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Fun way to share our rides !

My parents are embarking on a cross country bike trip in a matter of weeks! They’re the best! Follow their adventures here

Woodbury County

Location: Lewis and Clark Interpretive Center (map)

Run Time: 8:07

Distance: 1.0 mile

Beer: Founder’s All Day IPA

Date: 5/3/14

The Lewis and Clark Interpretive Center is sandwiched between the Missouri River and Interstate 29, byways ancient and new. The Center, which is free of charge, shares space with The Betty Strong Encounter Center, which tells the story of Sioux City before and after the landmark Corps of Discovery Mission.

The Interpretive Center is what one would expect from a modern museum, a collection of mannequins standing in front of vast expanses, interactive exhibits, with a theater to further explain the story. Outside is a collection of sculptures of the explorers and the animals that they encountered and meticulously recorded.

One of the highlights of the center was the child who ran through the hallways telling his brother “Science Rules!” The employee at the front desk and I gave each other a knowing chuckle.

Leaving the museum my sister and I found a trail leading towards the Missouri River and ran under a bridge connecting Iowa and Nebraska.

The scene encountered on the west side of the bridge contrasted starkly with that on the east. We had started running in an area with a riverboat casino, that ubiquitous link with a wilder past that used to be common among many river towns.

On the other side of the bridge was a nod to a much more somber past, a memorial to United Airlines Flight 232, which crashed in Sioux City, July 19, 1989. The most touching sight in the somber memorial is the sculpture of Lt. Col Dennis Nielson carrying 3 year old Spencer Bailey from the wreckage.

After finishing the run quickly we sat on a bench alongside the river. A boat passed and traffic passed on the bridge. In a gazebo, a group of men set up speakers for a Cinco de Mayo party. To stare out into that expanse of water, a boundary both real and artificial, is to be struck by the history. History is both grand, represented by the Corps of Discovery and the Flight 232 Memorial but it is also miniscule, a collection of people living their lives.

#lewisandclark #running #travel #history

Muscatine County

Location: Wildcat Den State Park (map)

Run Time: 9:49

Distance: 1 mile

Beer: Sam Adams' Cold Snap

Date: 4/12/14

Wildcat Den State Park is not stereotypical Iowa. Its very name suggests a throwback to the time that feline predators roamed and rested while its raucous cliffs and rugged trails look like something out of an outdoors magazine.

Arriving to the park we immediately checked out the Pine Creek Mill, built in 1848 by Benjamin Nye, an early settler in the area. The adjacent building was restored in 1932 but unfortunately subsequent visitors showed it the same amount of respect as a middle school desk, carving in names, often wrapped in crudely drawn hearts.

Running was a treat for the eyes and a test for the legs, as the terrain ascended quickly and then descended into Devil’s Punch Bowl. The trail was understandably pretty full and fallen trees frequently provided bridges across valleys and creeks.

My sister, Val, attempted to perform a yoga pose on one of these trees and ended up falling into the knee deep creek below. This happened twice and I cackled as an older brother should. We ran further and found a larger tree, about ten feet off the valley floor. It seemed like an ideal place for a beer, which we enjoyed. As we had already completed our mile we walked back to the car and soaked in the scenery, as I made a mental note to plan a longer visit to this unique part of the state.

#running #muscatine #travel #outdoors #nature

Ida County

Location: Moorehead Pioneer Park (map)

Run Time: 10:03

Distance: 1.0 Mile

Beer: Boulevard Pop Up IPA

Date: 2/1/14

Boasting over 250 acres Moorehead Pioneer Park is a beautiful area that was once the original site of Ida Grove. As I pulled into the park the winter sun was setting rapidly, with the darkness of the trees contrasting beautifully with the pastel-hued sky. The sun was going down and the temperatures with it.

It was a beautiful trail run around a mostly frozen lake. At roughly the halfway point I came to a shaky bridge, the kind that is a child’s dream. It was blanketed in powdery snow and so rather than exuberantly running over it I gingerly walked it, holding the supports for dear life.

On finishing I enjoyed a beer at the edge of the pond. Two swans rested in a part of the lake kept unfrozen for them. It was cold and peaceful and perfect.

#running #nature #iowa #ida

Carroll County

Location: Veteran’s Memorial Park (map)

Run Time: 9:13

Distance: 1.13 mile

Beer: Founder’s All Day IPA

Date: 5/3/14

The Los Angeles Lakers bring to mind many things: success and Showtime, Kobe and Magic, Jerry West and Jack Nicholson. Carroll, Iowa is generally not the kind of thing people think of when they think of one of professional sports most storied franchises.

