In three years of synchronized swimming, it's incredible how Anna and her team have evolved.  Just three short years ago, synchronized swimming meant just trying to stay afloat.  This year, after placing third in the Des Moines, IA Regional Meet, Anna and her team are headed to Nationals to be held in Oxford, OH.  Congratulations Anna!

Enjoy the photographs (click thumbnails for larger view)..

2012 - St. Paul Stars Synchronized Swim Team Pictures	2012 - St. Paul Stars Synchronized Swim Team Pictures	2012 - St. Paul Stars Synchronized Swim Team Pictures
2012 - St. Paul Stars Synchronized Swim Team Pictures	2012 - St. Paul Stars Synchronized Swim Team Pictures	2012 - St. Paul Stars Synchronized Swim Team Pictures

On the drive through Pella, IA today, I ran into yet another roadside chapel, located on the south edge of town.  I could not find any official information about this quaint little house of prayer but I did manage to find this news article on Google.

Enjoy the photographs (click thumbnails for larger view)..

 

2012 - Calvary Wayside Chapel, Pella, IA The signage at Calvary Wayside Chapel The signage at Calvary Wayside Chapel	2012 - Calvary Wayside Chapel, Pella, IA The Calvary Wayside Chapel The Calvary Wayside Chapel	2012 - Calvary Wayside Chapel, Pella, IA The Calvary Wayside Chapel The Calvary Wayside Chapel
2012 - Calvary Wayside Chapel, Pella, IA Inside Calvary Wayside Chapel Inside Calvary Wayside Chapel	2012 - Calvary Wayside Chapel, Pella, IA Bart inside the chapel Bart inside the chapel

As usual with most of the interesting sites I visit, I stumble upon them by accident.  That's the story here as well while passing through Ottumwa, IA last weekend with my mother.  We noticed the classic brown signs pointing to the American Gothic House so we went for a visit.

Even if you don't know the name of the famous painting, you've most likely seen it and would recognize it simply from someone describing it.  It is one of the most widely recognized paintings in the world and the backdrop for that famous painting was right here in the heartland of Iowa.

Painter Grant Wood was trying to depict rural life in the great plains during the depression era.  While the piece is supposed to illustrate father and daughter, the models for the painting are actually Wood's sister and dentist.  The structure in the background of the painting is real and still located today in Eldon, IA.  The American Gothic House site now has a visitor center and any one of the very gracious volunteers would LOVE to put you in costume for a photograph.  Best of all, their help and use of the costumes is free.

Like I said earlier, the painting is supposed to illustrate father and daughter.  I found it interesting that I was able to be in costume for a photograph taken as mother and son.

Enjoy the photographs (click thumbnails for larger view)..

2012 - American Gothic House, Eldon, IA The original American Gothic The original American Gothic	2012 - American Gothic House, Eldon, IA Bart and Mom at the American Gothic House Bart and Mom at the American Gothic House	2012 - American Gothic House, Eldon, IA Bart and Mom at the American Gothic House in costume Bart and Mom at the American Gothic House in costume
2012 - American Gothic House, Eldon, IA The American Gothic House The American Gothic House	2012 - American Gothic House, Eldon, IA The creator of American Gothic, Grant Wood The creator of American Gothic, Grant Wood	2012 - American Gothic House, Eldon, IA Wood's sister and dentist Wood's sister and dentist

I camped at Honey Creek State Park last weekend while attending MOGA 2012 events.  Located in Moravia, IA, Honey Creek is within the Des Moines River system and is surrounded by rolling hills, ravines and bluffs.  Geologically, it is quite different than the typical Iowan landscape you see while driving down I-35.

The hiking, biking and paddling opportunities are plentiful.  The park is gorgeous and seems to be well kept.  Other than the need for more gravel or woodchips at the campsites, I can't think of another reason not to camp at this beautiful park.

Enjoy the photographs (click thumbnails for larger view)..

