Hi,
I am very happy with my choice to drive US-20 through Iowa. It is a divided highway with two lanes going each way. There are no billboards. A few areas of windfarms and I only saw two solar farms: one of the Illinois side and the other in Iowa. Traffic density was low, so you were not always on high alert. I never observed the high speed hijinks of cars threading the needle between slower cars, like I see on Chicago expressways. (I was rear ended on the Dan Ryan a few years ago. Thankfully had a safety belt on or I would now be referred to in the past tense.)
On the negative, I never saw any dedicated rest areas. For the quick pit stop, rest areas are usually a short walk allowing a brief stop without any obligatory feelings to buy something.
There are some touristy things along route 20:
- A Frank Lloyd Wright home, but I did not stop.
- Dyersville, where one could check out the 'Field of Dreams,' just four miles off the highway. I did not stop.
- Worlds largest candied popcorn ball dating back to 2016, which I did stop to check out.
- Lots of corn and soybeans in various stages of ripeness with some being harvested.
- A town named Correctionville, which had nothing to do with prisons. This location was a noted correction on a survey map from the 19th century.
When I was on my way to South Dakota, I stopped for cheap gas at Murphy's just west of Waterloo. I got a Culver's pot roast sandwich with onions and extra horseradish sauce.
What I really wanted to sample, but could not find available as a standard menu item:
Iowa Ham Rolls. This is on my short list of something to make: half ground beef, half ground ham, and crushed graham crackers. It is a variation of meatballs. I found places where it was a special on days of the week I was not present.
On the way home, I decided to visit the Valley Drive Inn in Correctionville after checking their menu online. They offered a sandwich called the 'Tavern.' It is a sandwich I was aware of, but never tried. I did have a WestBend slow cooker/fryer with a 'Tavern' setting, but never knew what that meant.
When I ordered the Tavern, I inquired if it was like a Sloppy Joe. "It's similar to a Sloppy Joe, but it is savory and not as sweet." Once I had it in hand, I would declare it is a variation of a loose meat sandwich. It was sufficiently cradled in paper that it did not drip meat all over the place. I ate this with a blackberry milkshake.
I did pass on the cheese balls, which I was told was like a fried cheese curd. There were also chive fries, which were fries with a chive power on them. I would not have been surprised if it was Ranch powder dabbled on. I did not order them, so I guess I will wait for next time.
Practically a stone's throw from Valley Drive Inn is Patty's Pit Stop. A few too many times being the first customer of day means warmed over leftovers from yesterday. It may be great BBQ, but the siren song of the day was that Tavern at Valley Drive Inn.
I did not dine again until I reached Ridott Corners Tavern, though I was reminded today I was there a few years ago. It was a good idea to be reminded about, so thank you Buddy!
Patty's Pit Stop
508 11th St,
Correctionville, IA 51016
Phone: (712) 369-8584
Ridott Corners Tavern
1862 S Rock City Rd.
Ridott, IL 61067
(815) 235-2451
Valley Drive Inn
420 11th St
Correctionville, IA 51016
(712) 372-4587