THURSDAY!  No more west for us!  We headed out of Des Moines, Iowa today due north and just kept right on riding.  Why?  Because we could!  Actually, continuing to head west would have put us at the Sturgis Motorcycle Rally a week early and we've never been early for ANYTHING in our lives!  So guess where you end up if you go due north from the center of Iowa for about 300 miles.  Minneapolis, Minnesota!

Let's talk about those 300 hundred miles in a little more detail.  We thought these would be easy, straight line 70MPH miles.  Well, like they say in the army, "...the only easy day is yesterday!"  In addition to road construction every 15 miles (in this part of the country there are only two seasons: "Winter" and "Construction") there was a slight breeze.  Okay, it was actually a 50MPH cross wind!  For those of you that don't ride motorcycles a wind like that is a B_tch - and it's a double B_itch when you fight it for 300 miles!

We would have stopped earlier and called it a day, but between Des Moines and Minneapolis there really isn't anything.  No, seriously, there REALLY ISN'T ANYTHING! (look at a map!).  Anyway, we made it and are now relaxing in the luxurious comfort of our suite at the Super 8 Motel.  After a shower (to clean the wind blown detritus out of every orifice of our bodies) we're planning a feast at Denny's (right across the parking lot) and then some ice cold Budweisers at the lounge in back of the Denny's.  Hey, our motto is that when life gives you wind - just pass it!...

      
      It's not Winter so it must be Construction season!                          AMAZING!  The state actually welcomed us!       

      
Think of the innovation that comes when history is your future!     Frozen Custard Butter Burgers?  What heart disease?