On our last leg we got to see field after field of soybeans and corn. We did find out that they rotate the fields between the two crops though often replant corn if the dollar is up on corn.

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We all arrived at the rally grounds today so the 4:00 social time began. We meet, snack and talk about our day. The weather is co-operating right now - hope it continues.

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The Surf Ballroom is the place where music died. On Feb. 2, 1959, Buddy Holly, Ritchie Valens and The Big Bopper performed before a sold-out crowd of 2,000 here. After the concert, they boarded a plane for a flight to Moorhead, Minnesota and another concert. Right after take-off, the plane crashed killing everyone on board.

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This quaint chapel was built to honor Marguerite Williams. It is claimed that in the early 1900's a group of strange, foreign-looking people began approaching her which scared her. According to the legend, a bright light and a figure clothed in brilliant white robes stood between them and the day again appeared sunny and the people were gone. She passed away in 1991 and this chapel was named in memory of the events that took place in her life.

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Not wanting to sit around and do nothing, one night our group did karaoke with Karla and another night we were entertained by Al and his uke.

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Frank Lloyd Wright was at the peak of his Prairie School period in 1910 when he designed this inn and bank building in Mason City. The purpose of the building was three-fold, an inn, a bank and law offices. Its look was totally changed in 1926 and then in 2005 a group began fundraising to restore the building to its original look. It was reopened in 2011.

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Frank Lloyd Wright designed many Prairie School houses for Mason City. He was certainly way ahead of his time considering he designed these places in the early 1900's. The Stockman House was designed for a doctor from Chicago.

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As part of pirate themed rally we went looking for geocaches in town. I was lucky enough to find the first of the five we found.

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Up early to go into town to watch the Puckerbrush Parade. We went a little early so we could find a shady spot for our group.

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The parade, like the rally, had a pirate theme. This was one of the floats brought from the rally grounds. There were lots of old tractors and other vehicles. All of the parade entrants throw candy and stuff to those lining the parade route. Whether you eat candy or not, it's fun to see how much you can get.

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Look at my stash!

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We drove our golf cart over to Heritage Park this morning to check it out.

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These tractors were scaled down working models of old steam driven tractors. Al couldn't resist spending some time with the kids who were running them.

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