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Iowa Incidents (2/28/26-3/24/26)

It’s been a minute, but we’re still around! Bob and I are currently in the Des Moines area of Iowa and have been since we left Janesville, Wisconsin, at the end of last month. The plan was to catch up on some medical appointments while seeing family, doing a housesit, and staying in hotels as needed.

The initial plan for housing changed a bit when our 2 week housesit in March was canceled a few days before it was to start. Our homeowner had her tour to Israel canceled due to Trump and Israel starting a war with Iran. The bombs sadly continue to fall.

So we have leaned on Bob’s sister and brother-in-law a bit more than anticipated but have also stayed in hotels as well just to keep from being too much of a nuisance, especially when preparing for medical procedures required more of a change to the normal routine.

Bob and I have come through all of our check ups and procedures with good news and hope to continue that streak tomorrow when Bob finally has his hip replacement surgery. He is barely getting around at this point and does so mostly with the use of a cane and ensuring that his right foot is turned just so to avoid triggering sharp pains down his leg.

It hasn’t been all bad though. We have been able to catch up with family, watch a lot of basketball, and I’ve gone for a couple of good walks.

We stayed at a hotel for a few days when we first got to town, and unknown to us, they were undergoing renovations.

This was how they were removing old furniture
from the upper floors.

We then stayed at Bob’s sister’s house both while they were there and when they left to visit friends and family for a week out of state.

A puzzle we almost completed (1 piece missing)
while staying at Bob’s sister’s earlier this month.
The day we left Bob’s sister’s to go to another hotel
while I prepped for a procedure, it was sub zero
and white out conditions on country roads.

The temps have gone up and down. A few days ago, the high was 90 degrees, and I went for a two hour walk on the Great Western Trail near where we were staying.

A bench along the trail
Signage along the trail
The trail runs along one edge of the Des Moines Airport
Some farmland along the trail.
You can also see how dry things are here.

I also did an hour hike yesterday at Brown’s Woods. It was a great walk. It seemed like I was the only one on the trail for quite a while, but I did see a couple of trail runners and another hiker before I finished my walk.

A map of the trails at the park
Heading out
Interesting bark on this tree
Always have to have a fungus photo
One part of the trail ran along the Raccoon River
A short part of the trail near the river changed from dirt to sand
A bridge across a creek
The aforementioned creek

It’s been a busy month. Will keep you posted on Bob’s new hip and our upcoming housesits in California.