And yet on a cold January day in 1960 the fate of the then-Minneapolis Lakers crossed with this rural community. The team was returning back to Minneapolis following a loss to the St. Louis Hawks when the plane lost power. Rookie forward Elgin Baylor was playing cards when the lights went out. The wipers on the plane also quit working and so the pilot had to stick his head out to see.

The pilot followed a car towards Carroll and successfully landed the plane in a field shortly before 2 in the morning. Chest high snow greeted the players who, happy to be alive, immediately began having a snowball fight. Within minutes the citizens of Carroll, led by the town mortician, arrived and helped the players find shelter, hearses transporting them into town.

The players bussed it back to Minneaplis the following morning and were back on the same plane a few days later. The franchise quickly moved on and then moved, to Los Angeles, winning eleven titles there and becoming one of the most recognizable franchises on the planet.

The franchise recognized the momentous event fifty years later, donating $25,000 for a court, purple and gold of course. The event was attended by Lakers luminary Conny Hawkins and Lakers President Jeanie Buss. Buss told the Carroll Daily Times Herald that the landing had been “a turning point in Lakers history” and suggested that the franchise likely would have folded had the events of that night turn out differently. She hoped that the court would be a “living monument.”

Yet when I visited there was one very unfortunate event, as I lost a game of HORSE to my sister. Unlike the Lakers I may not recover.

ESPN and Carroll Daily Times Herald

Carroll's Paper

#lakers #basketball #carroll #running #horse

Calhoun County

Location: Manson (map)

Run Time: 9:27

Distance: 1.07 Mile

Beer: Boulevard Pop Up IPA

Date: 2/1/14

(Manson heralds its past as an intergalactic rock target)

As you are aware, 74 million years is a long time. At this time triceratops and tyrannosaurus rexes roamed the earth. And it was then that a large asteroid struck what would become the town of Manson, leaving a 22 mile wide crater. But, as mentioned, 65 million years is a long time and the crater has been filled up by generations of glacial till.

I had been here before. August 30, 2013 to be exact. I had planned on running alongside a lake until a sign with dinosaurs on it grabbed my attention (I’m easily distracted by signs with dinosaurs).

My original time through I was unable to find any kind of marker for the impact and ended up just running by the side of the road. A friendly police office informed me that I was actually in Pocahontas County, not Calhoun.

And so I returned. Rather than passing through en route to my next destination I had some time to explore. Manson was covered by a light dusting of snow and I parked next to a town park and jogged through the town, where a few residents braved the cold for a morning walk. I ran through the downtown and got the usual odd looks as I ran under the covered walkways of Manson.

On my finish I enjoyed a Pop Up IPA in the park and found a small stone marker covered in snow. It details the story of the impact, which was once thought to have been the asteroid that led to the extinction of the dinosaurs. It had taken almost six months for me to return and run in Manson after my original visit. It felt like a long time. But it really wasn’t. 74 million years is a long time.

#manson #iowa #beer #travel #crater #history #dinosaurs

Louisa County

Location: Columbus Junction (map)

Run Time: 11:27

Distance: 1 mile

Beer: Coors Light at Rumors & Excuses

Date: 4/12/14

What drew me to Columbus Junction was the “Lover’s Leap Bridge,” a swinging bridge 80 feet above a ravine. The bridge was named after a local legend that a heartbroken Native American maiden threw herself into the ravine. The bridge itself is pretty impressive and made for one of the more unique runs. It was incredibly difficult to run as the surface below me bounced and swayed.

But the cultural diversity of Columbus Junction is even more interesting. The early 1900’s drew Mexican laborers who helped to build the railroad and farm labor was another pull factor. The Tyson plant outside of town continues to attract migrants from Mexico, Guatemala, El Salvador and many other Hispanic countries.

According to the Columbus Junction website one-third of the businesses in the downtown area are Latino-owned. A quick walk through the main strip felt more Nicaragua than Newton, more Panama than Panora.

In addition to the Hispanic population migrants from the Chin state of Myanmar began arriving in 2005. The largely Christian minority fled the country due to religious persecution by that ruling junta. About 500 have settled in the town and the school has hired one to translate. The refugees mainly work at the Tyson plant although some have opened businesses as well.

Columbus Junction is a fascinating corner of Iowa. It feels like an anomaly. Many of Iowa’s small towns are ethnically homogeneous, with sagging populations. And yet this tiny town has demonstrated the ability to pull in refugees and immigrants from across the world seeking the American dream. Columbus Junction is changing. The population shifts and sways much like the old bridge that brought this fourth generation German to the town.

