Culture in Clear Lake (Iowa).....

Let me just say that we have been having some weather since we've been in Iowa. A couple of nights ago, I was concerned about the "tornado watch". Though I had an emergency plan for us to go into the laundry building near our campsite (even though someone was laughing at me!), I later learned from the camp owner that in case of a tornado, we were to go into the shelter. She also said that the fire department usually comes around to alert people  if there is a threat in the middle of the night. Luckily we did not have to see how that would play out.

tornado shelter-glad we didn't have to use that! 

Yesterday, we drove a bit more in Iowa, to the north central part of the state, about an hour from Des Moines. There are so many fields and farms! Its very picturesque to me.

beautiful farm country

homestead in the field

lots of windmill farms

farm and fields

When we got to the Oakwood RV park in Clear Lake, Iowa, we were talking for quite a bit with the camp hosts, who were just lovely. They instructed us to head to the basement of the church located on the property in case of severe weather. I am not sure if we are just staying here in Iowa during bad weather, or if this is normal weather for this time of year. Anyway, though it is pouring rain and thundering right now, with an impressive lightning show we are watching through our front window, we are snug and cozy in our home on wheels. Its kinda nice.

Oakwood RV campsite-really nice

Sunset yesterday-view from our campsite

Clear Lake is a glacial lake, located in the middle of Iowa. The charming Main Street leads right to the lake. We had to pick up a few things we didn't even know we needed when we visited Larson's Mercantile!

Clear Lake Main Street

Main Street shops

leads down to the lake

the sign says "Life is short. Eat cookies". (OK!)

Lady of the Lake (not me, the sightseeing cruise boat-hahah)

weather coming in...

This is a huge lake

 Also nearby, is the Central Gardens of North Iowa, a public garden. Some of the tulips and daffodils were in full bloom, but it was too early for a lot of the other flowers. It is a peaceful place to sit with coffee or lunch. As we left, the skies opened up!

Public gardens

tulip in the breeze

walking through the different sections

very peaceful spot

where did this egg come from? Its light blue/grey

cool!

There is so much to do in this classic small mid-western town, and after a brief exploration of the center of town, we focused on culture! The Surf Ballroom in Clear Lake is the venue where Buddy Holly, Ritchie Valens, and the Big Bopper played their final concert on Feb. 2, 1959. Their chartered plane, taking them to the next venue on their three week  "Winter Dance Tour" across the Midwest, went down in a snowstorm 5 miles from the airport. One day after the disaster, Eddy Cochran recorded "Three Stars" to honor these extraordiary musicians. 12 years after the crash, Don McClean recorded "American Pie", inspired by Buddy Holly and the day of the plane crash ("the day the music died"), and dedicated the album to him.

The Surf Ballroom is still an active venue, and tonight Martina McBride is in concert there. We got a few pics of her tour buses and roadies this morning as we drove by. Unfortunately, we were not able to tour the inside of the Surf Ballroom today, but we may be able to before we leave the area. It not only is a music venue, but a museum as well. For more info, click here.

street sign

The Surf Ballroom

Memorial to the musicians and pilot

Martina McBride buses and roadies at the Surf Ballroom

Five miles away, at the crash site in the middle of fields in rural Clear Lake, is a memorial dedicated to the three musicians and the pilot. Its about a half mile walk into the fields, which are private property. The owners graciously allow visitors to the site. It really is in the middle of nowhere. Part of the directions are "follow the first fence after the silos for half a mile"-I am not kidding!

Trailhead for the crash site memorial

fields everywhere

The crash site memorial

the songs noted are: Peggy Sue, Chantilly Lace, and Donna (hard to see)

angel in the field

walking back to the road

Do you know the movie, or the Broadway show, "The Music Man"?  To remind you, click here. By the way, I was a young child when this movie came out! The book, music and lyrics were written by Meredith Willson, of Mason City, Iowa, which is the next town over from Clear Lake. He immortalized his home town of Mason City as River City in the movie. At Music Man Square, you can visit his boyhood home, which really was interesting thanks to the docent. We spent a couple of hours here-enjoyed a movie about the making of the movie, explored a replica of the street set design from the movie version, and viewed various items on display. For more info, click here. Since Tom admitted he never saw the movie, guess what we are going to see soon?

Music Man Square

Boyhood home of Meredith Willson

That would be him

Gold record for the Music Man

First Grammy Award ever! Meredith Willson for the Music Man!

Tom - looking for the ATM?

Who's that in the candy shop?

the whole street is a re-creation from the movie set

So today, we learned a little more about two extraordinary musicians-creative geniuses both!

And now, back to the lightning show out our front window!!