We're off, like a turtle as my father would say.

This years travels began a day or two later than other years on a beautiful November day. Despite our late departure the neighbors maple trees where pregnant with bright crimson leaves, long past the normal due date.

Our drive straight south on 35 takes us through some very dry countryside. Before our departure, I attended a garden club dried flower arrangement seminar, now as we drive along the roadside ditches, I see one beautiful dried arrangement after another with ochre colored grasses, golden rods of cadmium orange, burnt sienna tips of sumac, some with their crimson leaves still clinging to the stag-horn shaped branches and deep dark burnt umber accents of a plant I’ve seen for as many years as I’ve traveled the roads in the upper midwest but have yet to know it's name.

As we enter the northern part of Iowa it is clear that they have also suffered the lack of moisture that we’ve seen throughout the later part of September into October. But that all changes as we hit central Iowa where a storm that began in the four corners region of our country bears down on us.

When the sky grays the landscape changes. It’s interesting how when the lighting gets flat and the rain with it’s life giving moisture sets in, many of natures colors come to life. The bark on the oaks darken to a rick black and the leaves seem to shiver against it’s ere grip, they’ve waited too long and now the tree has them firmly in it’s grip. The fields of corn with their white feathery tops now contrast with the fertile black soil of the heartland. But where I find visual treats along the roadside in the changing environment, Gary finds a challenging drive with a cross wind, constant rain and what will prove to be a very cold night. I let him know about the turkeys along the edge of the woods and the white tail considering a crossing but he is intent on driving, missing the show (good thing). We shelter at a Casino with an adjacent RV park a short drive south of Des Moines where 50 amps will keep us warm through the night.