Information obtained from Columbus Junction website and Waterloo-Cedar Falls Courier

#chin #burma #columbusjunction #iowa #travel #immigration

Summer 6 Pack

Six Iowa Beers You Must Have This Summer

By Zach Steele

What’s the best part about summer in Iowa? Everything! But specifically Iowa’s growing craft beer industry which has produced some beers that are perfect for both hot muggy nights and torrential downpours of biblical proportions. So here’s a six-pack of suggestions for drinking local for the rest of the summer.

John’s White Ale by Millstream Brewing Company- This tasty white ale was originally brewed by Millstream Brewery to celebrate the 50th anniversary of John’s Grocery in Iowa City. The store was named one of the 79 best beer rooms in the world and the beer lives up to its namesake. John’s White Ale has hints of coriander and orange peel and is perfect for a summer afternoon.

Golden Nugget by Toppling Goliath Brewing Company- Described by my friend Graham as “pure hoppy goodness” and my mother as “How can you drink that?” Golden Nugget is a hop-head’s dream. Boasting an impressive 95/100 score on Beer Advocate Golden Nugget has a fragrant hop aroma that’s evident before it’s golden goodness reaches your lips.

Slingshot by Backpocket BrewingThis Dunkel by Iowa’s largest brewery is a surprisingly smooth lager, given its dark complexion. Those who say that they don’t like dark beers have never had a Slingshot.

Hannah Exile Brewing Company- Hannah was Exile’s first offering when the Des Moines brewery opened in the summer of 2012. This hazy dark orange Hefeweizen is a sweet and citrusy beer that’s great for a warm evening or to help you hydrate after completing the Run to Exile.

Blonde Fatale by Peace Tree Co.- Blonde Fatale is one of the bestselling beer’s from Knoxville’s Peace Tree Brewing. This award winning Belgian strong ale has an incredibly flavorful taste and goes down very easy. Its seductiveness is Blonde Fatale’s charm but also a risk as the seemingly light beer actually packs an 8.5% alcohol content. Treat tenderly.

Des Moines IPA by Confluence Brewing Company- American IPAs depart from their British counterparts by being more aggressively hoppy, contrasting with the staid IPA’s of the British Isles. The golden hued Des Moines IPA doesn’t disappoint and packs a punch at 7.1% ABV. You’d disrespect Des Moines by not trying it.

Clearly I’ve missed some or left off some others. I’d love to hear your opinion on your favorite Iowa beers in the summer. Feel free to respond here or on any of the social media sites that all the kids are using these days (@rundrinkiowa).

#beer #iowa #craftbeer #brewery #summer

Shelby County

Location: Danish Windmill, Elk Horn (map)

Run Time: 8:49

Distance: 1.0 Mile

Beer: Sidekick by Peace Tree Brewing Company

Date: 6/21/13

It’s amazing how many of Iowa’s great attractions exist because some random guy had an even more random idea. In the case of Elk Horn in the late 1970’s this idea was along the lines of:

“Hey, let’s raise a bunch of money and transport a windmill from Denmark that’s over 100 years old. Who’s with me?”

Apparently the entire town was. They raised $30,000 within days. Three hundred volunteers helped to assemble the mill, using a painstakingly crafted scale model that had been sent over with it. Shortly after the mill was shipped out of Denmark that country passed a law prohibiting other mills from leaving the country.

#denmark #beer #running #iowa #exercise #midwest #history #windmill

Delaware County

Location: Backbone State Park(map)

Run Time: 19:28

Distance: 1.28

Beer: Sam Adams’ Octoberfest

Date: 10/18/13

Savings were destroyed in minutes. An environmental catastrophe ravaged large swathes of the country. The jobless waited in bread lines or roamed the country, desperate, dejected and sometimes dangerous. Capital, in forms financial, environmental and human, was vanquished at astonishing rates. Into the void Franklin Delano Roosevelt strode (rolled, rather), projecting pure energy. Roosevelt’s New Deal was a vast and far reaching set of programs that sought to confront the crisis aggressively, rather than wait it out and letting the business cycle correct itself.

One of the most popular programs at the time was the Civilian Conservation Corps. The CCC, a program for unemployed and unmarried men ages 18-25, provided manual labor positions at a time when many young men had no other option. The program was responsible for planting over 3 billion (!) trees, reintroducing wildlife and building an estimated 800 state parks.