2012 - Honey Creek State Park, Moravia, IA The entrance to Honey Creek State Park The entrance to Honey Creek State Park	2012 - Honey Creek State Park, Moravia, IA My home at campsite #96 My home at campsite #96	2012 - Honey Creek State Park, Moravia, IA The ravine behind the campsite The ravine behind the campsite
2012 - Honey Creek State Park, Moravia, IA A view to the south A view to the south	2012 - Honey Creek State Park, Moravia, IA A view to the north A view to the north	2012 - Honey Creek State Park, Moravia, IA Evidence of the raccoon intrusion during the night Evidence of the raccoon intrusion during the night

I discovered this gem while on my way to Iowa's Honey Creek State Park.  Located in Clear Lake, IA, the Guardian Angel Roadside Chapel was built in 1991.  The large stained glass cross above the altar was meant to be a beacon to travelers on interstate I-35.

Enjoy the photographs (click thumbnails for larger view)..

2012 - Guardian Angel Roadside Chapel, Clear Lake, IA Cross marking the entrance to the chapel Cross marking the entrance to the chapel	2012 - Guardian Angel Roadside Chapel, Clear Lake, IA Angels encrusted within the gate Angels encrusted within the gate	2012 - Guardian Angel Roadside Chapel, Clear Lake, IA A marker of holy ground A marker of holy ground
2012 - Guardian Angel Roadside Chapel, Clear Lake, IA Approaching the chapel from the road Approaching the chapel from the road	2012 - Guardian Angel Roadside Chapel, Clear Lake, IA A bit grown over but still maintained A bit grown over but still maintained	2012 - Guardian Angel Roadside Chapel, Clear Lake, IA The chapel through the trees The chapel through the trees
2012 - Guardian Angel Roadside Chapel, Clear Lake, IA A view inside the chapel A view inside the chapel	2012 - Guardian Angel Roadside Chapel, Clear Lake, IA A view inside the chapel A view inside the chapel	2012 - Guardian Angel Roadside Chapel, Clear Lake, IA Stained glass within the chapel Stained glass within the chapel

I went day tripping today for some geocaching in Milwaukee, WI.  Milwaukee is similar to Minneapolis in that it has really been cleaned up over the years.  On this trip we managed to score 15 geocaches in all including three webcam geocaches, three virtual caches, and an earthcache. The waterfronts both here and in Port Washington were gorgeous.  Might be worth exploring more in the summertime.

Enjoy the photographs (click thumbnails for larger view)..

 

2012 - Milwaukee, WI Downtown Milwaukee, WI Downtown Milwaukee, WI	2012 - Milwaukee, WI A view of Milwaukee's waterfront A view of Milwaukee's waterfront	2012 - Milwaukee, WI Navigational beacon in Lake Michigan Navigational beacon in Lake Michigan
2012 - Milwaukee, WI Bart at Milwaukee's waterfront Bart at Milwaukee's waterfront	2012 - Milwaukee, WI Geocaching on Milwaukee's waterfront Geocaching on Milwaukee's waterfront

A day trip to Port Washignton, WI, located north of Milwaukee on the shores of Lake Michigan.

Enjoy the photographs (click thumbnails for larger view)..

2012 - Port Washington, WI Downtown Port Washington, WI Downtown Port Washington, WI

2012 - Port Washington, WI The water front at Port Washington, WI The water front at Port Washington, WI

2012 - Port Washington, WI Memorial to those lost at sea (Lake Michigan) Memorial to those lost at sea (Lake Michigan)

While on a day trip to Milwaukee, a stop at Wisconsin's Pike Lake State Park was in order as it is home to Wisconsin's oldest active geocache.  Geocache Pike Powder Hike (GC3B1) is located near the fire tower within the state park atop Powder Hill, a glacial moraine, which happens to be Wisconsin's second highest point.

Enjoy the photographs (click thumbnails for larger view)..

2012 - Pike Lake State Park, Hartford, WI Climbing to the fire tower Climbing to the fire tower	2012 - Pike Lake State Park, Hartford, WI Bart atop the fire tower Bart atop the fire tower	2012 - Pike Lake State Park, Hartford, WI A view of Pike Lake from atop the fire tower A view of Pike Lake from atop the fire tower
2012 - Pike Lake State Park, Hartford, WI Looking down from the summit Looking down from the summit	2012 - Pike Lake State Park, Hartford, WI Found it, Wisconsin's oldest active geocache Found it, Wisconsin's oldest active geocache	2012 - Pike Lake State Park, Hartford, WI Bart at Wisconsin's oldest active geocache Bart at Wisconsin's oldest active geocache

In an attempt to score the geocache Happy New Year, guardrail10 (GC38K4R) by Bobcam, an accumulation of two hours worth of conventional searching proved fruitless.  During the search for the cache, I discovered a few things in the area that were possibilities.  Perhaps the theory I was developing was a stretch but it seemed like it had potential.

