MOA & RA Rallies - 7. American Gothic House

7. American Gothic House

It’s Sunday morning and the MOA rally has ended. We have to leave Des Moines too; we have further plans. Taking our time in the morning, we left the Extended Living facility and now had to break down the tent and pack everything back on to our bikes. Usually Carol carries the soft stuff, I pack the hard items, soft meaning sleeping bags, thermarests, pillows and such and me carrying the tent, poles, etc.

Again, by now we have a routine, Carol packs the inside of the tent, and I take the actual tent down and pack that. It takes about 1 hour to dismantle all and strap it back onto our bikes. We were lucky; it did not rain so everything is very dry. The tent was super dried out; the sun helped us, beating hot upon our heads. Even this early Sunday morning it is still hot. 

Rally-Goers Are Heading Home

After everything is strapped and arranged onto the bikes we made our rounds to say good bye to people we had lived with now for over a week. Everybody was busy, packing, stuffing things into their bikes. Some people bought too much, it does to not fit onto their bike, so the MOA has a shipping booth set up where you can ship anything to anywhere via UPS. 

I must say, the MOA has a good system, a well thought out rally. The people are really, really good at what they do.

One of the Prizes Given Away At the Closing Ceremonies

Last night at the closing ceremony, brand new moto bikes were given away. No, nobody we know won a new bike, but there have been times where people we know won a trip to Spain, for example; or a trip to Serbia once. The rally gives away lots of prices, the vendors supplying most of the services or free trips, or merchandise they want to promote. The MOA or BMW raffles off a new bike at every rally. The math is in favour of the MOA, but then it’s like the lottery, you ‘might’ win a new bike. One vendor raffles off an ‘old’ classic, refurbished bike, too.

Another of the Many Draws

After we are all packed up, said our good-byes we now have a few days before we have to be in Wellsboro, PA.  

What is going on in Wellsboro?  Well, another rally, this one sponsored from the RA, the Rider’s Association. I will write about the RA rally, too. So you can see which one you want to go to next year.

The Picture Is Called 'American Gothic'

But first for this Sunday, we have found out that the house you see in the background of the famous picture by the artist, Grant Wood, named ‘American Gothic’ is near Des Moines. Well not that near but close enough. We are off to see this house, in Eldon, Iowa.

It took us about 2 hours riding to get to Eldon. 

I had some ideas in my head about this picture. I envisioned a ‘farm’ where this semi bald guy lives with his ‘wife’ and his pitchfork, but my imagination is way too colorful and way too elaborate. The reality of the house in the background and the people in the foreground is way different.

Grant Wood, the painter, in 1930 wanted to paint a mid-America picture. His average ‘couple’ stood in front of a ‘Gothic’ window, indicting some stern, strict, even religious background. All prim and proper.

Using models, Grant Wood painted his sister and his accountant in front of the house we visited. No, they were not married.

Trying to Look as Stern as the Couple Above (Do You See the Fork?)

Ah, I had to stand like that, too. I loved the parody of it all. Notice my fork, too.

Now You See the Fork

There is a small museum at the side of this ‘Gothic’ house but, of course, it was Sunday and closed. 

No matter, I had a good feeling standing in front of this part of “America”.

Do we look like typical ‘Americans’, too?

There was not much to see besides this small house, in a working class neighborhood in Eldon. Riding up to it, I could not believe we were in the right spot, but yes, the house is still there, right now being spruced up and refurbished. We were not the only folks visiting. This is a popular spot. 

American Gothic House With No People and No Construction

It was a quirky visit, but I loved it.

After we took the obligatory pictures, we high-tailed it out of Eldon towards?

Ah, Iowa, they think of the strangest things. 

Our next report is... You build it and they will come!

It took us a few hours of riding north from Eldon but we found a hotel in Manchester, IO for the night. Close enough to where we have to go tomorrow.

See the next report of us scouring Iowa.