One of the parks where the CCC had a lasting impact was Backbone State Park, Iowa’s oldest. Backbone was dedicated in 1920, during the pre-bust years but the two CCC camps provided a wealth of infrastructure to the park, damming the Maqoketa River to form Lake Backbone, building an auditorium, cabins, roads, picnic shelters and creating a beach.

They also constructed trails throughout the park, very likely the trails that I ran on during a calm October evening that seemed to officially usher in the latter, colder half of fall. I parked along the deserted beach and meandered along the shoreline enjoying a perfectly appropriate Octoberfest. I explored a fair amount of the park, including the dam that had barely a trickle rolling over it.

I found a trail entryway and ran on it, trudging up its steep climbs and protecting my old man knees while going down them. Giant rock bluffs to my right and Backbone Lake mirroring a pinkish sunset to my left. Deer and smaller animals scurried away, heard but unseen. A fallen tree covered the path and I meandered over it with a smile. I climbed up the bluffs looked out and came back down.

It was perfect and it was not an accident.

The CCC did not build the bluffs. They did not genetically engineer animals to stock the surrounding forests. The fertile soil was there long before there were fiscal crises to respond to. And yet, seven decades on I was profiting from this investment. The trees and trails, and the bridges and beaches, a testament to courageous leadership and the result of the sweat of young men in desperate times. Yes, this was an investment in every sense of the word. A precious corner of Iowa’s natural history was preserved through an investment that gave young men in desperate times meaning and means.

Information obtained from Iowa Department of Natural Resources, CCC Legacy.

#beer #backbone #statepark #outdoors #nature #deer #running #exercise #fitness #newdeal #roosevelt #history #CCC #civilian conservation corps

Palo Alto

Palo Alto County

Location: Super 8 and Lake Shore Drive, Emmetsburg(map and map)

Run Time: 9:50

Distance: 1.06 Mile

Beer: Leinenkugels Sunset Wheat

Date: 8/30/13 and 8/31/13

Super 8. Emmetsburg, Iowa. A beer and Sportscenter. It is exactly as glamorous as it sounds. This hadn’t been my plan mind you. But I got a later start to the day than I wanted and felt that visiting more counties would take precedence over camping.

As I pulled into Emmetsburg I figured this would be my sleepover point. The Wild Rose Casino greeted me as I entered town and I even had a friendly Twitter follower suggest it (Shoutout @itsadizzy). But I’m on a budget here and staying at a casino I would probably lose my shirt and I only brought so many shirts.

I attempted to visit a Visitor’s Center which was predictably closed. But I was able to mooch off of their Wifi, which was important since my 4G service was basically non-existent.* I found the Super 8 and settled in. (Well, I visited another county too. But that’s for a later post.)

I woke up in the morning, energized for a long day. I ran alongside the Lake of Five Islands. It was a beautiful morning and the heat wave that had swept the region was breaking.

There was a pair of kayakers out on an otherwise desolate lake. There were a few walkers along Lake Shore Drive but for the most part it was very peaceful.

I had come into Emmetsburg, weary and tired. After a peaceful run I was leaving hopeful and excited for what was to come. You can’t ask for much more than that.

*Lewis and Clark should have waited until there was reliable data service throughout the nation.

#beer #running #exercise #fitness #beach #travel #roadtrip #iowa

Taylor County

Location: Lake of Three Fires State Park (map)

Run Time: 7:10

Distance: 1.0 Mile

Beer: Backroad Stout

Date: 6/25/13

I rolled into Lake of Three Fires at sunset. I had never been before and yet I can confirm that this is the best time to go. The lake was a beautiful mirror, reflecting myriad shades of orange yellow and red.

As I ran along a wide trail on the eastern edge of the lake a couple deer scattered away from a water treatment facility and back into the forest, clearly as oblivious to my pace as they were to my motives.

At my turnaround point there was a bridge that led into a deeper, thicker area of forest. The trail was muddy and of course buggy. Right before turning around another deer emerged on the trail and I blurted out a few words that were unsuitable for a family related blog. Well played, deer, well played.

I jogged back across the beach, picked up my beer and jogged a bit more to a grass and rock peninusla into the lake. An older couple was bringing their boat in for the night and gave a friendly wave. People all over the state were watching TV or working or attending softball and baseball games. For a moment this beautiful stretch of land was ours. It was a nice moment. I just hope they were cherishing a beer as well.

