Littourati: On the Road: Des Moines

Saturday, June 17, 2006

On the Road: Des Moines

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On the Road: Des Moines, Iowa

5 Comments:

Erik Donald France said...: Michael,

What a great idea! Seems like a possible book in the making,
too :->

From Metro Detroit, cheers

p.s. I've done some of the Kerouac stops, but this is amazing. I'm still trying to figure out his locales around Grosse Pointe besides the Rustic Cabins and the Wooden Nickle. Good luck with this excellent project!; 4:09 PM
Steve Hayes said...: Thanks, it would make a great companion for reading the book, and makes me want to read the book again.; 2:54 AM
Christopher Newton said...: I hate it when I lose my self in a motel. Sometimes I drive for miles before I realize I left it behind. Once I found it hiding behind the front door. But that's how it is when you're on the road any more. I agree with you about the value of beat yellow window shades. At least you can see yourself in the mirror. Or under the bed.

All the best with your project!; 2:32 PM
Steve said...: I too, have had this feeling of lack of self-identity in some of my travels. It almost feels like a type of amnesia or something. Very strange phenomena.

I have a story of a night spent in a hostel in Denver - a strange, spooky place, but a safe,clean bed no less. But in keeping with the spirit of this blog, I will post it when we get to Denver!; 8:37 AM
Anonymous said...: If it was not altogether fictional, I suspect the roundhouse Sal described was the old Rock Island roundhouse on the southeast side of Des Moines. This, I believe, was the only operating roundhouse in Des Moines at the time. Although it was torn down in the '70s or '80s, you can still see the foundation in Google Map aerial photos. It is located west of SE 26th Street, north of E. Market Street, east of Dean Lake. Trucks now park on it, radiating in a fan shape. No idea where the hotel might have been...; 3:10 PM