Alright, so we ended up going down into downtown Desmoines for our last night and went to a place called The Royal Mile. I had a real heavy British feel to it, and I figured it would by the name. Had some fish and chips washed down with a Samuel Smith Oatmeal Stout. SWMBO had a little steak and guiness pie and it was delicious too!
Next morning it was time to bid adieu to Des Moines!
Then we hit the road to Bloomington, IN, so that I could go to a little place called The Burley & The Briar. Now let me tell you....if you've never been there....you have got to go. This place was the best pipe and tobacco shop I have been to yet and it is great! I'm going to dedicate a different post to their shop under tobacconists because they deserve it. So i'll just say here that I could not be happier with my decision to go see them.
I ended up picking up a meer for myself that fit my budget and looked really nice!
I also ended up finding a little surprise for myself just sitting there on the shelf, calling my name:
It's going to be the first smoke I enjoy in my new meer!
My next stop was to be in Straus Tobacconists in Cininnati, OH. Let me tell you. If you've never been to Cincy, please be advised that the highway structure around downtown needs your every ounce of attaention. I cannot tell you how many exits I missed and screwed up.
Anyways, so we get to the Cincy location only to find out that they don't get any of the Sleepy Hollow blend at that shop. They said it all came out of the Kentucky location and they never get any. Said they keep all that stuff south of the Mason-Dixon, and I appropriately gesticulated that all the best things are kept below the Mason-Dixon. That got a good chuckle and then we were on our way to the Straus location in Kentucky, which was only about 10-15 miles away.
We go inside to the Kentucky location and I ask for the Sleepy Hollow only to be informed they don't have it yet.....Shit...He says they are having trouble getting one last component. I have no idea what it could be, but he says it could be another week or two before they have it. Oh well, I'll just call back week after week until it's ready. Not a total loss though, as next up was Skyline!
Skyline chili was well worth the wait! I ended up getting a 5-way and a Mt. Dew and it was fantastic! I ate every bite and will certainly be looking for a can at the grocery store. We also caught Graeter's Ice Cream and I smashed two scoops of a coffee flavored ice cream that was fantastic. The wife also loved everything.
I had a fantastic trip, outside of all the road construction we hit through Indiana, Illinois and West Virginia, and I can't wait to take another one that I hope turns out to be just as special and successful. I only hate that I couldn't have spent more time in Indiana!
