Iowa and Missouri in a hurry

February 28, 2015 by Robbie Sell

Day 70 / Mile 8020

After leaving my friends in Minnesota I turned the van south for a little dip into the midwest.

When Iowa says "Fields of Opportunities", they literally mean there are a crazy amount of fields they need somebody to do something with.

Ole Tina just hit 200,000 miles!  ...actually it's more because I have larger than stock tires and the mileage shows less. — Ole Tina just hit 200,000 miles! ...actually it's more because I have larger than stock tires and the mileage shows less.

One of my photoshoot locations was a few miles down a slippery bike path.  I loaded my bike with all the gear I needed and pedaled off. — One of my photoshoot locations was a few miles down a slippery bike path. I loaded my bike with all the gear I needed and pedaled off.

Thank you to the artists and creative engineers of the world for making these utilitarian objects enjoyable for people like me.

I tried about 100 ollie & kickflip self-portraits, but it's super hard to take the photo and concentrate on the trick too, so I ended up liking this test pic the most.  The slick concrete didn't help either.  Awesome location… — I tried about 100 ollie & kickflip self-portraits, but it's super hard to take the photo and concentrate on the trick too, so I ended up liking this test pic the most. The slick concrete didn't help either. Awesome location though, it reminds me of the iconic Gator graphic

There wasn't really anything in Nebraska that I was all that exciting to photograph, but in the end of this tour I want to say I went to each of the contiguous states.  So here it is. — There wasn't really anything in Nebraska that I was all that exciting to photograph, but in the end of this tour I want to say I went to each of the contiguous states. So here it is.

There was this creepy grotto at a Senior Citizen Care Hospital, but it was all locked up and smelled like pee.

To make the most of my massive detour I rolled around downtown Omaha for a few minutes.  I can't tell what is the original signage on this wall and what is new and intentionally aged to look historic.  Classic hipster artist move, you… — To make the most of my massive detour I rolled around downtown Omaha for a few minutes. I can't tell what is the original signage on this wall and what is new and intentionally aged to look historic. Classic hipster artist move, you can't fool me.

I found a pedestrian bridge that reminded me of the Sundial in Redding, CA. — I found a pedestrian bridge that reminded me of the Sundial in Redding, CA.

There was this beautiful indoor garden that I wanted to shoot in, but they wanted to charge me $125 to be able to use a tripod saying it's policy as I would be an inconvenience of getting in other people's way.  Not sure how that really wo… — There was this beautiful indoor garden that I wanted to shoot in, but they wanted to charge me $125 to be able to use a tripod saying it's policy as I would be an inconvenience of getting in other people's way. Not sure how that really works out, they should be charging parents extra for their annoying kids running around too. Anyways, here's a butterfly made out of Legos.

The Missouri board of tourism is slacking.  Thanks for the welcome, but you could come up with a better state slogan than this. — The Missouri board of tourism is slacking. Thanks for the welcome, but you could come up with a better state slogan than this.

Day 72 / Mile 8370 .  This beautiful building is the interior of the Kansas City Union Station.  This place use to be full of people 'back in the day' when traveling by train was more common. — Day 72 / Mile 8370 . This beautiful building is the interior of the Kansas City Union Station. This place use to be full of people 'back in the day' when traveling by train was more common.

Over at the Nelson-Atkins Museum of Art are the worlds biggest shuttlecocks designed by Claes Oldenburg.  Anybody have a connection to the Harlem Globetrotters, cuz I got skills here.  I'm really tall and would dunk over anybody,… — Over at the Nelson-Atkins Museum of Art are the worlds biggest shuttlecocks designed by Claes Oldenburg. Anybody have a connection to the Harlem Globetrotters, cuz I got skills here. I'm really tall and would dunk over anybody, because this sculpture is 20' in height.

Maybe I'm actually short, these headless fellas were average size.

On the outskirts of Kansas City was this dam.  Yeah, it's damn amazing! — On the outskirts of Kansas City was this dam. Yeah, it's damn amazing!

I brought my skateboard with me to have some fun on those banks, but you'd need a ladder or rope to get out of there, OR SWIM.

Well done.

Day 76 / Mile 8735 .  The Gateway Arch on the Mississippi River. — Day 76 / Mile 8735 . The Gateway Arch on the Mississippi River.

I take it all back, I AM A GIANT.  This monument is 630' tall, so how big does that make me?  ...p.s.  This self-portrait took me over 30 min to perfect.  It's funny when people awkwardly look at me not u… — I take it all back, I AM A GIANT. This monument is 630' tall, so how big does that make me? ...p.s. This self-portrait took me over 30 min to perfect. It's funny when people awkwardly look at me not understanding what I'm doing.

I went up inside that thing, because that's what tourists do.

Perfect timing for the sunset over St Louis.

Down near the river is a flood-wall that the city has given permission to graffiti artists to paint on, aptly named PAINT LOUIS.

There was too much to photograph and post, the wall is over a mile long.

This piece was cool.

Not all graffiti is script.

Near the wall I found the abandoned wreckage of the WWII USS Inaugural — Near the wall I found the abandoned wreckage of the WWII USS Inaugural

Before I left town I had to tour the original Budweiser factory.

Renard the Fox was the mascot of Bevo, a soda produced by Anheuser-Busch during prohibition. He was still happy though, forever chewing on a chicken leg having a drink. — Renard the Fox was the mascot of Bevo, a soda produced by Anheuser-Busch during prohibition. He was still happy though, forever chewing on a chicken leg having a drink.

This dude.

I'm now hanging a U-turn and going back up North to Detroit. Wish me luck, it's gonna be cold and really sketchy. My shot list has some scary areas for a dude rolling around in a mini van with California plates, alone.