This morning Council Bluffs, IA was shrouded in a thick
blanket of fog. We decided to eat breakfast at the Back Stage Grill located in
the casino. Babs had an egg scrambler and I had steak and eggs, both cooked to perfection,
and the price was right, free!
We struck out at about 7:55 a.m. in marginally dense
fog but were able to travel safely at only 10 miles below the posted speed
limit.
As I said in the previous day’s blog, there was a winter storm warning
for areas west of Sioux Falls, SD on I-90.
Our plan was to travel west as long as it appeared safe to do so. The
weather went from drizzle and fog, to fog and light freezing rain.
At Mitchell, SD we left I-90 to see how the Mitchell
Corn Palace was decorated this year. The Corn Palace façade is decorated
totally in corn and corn silage. It really is a marvel!
Heading west again on I-90, the fog continued and the
temperature dropped steadily reaching 25 degrees. By the time we reached Chamberlain, SD the
freezing rain had abated somewhat and we decided to eat lunch and then decide
whether or not to continue traveling or put up for the day.
To reach AL’s Oasis you cross the Missouri River which
was frozen almost completely across.
We stopped for lunch at Al’s Oasis, whose
sign says, is a tradition. It includes a grocery store, a bank, a gift shop, restaurant,
and motel.
We had stopped there with our kids while on our way to Yellowstone
National Park in1988. The food is good “comfort food” and the deserts out of
this world. They are especially known
for their homemade pies.
After lunch folks traveling from the west to east on
I-90 said the weather was deteriorating as close as 20 miles further up the
road so we decided to stop for the day. As luck would have it, the weather held
off for 3 or so more hours before freezing rain and light snow really picked
up. During that time Babs strolled around town and I worked on straightening
out my computer.
We returned to AL’s for dinner, Babs having whole fried
Catfish and me having Country steak.
Both were cooked to perfection. An extensive salad bar came with the
meal. Our server tried to get us to take a piece of pie at two slices for the
price of one because the pie rack was still almost full because of the weather.
Turns out they never serve day old pie because they are all baked daily. The staff
takes the remaining pies home. That’s a place that I would like to work!
It is 19 degrees and snowing right now. Tomorrow we’ll
get a late start because snow and wind are expected to increase overnight before
ending in the morning. It will take the road crews some time to clear the
roadway.
Babs
Says: I first ate at AL’s with moma, daddy, & tinker in
1963, fifty years ago and nothing has changed but the prices.
Snow can make friends out
of strangers. Everyone has an interesting snow stories that they love to
No comments:
Post a Comment