Friday July 09, 2004

Homestead (Amana Colonies) to almost Victor, Iowa.

We got rained out (actually lightninged out) this morning. So I had a cup of coffee and grabbed an extra hour's sleep. When it cleared it was a nice cool cloudy day. I paid for the extra sleep with a late walk. Oh well, nothing's free.

I continue to be surprised and impressed by how pretty this area is. Lots of rolling hills and big fields. And the towns aren't too far apart.

Tonight, we're staying in a farm house. Very nice.

Don't remember whether I said anything about yesterday. We visited the Amana Colonies, formed by a group of German immegrants who lived a communal life until 1932. Amana refrigerators came from there. (They used to make wooden ice boxes.)

At night we stopped at a local restaurant and listened to a half-dozen guitar and banjo players in a pick-up jam session. (Everyone's welcome at Phat Daddy's in Mareceno (I think I just murdered the spelling of that name) on Thursdays). I was great hearing people who were playing just because the like to play.