Iowa, Nebraska and Points West

We spent a wonderful night in Altoona, Iowa with our hosts, Michelle and Dirk. Our only complaint was that our stay was way too short! (see attached picture)

Altoona is a charming little town east of Des Moines. A couple of huge concrete grain silos dominate the sky line and the people seemed very friendly Altoona appeared to be an interesting mix of a traditional agricultural community and a bohemian college town.

The Iowa and Nebraska landscape rolls away to the horizon and is filled with empty cornfields, cows and the occasional farm house surrounded by trees. We are really surprised by how similar the scenery is - rural New England looks a lot like rural Ohio which looks a lot like rural Illinois, etc., etc. right on out to Nebraska.

We expect to stop somewhere in Wyoming (sounds like a song) tonight. We don't know anyone there (yet), so we will have to create another good place to sleep tonight.

Everyone is excited and looking forward to arrival in San Diego and so are we! We are also looking forward to our one night stay at our home in Ojai, CA on the way to San Diego.

We are looking for a video camera tripod and dolly to use in San Diego next week. Please let us know if think you can help with that.

Bob Ballard
Project Director
www.heartsoffire.tv