Northern Corn Belt - Looks Good But It's Not

A casual eye on this corn field would likely determine the crop to be in excellent condition. But curling leaves give away the real condition. These plants are thirsty. This particular field may be professionally scored as 'good' in the state's monthly crop assessment. But not even a hundred miles south of this northern Iowa location the corn crop is in big trouble. Stands in many fields are short, yellow and drying in unrelenting heat. Read more about the condition of the Iowa corn crop here.

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A Prop Out of Water

This summer's temperatures and lack of substantial rain has been brutal on these latitudes. So to find an outboard motor prop resting idly when it could be twirling through a spring-fed lake is almost unthinkable. However in the owner's defense this prop looks quite used. I must have caught it during a forced time out. Still if it were up to me, that prop, engine and boat would have been skimming the waves enjoying a summer day.

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Prairie Flowers in Late July

Black-eyed Susans dot the prairie landscape in northern Iowa. Re-seeded native plantings began as test projects for state parks and roadways in the 1970s. Several years later the combination of tall grasses and wildflowers brought back scenes that pioneers have historically described. Incorporation of these native plantings reduced the need for frequent park and roadway mowing, attracted additional wildlife, and have enriched the soil. Plus they are nice to see.

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On a Clear Day You Can See...Clear Lake!

Behold Clear Lake, Iowa, one of a few glacier formed lakes gifted to the Hawkeye State courtesy of the last ice age. Located in extreme northern Iowa, Clear Lake is rimmed by lakeside houses and businesses. Being a large, natural lake by Iowa standards (seven miles long, half mile wide,) it draws many people throughout the year. Last Saturday under nearly 100F temperatures the lake was understandably saturated with sailboats, power boats, and kayaks. I spotted only a few people fishing while the majority of boaters took part in nautical cruising.

In the background (looking south) is a portion of a tens of miles long wind farm that makes use of mid-continent climate and topography to produce electricity. Directly behind me is the famous Surf Ballroom. But the big question is...is the lake really clear? Yes it is, due to being spring-fed. Come visit and see for yourself.

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Tires of a B-29 Superfortress

B-29 nose gear comes to rest on the Eastern Iowa airport tarmac in Cedar Rapids last week (see previous posts.) Nicknamed Fifi, this B-29 is the only flying Superfortress remaining worldwide. Fifi spends months each year touring the USA. That means lots of flying cycles (take off and landings) with wear and tear on all six tires supporting the WWII bomber. These nose tires display more traction grabbing characteristics employing a diamond pattern tread compared to the four tires supporting the wings.

On Fifi's port side two tires support engines and wing. This inner tire has no pattern tread, just long smooth grooves - probably for stability. Four of these tires support the plane, two each side of the fuselage. Boeing engineers during the 1940s correctly calculated the design of the long range bomber's landing gear. That attention to engineering and manufacturing details allow this last flyable B-29 to demonstrate its American aviation heritage some 67 years after being placed into service.

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Buddy Holly Barn Charm

A huge pair of iconic Buddy Holly eye glasses frame a Clear Lake, Iowa barn and farmland. Holly's glasses mark a trail from the gravel road to the site of the February 3rd, 1959 plane crash that took the lives of Holly, the Big Bopper, Ritchie Valens and pilot Roger Peterson. A dirt path follows the fence line for about a half mile to the place where Holly's plane came to rest just a few miles north of Clear Lake. Memorials to the singers and pilot are placed at the site.   

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A Visit to Buddy Holly/Ritchie Valens/Big Bopper's Crash Site

You know the story of "The Day the Music Died." In the American Pie song it is the date that Buddy Holly, Richie Valens, the Big Bopper, and pilot Roger Peterson died in a plane crash following their concert at the Surf Ballroom in Clear Lake, Iowa on February 3, 1959. Today's trip was to see the crash site and a few of the places tied to the story.

Several people were present while I visited the crash site for the first time. The young and old hailed from California, Minnesota, Georgia, Nebraska and Iowa. A memorial has been put together over the years consisting of laser cut plaques, money, candles, flowers, toys, photos, clothing, a windmill, many eye glasses and printed material placed in Ziplock bags. A man in a white shirt brought three people. He is somehow connected to the Surf Ballroom and showed where Big Bopper's son had visited the site about a decade or so ago. Bopper Jr. crossed the wire fence, lit a Marlborough cigarette and said, "this is where my daddy died."

The memorial also consists of three 45 record replicas of the songs made famous by the trio. Access to the crash site is just a few miles north of Clear Lake, Iowa. Once you park along a gravel road, a giant pair of iconic Buddy Holly glasses mark the trail's entrance. Be prepared to walk along the fence line about a half mile into a working cornfield. 

Several miles away is the Mason City airport where the music legends rented a plane and took off after their show at the Surf. 

Today the Surf Ballroom still packs crowds in to see national acts along the shore of Clear Lake. Each February 3rd there are well attended Rock and Roll shows recalling the Winter Dance Tour that Buddy and company were a part of in 1959.

Looks like on Tuesday, July 24th the Surf will host Merle Haggard and Kris Kristofferson to its famous stage. White shirt guy says they try annually to get Paul McCartney to perform at the Surf. The famous ex-Beatle owns the publishing rights to Holly's music and often talks about getting to Clear Lake. White shirt guy thinks that Paul may show up privately someday, sing a few Buddy songs and leave without drawing  thousands of people. That'll be the day!

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