Day 4: Iowa City, IA to Sioux Falls, SD
“It was the best worst of times, it was the worst best of times.” Oh dear sweet Ruby, where did you go? Have we ruined your pleasantly spirited disposition with too many hours on the road? Too much time in an itty bitty car seat with straps that confine your body as well as your whimsy? Too many nights in unfamiliar rooms? I am so sorry. So very, very sorry. We’re all sorry. Sorry that you cannot find your happy place and thus indulge in your angry place. No book is interesting enough. No snack will appease. No sleep will come. And we only just got on the road!
Poor Ruby. As soon as we began our drive from Iowa City, she was unable to settle in and was just miserable. And because she was miserable, we were all miserable. Oh how I longed for the good old days when kids could meander dangerously throughout a vehicle unfettered by seat belts and safety. I wish I could unstrap her and hold her in my lap to bring her some comfort. But I couldn’t and so we were miserable. It didn’t help much that the scenery from Iowa to Minnesota to South Dakota didn’t vary much. Look, there’s another farm! Another green hill! Another giant silo processing who knows what treasures of grains, grains and more grains!
So when I couldn’t take it anymore, I pulled the car over for lunch an hour ahead of schedule. We found a place called “Dave’s Restaurant” (if that is indeed his real name) that seemed at first a bit ... closed? Who knew what it was like inside but we decided to eat at local establishments instead of chain restaurants when possible. It was open and we headed in after first letting Lucy and the kids run a bit in square patch of grass across the street. The restaurant was more than open, it was bustling! It was a buffet and all day breakfast place. The wait staff was friendly and we all had very nice meals. It was just enough of a break. We got back in the car and I broke down and put on a movie for the kids on the lap top for the 1st time in 4 days of road tripping. My master plan worked. Ruby fell asleep half way through. Leo fell asleep after the movie. And I was left in peace to drive for an uninterrupted 3 hours.
When Ruby awoke all the unpleasantness had vanished. She “oohed” and “ahhed” at the puffy clouds in the sky. Cows were amazing to her and big trucks were a source of amusement once again. Thank God I got my happy little girl back! We arrived at our hotel not long after she awoke. We checked in, freshened up and then hit the town.
We went to Sioux Falls park and a great time was had by all, even Lucy. We climbed rocks, looked at the falls, and were able to get the pent up energy from the day out into the open air. How good it is to run outside and play!
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