The theory is that the geocache was hidden within the storm drain that is buried just a few feet from the listed coordinates.  The signs of the drain are subtle but they are there.  We made our way down to the river bank and scouted for the opening.  We waffled a bit but then our team decided to go for it.  We explored our way the entire half mile to what we believed to be GZ.  We were able to find our way by known landmarks (manholes and storm grates).  We searched a bit and came up empty.  I was SURE the cache would be located here but no Happy Dance for us today.  While I doubt I'll make it back into the drain, I am still convinced that my theory is plausible and that we just missed the hide.

WARNING  I am not sure of the legalities of entering storm drains.  Regardless, I do not recommend going into drains and you enter them at your own risk, especially when precipitation is imminent.

Enjoy the photographs (click thumbnails for larger view)..

2012 - Extreme Geocaching or Urban Exploration Track log dump from the GPS Track log dump from the GPS	2012 - Extreme Geocaching or Urban Exploration Draining to the Mississippi Draining to the Mississippi	2012 - Extreme Geocaching or Urban Exploration The portal to geocache? The portal to geocache?
2012 - Extreme Geocaching or Urban Exploration The way out The way out	2012 - Extreme Geocaching or Urban Exploration The right went unexplored, the left goes all the way to 19th Street The right went unexplored, the left goes all the way to 19th Street	2012 - Extreme Geocaching or Urban Exploration Looking up at manhole #2 (see map) Looking up at manhole #2 (see map)
2012 - Extreme Geocaching or Urban Exploration Dan leading the way Dan leading the way	2012 - Extreme Geocaching or Urban Exploration Norvina beating tunnel rats with her stick Norvina beating tunnel rats with her stick	2012 - Extreme Geocaching or Urban Exploration Bart attempting to keep the walls from closing in Bart attempting to keep the walls from closing in

Kelly and I went up to Garmisch to check out the accommodations for summer 2012. We thought it would be really different in winter, and it was, but it still FELT like Garmisch, and we nearly disrobed and ran into the icy water. The bar and restaurant were closed, but the lodge was open and gorgeously decorated for Christmas. We toured the Beetle and it is everything we hoped for. Check it out.

Enjoy the photographs (click thumbnails for larger view)..