Coming soon Des Moines. (at Saylorville Dam)

12 Quirky Iowa Summer Road Trips

12 Quirky Iowa Summer Roadtrips

By Zach Steele (@rundrinkiowa)

Summer just officially started and you’re stuck in Iowa with no plans to attend the World Cup, dominate Lollapalooza, or summit Denali. No worries, because there are plenty of weird, odd sights to visit within our own state. Pack up the car, throw on your “Suns Out, Guns Out” tank and hit the road!

1. The Day the Music Died

In February 1959 a plane carrying rock stars Ritchie Valens, The Big Bopper and Buddy Holly crashed into a corn field near Clear Lake. The event was immortalized as “The Day the Music Died” in Don Maclean’s classic song “American Pie.” The site is located about five miles north of Clear Lake, a half a mile off of the road. Fortunately large black rimmed glasses mark the beginning of the trail which leads to a small memorial.

2. Buxton Ghost Town

Once the largest coal mining towns west of the Mississippi River, the town of Buxton was a model of racial integration in the early part of the 20th century. In 1905 there were 2,700 blacks and 1,991 whites in the area and many black professionals started businesses. The town had a YMCA, a department store and a traveling baseball team. Buxton reached its peak coal production in 1914 and the town declined steeply. All that remains of this important piece of Iowa history are a few fading buildings and former road buried under grass

3. Swinging Bridge in Columbus Junction

The best attractions have some sort of myth to them, and the Swinging Bridge in Columbus Junction certainly has that. The bridge was originally called Lover’s Leap Bridge because of a legend that a heartbroken Native American woman jumped to her death in the ravine. As Columbus Junction’s website says “only the trees know and they’re not telling.”

4. Mahany Bell Tower

Built by William Floyd Mahanay the Mahanay Bell Tower in Jefferson is 14 stories high and has 14 cast bells, the largest of which weighs 5,360 pounds. On arriving at the top of the tower visitors can see 30 miles and five Iowa counties.

5. Tree in the Middle of the Road

The legend has it that a surveyor put a branch down at this spot to mark the county line between Cass and Audubon counties in the 1850s and that it grew into the massive tree. The cell service is limited so make sure you print a map before going. Or just drive around aimlessly until you find it. Both are pretty solid ideas.

6. Hawkeye Point

At 1,670 feet Hawkeye Point is the highest natural point in Iowa. The land was donated to Osceola County to be turned into a park. Visitors can climb up to an observation tower or view the educational exhibits that fill the area.

7. Grotto of the Redemption

Located in West Bend the Grotto of the Redemption is the work of German immigrant priest Paul Dobberstein. The Grotto is an offering made by Father Dobberstein to honor the Virgin Mary who he believed interceded when he was critically ill with pneumonia. The Grotto is estimated to be worth more than $4 million and is comprised of a large mix of petrified wood, geodes, jasper and quartz among many other minerals and stones.

8. Laker Court

During a snowstorm in January of 1960 the then-Minneapolis Lakers crashed their plane into a corn field in Carroll, en route to Minneapolis following a loss in St. Louis. In 2010 the Lakers organization donated $25,000 the construction of Laker Court to honor the town for their hospitality the night of the crash. Lakers part-owner and President Jeannie Buss said at the dedication that the franchise and Carroll are “bound together” because of the events of that night. No word on if they will relocate any of their 16 championship banners to Carroll.

9. Fort Atkinson

Fort Atkinson is proof that our country has a long history of building things and then quickly becoming bored with them. It was originally built to contain and protect the Winnebago tribe from white settlers and other tribes. However the Mexican War broke out and the troops were sent to that front, leaving Iowa volunteers to guard the fort. In some ways Fort Atkinson is a testament to our occasional ability to go “Meh…” at a project after a couple of years.

10. George Preston Filling Station

Built in 1917, this gas station is covered in the memorabilia of post-war America, with advertisements for Pepsi, Goodyear Tires and various oil companies. It also has a vintage pump in the front. Who knows, maybe one day we will start flocking to preserved Casey’s General Stores.

11. The Future Birthplace of Captain Kirk

Located about 20 minutes from Iowa City, Riverside is a small town with a big future. That’s because on March 22, 2228 James T. Kirk, future captain of the Starship Enterprise will be born in Riverside. In late June the town celebrates a Trekfest (June 27-28, 2014). No word yet on if they plan to celebrate in June of 2228. His future parents might find it a bit awkward.

