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From the North - Des Moines IA

22K views 52 replies 8 participants last post by  jefferios 
#1 ·
Not an official Caravan.

All the Official ones are coming in Via a smart center. AS many of us know their are some BIG gaps in the dealership map and IOWA is one of them.

I am looking for some help here because I do not know the area well enough.

Folks coming from further west can group up at Omaha NE

This Grouping should be useful to Minnesota, Iowa and Wisconsin drivers, as well as some Northern Illinois folks.

So weather you coming down 35 from Minniapolis, Taking 151 out of Madison to I80, or Taking I88 to I80 this can work for you.

 

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#2 · (Edited)
I will me Spending the Night on Thursday in Grinnell. It seems like an obtainable goal after work on Thursday from the Madison and Rockford areas. I would like to meet up with other mined folks in the area just south of 80 on 35 Friday morning.

Can someone suggest an exit with something like a Perkins or something where a Breakfast gathers can happen?


Oh, and from here on I35 its a straight shot to the hotel
 
#3 ·
Forest, there is a good place to meet up in D.S.M. Just east of the I-80, I-35 junction on the northeast side of town is the 14th street exit. There is a large parking lot on the north side of the exit, K-Mart, and strip mall. You can see it to the north as you come off the exit. We are planning to leave for K.C. on Thursday at around noon. If there are smarts from the north that want to meet up on Thursday we would be happy to have them join up with us.
As for Friday morning there is a Cracker Barrel off the University exit on the west side of town. It would be about a 45min. drive from Grinnell to the Cracker Barrel. If you wanted to go further south on I-35 about 30mi. to the casino in Osceola, they have a good buffet. Let me know if there is anything I can do.

Buzzz42.........waiting.....waiting....where did I put the maps
 
#5 ·
Forest, the 14th street, exit 136, off I-80, I35, there is a country kitchen and a Bonanza.
You can see it as you come off the interstate, look to the north. The Country Kitchen may be the place for you to try and hook up with a group. It would be easy to find.
Buzzz42
 
#7 ·
SmartJoe, I'm not sure how many from the DSM area are going, but I will be at the rally point, Exit 136, around 11:00 at the Bonanza Res. If your group would like to grab some lunch, there is the Country Kitchen or the Bonanza at this exit. I would like to leave early enough to miss rush hour in KC, say 12:30?
Buzzz42
 
#10 · (Edited)
I posted this on the Minnesmarta chapter area, tenative times to get down to Des Moines around 11-12.. Nothing is set in stone

Leave Red Wing around 7-7:30 (am)
I90/35 ~8:45-9:15
Des Moines ~ 11-11:30
Roughly 1 hr lunch (?)
Lexana KS ~ 3:30-4:00

Haven't heard any travel times from the Minnesota crowd so thought I'd get the ball rolling.
 
#13 ·
In case some of you may not know, I will be able to go to the Nationals!

I will be driving down Thursday. Any chance that we could push the departing time to 1pm? I am nervous that the traffic in the Twin cities between 8-9am is super slow and it could delay our travels to 30-60mins!

Its very close to 4 hours for the drive.
 
#22 · (Edited)
For anyone leaving Thursday Morning from Minneapolis OR anyone leaving from Des Moines at 12:30pm lets use this route.

http://maps.google.com/maps?f=d&source=s_d&saddr=W+82nd+St&daddr=5030+Northeast+14th+Street,+Des+Moines,+IA+50313-2035+(Country+Kitchen)+to:40.549744,-93.953512+to:W+95th+St&geocode=FQ5wrAIdMFtw-g%3BFVOQewIdz8Rr-iEzs84lGX_W3Cltego3aJruhzHZvFldiM4NMQ%3B%3BFbFtUgIdkota-g&hl=en&mra=dme&mrcr=1,2&mrsp=2&sz=16&sll=40.550575,-93.953276&sspn=0.012505,0.033023&ie=UTF8&ll=40.543026,-93.669434&spn=3.201518,8.453979&z=8


We can stop at any point, but I set up a trusted stop in case anyone gets lost or falls behind at the Missouri welcome center. (point C)
Also, do you have a set of walkie talkies? If not I can compile a list of phone numbers. PM me with those. In addition, does anyone have a spart tire. (Just in Case) :eek:
 
#28 ·
Well it looks like my plans are changing. After some juggling with Kid and Critter care we will be joining the Thursday group. looks like the time is still Noonish but not quite set in stone depending on the Minneapolis caravan schedule. If this correct?

Sorry to the one other person on Friday.
 
#29 ·
Forest, hopefully the Minn. crew will be in Des Moines between 12:00 and 12:30, will wait for them. Do let Smartah know about the change from Friday to Thursday. Post up on the Iowa site here or a PM. He only has the computer at work. See you on the 10th.
Buzzz42
 
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