2012 - Garmisch Adventure Coming into Cable Coming into Cable	2012 - Garmisch Adventure Rondeaus with snow! Rondeaus with snow!	2012 - Garmisch Adventure Garmisch USA! Garmisch USA!
2012 - Garmisch Adventure Front gates Front gates	2012 - Garmisch Adventure Sasquatch all gussied up Sasquatch all gussied up	2012 - Garmisch Adventure Kelly outside the Beetle Kelly outside the Beetle
2012 - Garmisch Adventure Scary Santa hopefully not included. Scary Santa hopefully not included.	2012 - Garmisch Adventure Troll tunnel between living room and kitchen upstairs. Troll tunnel between living room and kitchen upstairs.	2012 - Garmisch Adventure Dark photo, but this is the view from the living room upstairs. Dark photo, but this is the view from the living room upstairs.
2012 - Garmisch Adventure Upstairs kitchen, being changed into a bar. Upstairs kitchen, being changed into a bar.	2012 - Garmisch Adventure Kitchen side of upstairs fireplace. Santa is lurking in the other room. Kitchen side of upstairs fireplace. Santa is lurking in the other room.	2012 - Garmisch Adventure Where's the rest of the suit of armor? I hope not under a bed. Where's the rest of the suit of armor? I hope not under a bed.
2012 - Garmisch Adventure Kelly lurking in the hallway. Kelly lurking in the hallway.	2012 - Garmisch Adventure We need kleenex for this custom installed snot rag holder. We need kleenex for this custom installed snot rag holder.	2012 - Garmisch Adventure Cool switchplate. Cool switchplate.
2012 - Garmisch Adventure Stained glass window! Stained glass window!	2012 - Garmisch Adventure Another dark one, but the lake is RIGHT OUTSIDE!!!!! Another dark one, but the lake is RIGHT OUTSIDE!!!!!	2012 - Garmisch Adventure Kelly in the GREEN TUB!!!!!!! No kidding! A rather unusual shade of green if I say so myself. Kelly in the GREEN TUB!!!!!!! No kidding! A rather unusual shade of green if I say so myself.
2012 - Garmisch Adventure Nice fixture, master bedroom. Nice fixture, master bedroom.	2012 - Garmisch Adventure The sink in that same bathroom. Two words: Jean rocks!!! The sink in that same bathroom. Two words: Jean rocks!!!	2012 - Garmisch Adventure Kelly showered and slipped into fresh underwear. Kelly showered and slipped into fresh underwear.
2012 - Garmisch Adventure Second bedroom upstairs Second bedroom upstairs	2012 - Garmisch Adventure Nene on the crapper. CHECK OUT THE NAUGAHYDE! Nene on the crapper. CHECK OUT THE NAUGAHYDE!	2012 - Garmisch Adventure Upstairs dormer window facing south. Nice mattress. Upstairs dormer window facing south. Nice mattress.
2012 - Garmisch Adventure Reminds me of the Chateau. Reminds me of the Chateau.	2012 - Garmisch Adventure Downstairs refinished kitchen. Downstairs refinished kitchen.	2012 - Garmisch Adventure Facing west, downstairs dining room right next to kitchen. Awesome Tiffany lamp and yet another view of the lake. Facing west, downstairs dining room right next to kitchen. Awesome Tiffany lamp and yet another view of the lake.
2012 - Garmisch Adventure The lower level, nice new kitchen. The lower level, nice new kitchen.	2012 - Garmisch Adventure Downstairs family room, facing south (fireplace). Fireplace separates family room from kitchen. Downstairs family room, facing south (fireplace). Fireplace separates family room from kitchen.	2012 - Garmisch Adventure We WILL need chick wire so Noah doesn't stick his little melon through here. Cool roses, though. We WILL need chick wire so Noah doesn't stick his little melon through here. Cool roses, though.
2012 - Garmisch Adventure Nipple hat/wall hanging. Nipple hat/wall hanging.	2012 - Garmisch Adventure View from downstairs family room out west window. View from downstairs family room out west window.	2012 - Garmisch Adventure Second bedroom, downstairs. Second bedroom, downstairs.
2012 - Garmisch Adventure Writhing naked people on ornate mirror + Kelly = wish we had some red wine. Writhing naked people on ornate mirror + Kelly = wish we had some red wine.	2012 - Garmisch Adventure No words. No wait. I better NOT find this by my bed in the middle of the night- AMY! No words. No wait. I better NOT find this by my bed in the middle of the night- AMY!	2012 - Garmisch Adventure Downstairs north bedroom. Downstairs north bedroom.
2012 - Garmisch Adventure A stallwart knight guards the elevator. A stallwart knight guards the elevator.	2012 - Garmisch Adventure Windy and cold. Facing the lake with house keys. Windy and cold. Facing the lake with house keys.	2012 - Garmisch Adventure Beach facing northwest. Beach facing northwest.
2012 - Garmisch Adventure Beach facing west. Beach facing west.	2012 - Garmisch Adventure Beach facing southwest. Beach facing southwest.	2012 - Garmisch Adventure I did bring her home. This is a heavy iron gate. I did bring her home. This is a heavy iron gate.
2012 - Garmisch Adventure View west to beach from farther back. Boat house with stairs is on left. View west to beach from farther back. Boat house with stairs is on left.	2012 - Garmisch Adventure Lake side of house. Lake side of house.	2012 - Garmisch Adventure Our address up north. Our address up north.
2012 - Garmisch Adventure NW corner of house, under renov. Will have two big beds, two bunkbed sets and bathroom. NW corner of house, under renov. Will have two big beds, two bunkbed sets and bathroom.	2012 - Garmisch Adventure East side (front door) of house. Very, very tall door. East side (front door) of house. Very, very tall door.	2012 - Garmisch Adventure My mudder. My mudder.