12. Snake Alley

Once recognized by Ripley’s Believe It or Not for being the most crooked road in the world this Burlington landmark still contains the original bricks from when it was constructed in 1894. There is a bicycle race every Memorial Day weekend but the hilly area around it is worth a visit anytime of the year.

#summer #iowa #travel #roadtrip

Clinton County

Location: Eagle Point City Park (map)

Run Time: 6:59

Distance: 1 mile

Beer: Negra Modelo

Date: 4/13/14

As I drove along the Mississippi River, from Dubuque to Clinton, it was pretty obvious I wouldn’t be watching a Lumberkings game today. It had rained most of the day and even if the game hadn’t been canceled it was 4 and the game started at 2. I pulled into town and arrived at Eagle Point City Park, on the north end of town.

I went to the overview and stood out at an endless expanse of fog, under which apparently there was a river. A mighty one known as the Mississippi River. Yet, all was obscured.

With little incentive to go for an extended run in the cold, wet breeze I went into sprint mode, going as fast as my legs, and the previous beers I had drank, would let me. I was hoping to find a castle that apparently exists in the park but at the half mile mark I hadn’t seen it.

I returned, quickly, to my car and continued driving to try to find it. Unfortunately many of the roads in the park were closed, with no explanation as to why.

I drove into town and found that the Lumberkings game was indeed canceled. Much of downtown Clinton seemed to have followed suit and one of the only places open was a new Mexican restaurant promisingly named The Tequila House.

The scene inside felt as much like a family gathering as a restaurant, as conversations flowed from table to table and a rotating cast of waiters served us. The burrito was amazing and the beer was large and cold. Looking back, the fog and rain of Dubuque and Clinton felt like something of a let down, especially considering how much these towns have to offer. But sitting in The Tequila House it didn’t matter. I was warm, my burrito was warm and the beer was cold.

#iowa #running #exercise #beer #mississippi

Dubuque County

Location: Dubuque (map)

Run Time: 8:48

Distance: 1 mile

Beer: Dorothy’s New World Lager by Toppling Goliath

Date: 4/13/14

Rain coming down and clouds everywhere, I took shelter under the awning of closed business. Not to seek shelter from the storm or to check the weather forecast. No, I had to delete pictures from my phone because they were taking up too much memory. And that is how I came to spend my time in one of Iowa’s most historic, picturesque cities deleting pictures.

I parked by the famous Fenelon Place Elevator, and hit the cold, rapidly dampening streets. Not the coldest run but probably the wettest. While I had faced intermittent rain for much of the day it was usuallly caught by the canopy of trees in the park. Not in Dubuque. It wasn’t a downpour but it was a consistent rain.

I attempted to drive to Murphy’s in Dubuque, which is owned by my cousin’s fiance, but they were unfortunately closed on Sundays. Instead after some fruitless driving around Lot One was located and my sister and I sat down for a drink. I chose Dorothy’s New World Lager and that, and my dry hoodie, began to warm me up.

#beer #dubuque #iowa #travel #running

Grundy County

Location: Reinbeck (map)

Run Time: 15:08

Distance: 1.52 mile

Beer: Sticky Wicket by Broad Street Brewing Company

Date: 4/27/14

High winds, dark skies, tornado warnings, oh my! My dad picked me up at noon on a Sunday morning and we headed towards Reinbeck, the home of Broad Street Brewing, as well as my uncle. I had made plans to meet up with that uncle and his family, my aunt and cousin.

On the way up we passed windmills, the high winds keeping them occupied. I realized I had never actually been very close to one and so we stopped to take a picture. The blades cutting through the air hummed impressively.

On arriving in Reinbeck we parked in front of Broad Street Brewing Company and attempted to call our hosts. My cellphone, like the brewery didn’t have much service at that time and so we drove to the highest point we could find in town and eked out a text message,

We met at the brewery and started running. At the risk of sounding like a crotchety uncle, we ran straight uphill and against the wind, arriving at the football field where my uncle had once played. We did a loop around the track and made our way back to downtown, with a brief stop for conversation with family.

The brewery had opened by the time that we arrived and the interior was very cozy with a half dozen beers on tap and church pews for seating.

Small town breweries hold so much charm and they have the potential to be both conservator and creator in ways that a small town bar can’t. A bar will always hold the stories and glories of recent generations, but a brewery can preserve and promote a larger narrative, simply by naming a beer. Broad Street is available throughout the state and so a student in Ames, who has never been to Grundy County, can sip Broad Street’s Reinbecker. Breweries, like vineyards, can be destinations in and of themselves.

#beer #running #craftbeer #breweries #brewery #iowa

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