cool things brewing for their barn. It was pretty awesome that when I told them I used to work in organ donation, they brought up the podcast about the Gray Donation - for those that don't know, I was part of the clinical team for that donation and the Gray family is amazing! I, of course, had to let Sarah know that her story had reached Iowa.

Whitefoil by Jack Youngerman (2011 - oil on baltic birch plywood)

Memento #5 by Kerry James Marshall (2003 - acrylic & glitter on paper adhered to unstretched canvas banner)

Winter (after Arcimboldo) by Phillip Haas (2010 - painted fiberglass)

Summer (after Arcimboldo) by Phillip Haas (2012 - painted fiberglass)

Autumn (after Arcimboldo) by Phillip Haas (2012 - painted fiberglass)

Spring (after Arcimboldo) by Phillip Haas (2012 - painted fiberglass)

The Four Seasons by Phillip Haas

The Thinker by Rodin

A German Secretary Bookcase from 1740-50 made of walnut & pine with walnut and fruitwood veneers

The Greatest Mother in the World by Alonzo Earl Foringer (1917 - color lithograph)

Mrs. Cecil Wade by John Singer Sargent (1886 - oil on canvas)

View down from the top of the tower

Looking out at Kansas City from the top of the tower

Looking out at Kansas City from the top of the tower

The tower at the WWI Museum/Memorial

Starting Point: Kansas City, MO
Ending Point: Ames, IA
Miles Traveled: 240.6


8/13/15

Visited a couple of wineries today: Prairie Moon (not so good) and Snus Hill (had a few good ones). Drove up MIMAL's face to his hat. Stayed the night in an old mansion (~20,000 sq ft) - 300 Clifton (in the Bueide Room on their website). Beautiful old house built in 1887 that was once owned by Eugene Carpenter. He apparently did a lot to make Minneapolis what it is today, specifically regarding the arts. If you're ever in Minneapolis, you should stay there. The guys that own it are still in the process of renovating/restoring it. They give a nice tour of the house and explain not only some of the history of the house, but also some history of Minneapolis.

Yup, I'm in Iowa - there's some corn. And yes, that is a gravel road, and no, I wasn't lost.

Wine and corn...

The view from the porch at Snus Hill Winery

My room at the mansion...

My room at the mansion...

My bathroom at the mansion...

My bathroom at the mansion...

Starting Point: Ames, IA
Ending Point: Minneapolis, MN
Miles Traveled: 267.9


8/14/15

I may or may not have heard a ghost during the night in the mansion. It was after midnight and I heard some footsteps and some furniture moving possibly overhead; it could've also been a weird echo from other guests in other rooms down the hall...
Visited Minnehaha Park where I rented a "chopper" that turned out not to be such a great idea. I was wearing a skirt and had some shorts on underneath, but I'm sure everyone I passed thought I was flashing them. It was really effing hot, too. Attempted to see St. Anthony Falls at Mill Ruins Park, but the viewpoint is kind of blocked by the Army Corps of Engineers, and you can only go out on the observation deck with one of their tours. Saw more of it by driving over one of the bridges. Also visited the Minneapolis Institute of Art. The institute has been around for 100 years, so they had a special photography exhibition for that. They were also having a special display of da Vinci's journal. It was neat to see his idea scribbles in person - he has really tiny handwriting! He was left-handed, so he wrote from right-to-left with the letters going backwards - ie sdrawkcab.

The gardens at the mansion

the mansion - 300 Clifton

the mansion, the carriage house, and the gardens

the falls at Minnehaha Park

the top of the falls at Minnehaha Park

the falls at Minnehaha Park

the falls at Minnehaha Park

Some/One by Do-ho Suh (2005 - stainless steel, military dog tags, fiberglass resin)

Some/One by Do-ho Suh (2005 - stainless steel, military dog tags, fiberglass resin)

Soundsuit by Nick Cave (2010 - metal, wood, plastic, pigments, cotton, & acrylic fibers)

Starting Point: Minneapolis, MN
Ending Point: Fargo, ND
Miles Traveled: 259.6

Total Miles Traveled Thus Far: 5918.9 via car, ~140.5 via boat, 0.62 via aerial tram


"I just want to feel good. I don't want to hurt nobody. I just want to get a good time outta' my life."

~Elizabeth/Lizzi/ET/Country

**I've been using Airbnb some during this trip to find places to stay along the way. If you haven't tried it, check it out for your next trip (even internationally). Usually cheaper than a hotel...and if you have some extra space, rent it out and make some money! (https://www.airbnb.com/)**


all photos Copyright 2015 Elizabeth M. Turner