To Wisconsin with a stop in Sully, Iowa

Leaving Des Moines, I did not take Highway 80 going east.  You fly on that highway!  Truckers and cars alike think 80 is the speed limit.  And usually people go 5-10 miles faster than the suggested speed limit, so...  It is ranked the deadliest interstate in Iowa, killing about 19 people a year.

I purposely chose to take 163 this time, which is south of 80, taking twisty back roads.  After Prairie City, I was on another paved road, 85, that would take me into Sully.  The roads were clear, although the land was covered in snow.

It would have been hard to know where to turn, had it not been for GPS.  

As I curved around Reasnor, there was this house on the hill.  I bet their views are pretty!

"You are the light of the world.  A town (or house) built on a hill cannot be hidden."  Matthew 5:14

My friend, Mary Ellen, is an author.  You can Google her and order her sweet children's books.  Here is one of her books:

The most recent book I am reading of hers is of her growing up years in Sully, Iowa.  I decided that I would visit this town on my way to the grandkids.  Sully is named after Alfred Sully, a railroad man.  Population 821 in 2010.

When I told Mary Ellen that I was going to drive through town, she told me where her house was and I looked it up on Google Earth.  She also told me about the church she attended that was in the same block.  It is no longer a church, however, but a winery.

The winery

Her childhood home

"Freedom Rock painter Raymond “Bubba” Sorensen II of Greenfield finished the Jasper County Freedom Rock in 2014, the 17th of the 99 county rocks in the Freedom Rock Tour he is painting in Iowa. The Jasper County Freedom Rock includes the east side sketch based on Sgt. William Jasper rallying the troops at Fort Sullivan, S.C., and is located on the East side of the Sully square." 

She told me about a little coffee shop.  When I entered, there were tables filled with old men shooting the breeze.  I enquired of the lady at the counter if she happened to know Mary Ellen.  "Her mother was my Sunday School teacher!"  Evidently, this cafe is known for it's "made from scratch" food, especially it's pies.  I should have got some!

A couple of doors down was a little bakery that I was curious about.

How cute is this place?!

Mary Ellen said I should stop at the locker and purchase some bologna sausage and brats.  In Sully, they know if you are a "stranger" and not local.  I found out that the lady who checked me out was a dear friend to Mary Ellen's older sister.

Such a cute meat locker!

Continuing on the journey...

Satchquash is in Deep River, Iowa!

Hempstead, Iowa Population 24.   

The 2nd governor of Iowa was Stephen P. Hempstead who served 1850-1854.

In Cedar Rapids, there were many cars in ditches and one overturned on it's roof, due to a snowstorm that had come through earlier.  Good thing I chose to come later!

I got to our kids' home in time for a delicious supper!  What joy to see the children!!

After supper, we had treats at Culver's.  Hannah's shift had just ended.

Sophia was at a birthday party so I saw her later.

To be continued....