Sioux Falls is the largest city in South Dakota and named after a series of falls in the middle of town. The falls were previously harnessed to develop local industry that revolved around the rapid moving water from Big Sioux River (hydroelectric power, artisans, mill). The industry has since moved from the falls, but I enjoyed following the trails around the falls and learning about the community.
From there I began my southeast trek to Des Moines and found Katie in a parking lot outside her office. Good thing she met me there because I never would have found her house otherwise. 
She lives on the property of the Living History Farms in Urbandale, Iowa – just outside of Des Moines. The house is a bright, open and airy farmhouse with a beautiful front porch with a view of farmland. After watching tornado and thunderstorm warnings we headed into El Bait Shop in Des Moines for some dinner and drinks with Katie’s colleagues. El Bait Shop is a beer-haven in Des Moines with tons of taps and bottled beers – a definite RFD/Brickskellar feeling to Des Moines. We came back to the house and watched the thunderstorm for a few hours before calling it a night.
Posted by rvoorhees 
