An Iowan Summer

American Barnstormers - do you know what a barnstormer is?

Balloons over the Mississippi 


Lacey-Keosauqua State Park "beach". I love it!


Lee County Fair grandstands with an awesome sunset!



I have been having a lovely summer in Iowa.




For starters, I got to see the tassling cornfields by way of an old-school barnstormer bi-plane (an open cock-pit airplane). It was so awesome! Of course, in the excitement I forgot my camera, but I'll include a pic of me, and the plane, post flight. I think you can just about see the exhilaration on my face (and relief that I made it back down!). If you ever want to take a bi-plane flight, check out these guys, American Barnstomers

They were following around the RAGBRAI crew. "RAGBRAI?" I hear you call! Yes! It is a bike ride ACROSS Iowa. Not just ANY bike ride, but The Register’s Annual Great Bicycle Ride Across Iowa. Not a race or anything, just a bike ride. It takes 7 days, 400-somethin' miles from the Missouri River in the West, to the Mississippi in the East. Every night the cyclists stop in a different town, and party, I believe. It's a different route every year and THOUSANDS of people do it! I think I might do it next year. I might (note: WILL) have to start training, I think. But I do believe that it will be more manageable for me than the New York Marathon, which I was inspired to *want* to do after my friend ran by me as I spectated last year, cup of coffee in hand, just after I rolled outta bed in time to catch her. There's no way I would do that though, I hate running. But biking, I like that. If anyone wants to get a team going, you'll probably inspire me to actually train!

We also went to Rutledge Flea Market, (the auctions are amazing at this place - I am going to post a video soon - believe me, you must watch it!), Balloons over the Mississippi, the Lee County Fair Demolition Derby (pit-crew of course!) and to the "beach" at Keosauqua State Park. We didn't get to go to Trek-Fest (at the future birth-place of Captain James T. Kirk) - very nearby here, nor the Iowa City Jazz Festival which I completely forgot about it, which is really quite pathetic, as it is really awesome.

Iowa is great!

As you can probably tell, there's been no gigs! And it has been lovely to relax for a little. The next onslaught of touring begins in October, when we will - if all goes to plan - hit the road in a bio-diesel truck (or ute, for the Aussies) and head West. I will be writing more about that later, to let you know about how you can help us do it! I am really excited and can't wait for the new adventure, nor to share the tales with you!

OK, I'm going to (finally) sign-off now! I'll post pictures from the Iowan Summer below.

Seeya later, Nerissa

PS. Don't forget the July special - you've got one more day to download those free songs (that you can't even buy if you want to!) or get the albums for really cheap if you want them! Just come to my website..