Just a hop, skip and jump away from Solon, Iowa, was Prairie Flower COE Campground near Ankeny, Iowa. Were were scheduled to spend five nights at this campground on Saylorville Lake. Our friends we met in Maine in 1976 live nearby in Norwalk and they were meeting us to spend some time at the lake. Bob and I arrived first, but our site wasn't ready so we took Ed and Doreen's until they arrived. Needless to say, the people on our site waited until the last minute to pack up and leave, so Bob and I pulled into another site to wait. Finally, we were able to get into our site and get ready for five days of fun.
Our first night we had a beautiful sunset.
We spent the next day exploring Ankeny and Johnston. We ate lunch at a Mexican restaurant, then did a little shopping in Sam's. Back at the campground, it was time for happy hour, then a campfire.
The following day, Ed and Doreen had appointments to keep so Bob and I took off geocaching our way to Boone, Iowa. Once there, we visited Mamie Eisenhower's birthplace. Visiting the house was like taking a step back in time. Everything was specific to the time Mamie was born. She only lived in the house until she was nine months old. The dress in this room was worn by Mamie to an event at the White House when she was First Lady. Pink was Mamie's favorite color.
Behind the house, in the garage, was Mamie's Plymouth Valiant---pink, of course!
Also located in the town of Boone was James H. Andrew Railroad Museum and Boone & Scenic Valley Railroad. The museum was filled with memorabilia from the World Wars. For lunch we stopped at The Whistle Stop Cafe.
One of our last days at Prairie Flower, we made a trip into Des Moines to eat at Hessen Haus....a German restaurant. The food was delicious and the company was great!
Another evening, Ed and Doreen's son Dan brought his family to enjoy an evening by the campfire (they actually came several nights, but we only got pics the last night). We all had a great time and the kids enjoyed s'mores.
One of the reasons we will return to the area are the great bicycle trails. Bob and I rode around the campground and down to the next one. We also found trails during our geocaching adventures.
All too soon, it was time to move on... we hope to see Ed and Doreen down the road. We always enjoy our time together.
Bob and I had one more stop before it was time for our appointment at Winnebago Industries in Forest City, Iowa.
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