Days #676-682 of Our Epic Trip

9-8-2025
H: 79ºF L: 51ºF
Dry Camping, REI, Des Moines, Iowa

We drove into Iowa and stayed in the parking lot of an REI. Next door was a Container Store. I love things to put things in. We are still designing our Tennessee home and Daniel found it helpful to see the closets.

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9-9-2025
H: 77°F L: 52°F
Cedar Valley Campground, West Branch, Iowa

We drove east and, after a quick search for a campground when our boondocking site was unsatisfactory, we landed in a county park. It was quiet and there were only a couple campers there.

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9-10-2025
H: 81ºF L: 53ºF
Cedar Valley Campground, West Branch, Iowa

We had a relaxing coffee time outside with the boys. Marcel is so funny! He just has such a lighthearted personality and loves to have fun.

We walked around Cedar Valley County Park in West Branch, IA. There are two limestone quarry ponds right next to our campsite plus Cedar River is nearby too. This is a really nice campground offering eclectic and water for only $15 per night. Daniel and I feel lucky to have found this first come, first serve campground.

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9-11-2025
H: 83ºF L: 56ºF
Cedar Valley Campground, West Branch, Iowa

We had an adventure day! We started with Lover’s Leap Bridge in Columbus Junction, IA. According to the sign, the last time the bridge was updated was 70 years ago so I felt a little nervous walking on it. We met the sweetest kitty at the bridge who acted as the bridge ambassador.

Next we went to Burlington, IA where they battled for the title of Crookedest Street with San Francisco’s Lombard Street. Snake Alley is made of bricks laid with the skinny ends up to give better traction to horses who used to traverse this road.

We loved Burlington, IA! The city slopes down to the Mississippi River and has beautiful buildings. We happened upon a Thursday night farmers market and bought some dried fruit at a natural foods store, Nature’s Corner. We talked to some really nice people at the store. We watched a train go through downtown and marveled at the beautiful old houses. A lot of the old houses had signs out front naming the houses. Our favorite was the Nelson-Crapo House.

We went to Muscatine, IA to see the World’s Largest Watermelon Slice. It wasn’t as impressive as other world’s largest things we’ve seen. But… we did happen upon a 9-11 remembrance event with live music.

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9-12-2025
H: 89ºF L: 58ºF
Cedar Valley Campground, West Branch, Iowa

We stayed home and I spent most of the day reading. I finished the book Into This River I Drown by T. J. Klune. It was good but a little dark.

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9-13-2025
H: 94°F L:69 °F
Cedar Valley Campground, West Branch, Iowa

We started our day of adventure by driving to the local reservoir. We saw a giant table and chairs in a farm field in Solon, IA.

We walked around the Iowa Raptor Project in Solon, IA. The program is based at the University of Iowa and strives to promote conservation. Many of the birds had been found injured and were unable to be released. Some of the birds seemed really interested in us. Others were more leery.

We went to the Coralville Dam on the Iowa River and the nearby Devonian Fossil Gorge in Iowa City, IA. The fossils were only discovered in 1993 after the flooding waters from the spillway eroded the area. It was one of the best fossil beds we have ever seen. The fossils were every where. You only have to bend over to look closely and you’ll see some fossils.

We drove by The World’s Largest Wooden Nickel in Iowa City, IA.

We went to the Oakland Cemetery in Iowa City, IA and saw The Black Angel. It was erected in 1912 and is a dark color because it’s oxidized bronze. It is apparently pretty famous in the region and is associated with myth.

We also stopped at The Haunted Bookshop in Iowa City, IA. The business is in a house built in 1847 and they have friendly cats to greet you including a ghost kitty.

We found a free concert on Linn St. in Iowa City, IA. We sat down and enjoyed the music for a bit.

We ended the day with checking out a free salsa dancing lesson at Ped Mall in Iowa City, IA. We opted non to join in.

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9-14-2025
H: 91ºF L: 67ºF
Cedar Valley Campground, West Branch, Iowa

Today, we stayed home and cleaned because we have a special guest coming to camp with us in a few days. Stay tuned!

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Stats

Expenses:

• Tesla Cybertruck fuel: $0
• Tesla Model X fuel: $0
• Campsite: $90
• Camping memberships: $28.26
• Food: $82.56

Tesla Cybertruck miles driven: 335.1 (255.5 kWh)

Tesla Model X miles driven: 663.6 (176.2 kWh)

Number of people asking about the Tesla pulling the camper: 0

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#MuscatineIowa #Iowa #IowaCity #BurlingtonIowa #HauntedBookStore #Fossils #FullTimeTraveling #FullTimeCamping #FullTimeRVing #TravelingTheUS