Iowa is Super Dope

I have spent much of the last few months telling people I meet that I would be pretty surprised to encounter any fellow Iowans.  Until about a week ago the closest I had gotten was in Santiago, Chile when I met a guy from Wisconsin who may or may not have gone to a lame party in Desoto.  No worries.  When I finally met someone who had lived in Iowa I picked the right one, or rather I chose the right time to talk about Iowa on Playa Mann, in the Galapagos.

Because as I talked some sort of drivel about Iowa I heard a voice over my shoulder-

They were enjoying sunset beers. I respect that.

“I’m sorry.  Is one of you from Iowa?”

That voice was Jenny and she was sitting by her husband, Otis.  

They were enjoying sunset beers. 

I respect that. 

We got to talking and her grandma lived in Olwein, my father’s birthplace, while she had grown up in the Des Moines area, going to a feeder school for Valley. 

They told us that they are two years deep into a five year-or-so trip around the world.  Wow. 

Eventually they invited us out to their boat, Independence, for a barbeque which was a really great time.  I talked politics (an Obama bumper sticker on their boat) and religion with Jenny and listened as Otis talked about sailing the world and past travels.  Eventually the night progressed pretty late and they called us a water taxi to get back to shore.  No response.  We waited.  Still nothing.  Eventualyl it became clear that Otis would have to lower their dingy, reattach the motor and take us back to shore.  In true kick-ass Otis and Jenny style they didn’t even seem to view it as a minor inconvienence.  Rather they chatted amiably with us the entire time, even as it became obvious that my offer of help was pretty hollow as I didn’t know much about dingys or boats or motors.

Then the real coolness hit-  They told me they were planning on leaving Wednesday and they were looking for some help during their journey to the Marquesas Islands further in the Pacific.  I nearly jumped at the chance, but there was a catch, as I assume there always is when you get a free trans-Pacific journey.  I would be gone 30 days and I had to meet my sister in Lima in about three weeks.  –Val ruins my life again--*

*I am very excited to see my sister and can’t wait for Cuzco.  However she is a life ruiner.  Love you Val!