Whiskey Springs~

Today, no doubt about it, has been hot & humid.  Probably one of our top-ten most miserable summer days.  Just standing outside was enough to make you sweat.  Butch actually went out in the heat & mowed the city easement across from us, another responsibility he's taken on.

We decided to take a drive south on I-29.  With thoughts of a meal at the Keeping Room, we turned off toward Nebraska City.  The new bridge on Hwy 2 looks close to completion.  The usually bustling town was very quiet.  We'd just missed arriving before the 2 p.m. closing time.

Back on I-29, we turned south & went down one more exit, turning east, toward Hamburg.  This town had been under water for months, due to the floods of  2019.  Now, it seems to be a ghost town...  We'd planned to stop at the Awesome Possum Flea Market, but it too - was closed.

Hamburg~

As we turned down the main street, it was hard to miss the above building.  It looks like the bricks on the buildings corner just gave way recently.  Sad to see such historic buildings begin to crumble.

Loess Hills to the right, Missouri flood plain on the left~

We left town, following Google directions for another destination Butch had heard about, Whiskey Springs.

Whiskey Springs~

They were open & didn't look busy!  We were hungry by now!  The front patio dining is fine, but gives what would be an attractive exterior, a cluttered look.  We both think the front portico is a new addition, hopefully waiting for paint.

Inside Entry Signage~

The laser cut, brushed metal signs were perfect.  A bar area was to the left, with outside seating.  Concrete tables, bar top, floors, etc. give it an industrial look.

Large Barn Room~

To the right, was the main part of the barn building, with it's own bar.  Really one of the nicest venues I've seen for parties or gatherings.  We found a table in the corner of the bar with the bonus of having Saratoga horse racing on the flat screen.

Lunch was really, really good!  Worth the drive.  I wondered if Whiskey Springs did have a spring?  After our meal, we walked around outside & found a Koi Pond - water supplied from the spring.  It was tucked away in a corner of the property at the base of the hills.

Koi Pond~

The windmill was a nice touch too.

Windmill / Fountain?

From the set-up of the water tanks, this is a fountain, when it's running.

Beautiful old Caddy!

We had to stop to admire the beautiful classic Cadillac parked out front.  Probably within a couple years of my Dad's 54.

Signage~

From the interior of an air conditioned vehicle, it was a beautiful summer day!

Awesome Possum - Hamburg, IA ~

After coming home from the Y, I worked outside in the timber/woods most of Friday afternoon.  The day went from broken clouds & sun breaks, to overcast & breezy.  It was obvious our sunshine, springlike weather was coming to a close - at least for now.

By Saturday morning we had just over an inch of very wet, heavy snow.  Unusual for us.  Virus news was circulating, but our town went about business as usual.  I attended a baby shower for a friend's latest grand-baby!  We played games, watched as the mother-to-be opened gifts & everyone had a wonderful time.

Today - it was gray.  The snow from yesterday was almost gone, but the clouds looked low & ominous.  At Matt-makers last Wednesday, a friend had mentioned a fun flea market she'd visited in Hamburg, IA.  We decided it would be a good day for a short road trip.

Awesome Possum Flea Market~

As we parked in the almost deserted town, music was playing from speakers outside.  This town was one of the hardest hit by last years floods.  The owners of these two buildings, had marked the spot on the floor upstairs, where they had slept for 208 days.  The flood waters stayed for so very long, the damage was severe & will be long lasting...

Chicken Collection!

Both buildings, now combined as one, were full from top to bottom!  It was somehow reassuring (in the face of the virus scare) to walk around amid so many items evoking memories of by-gone days.

Psychedelic horse tapestry~

This tapestry has to be the most colorful of a carousal horse I have ever seen!  No!  I did not bring it home!  We did though, find a couple small treasures.  We asked about places to eat in town, but the one restaurant still in business, was closed on Sunday.

The Keeping Room~

We decided to head over the river to Nebraska City & have a very late lunch at the Keeping Room.  We arrived 30-min. before closing.  The restaurant was empty!  This place is always buzzing with a room full of people!  Not today!  The staff said we were welcome to stay & eat.  The usual Sunday business was non-existent.  We can only hope the virus scare resolves rapidly.  Small businesses, need business to keep the doors open.

Going back east on Hwy 2 

Highway 2, is still being repaired from the floods & down to only one lane across the middle of the floodplain.

Nika~

Nika came with us & is always such a good traveler!  She knows we have treats in the truck & has finally accepted Butch's new truck - as ours.

A 500 piece puzzle~

Diane had said she'd seen a puzzle of the town of Greenfield, but couldn't remember for sure if it was my hometown.  As many rooms full of things at the Awesome Possum, I was amazed we found it!  It did come home with us & now we'll have to see how rusty our puzzle skills are?