We left Waterloo, IA very early today because the heat wave is here and some of the riders are getting a little concerned about the heat and humidity. Everyone made it to Dyersville, safe and sound. It was a beautiful route for a bicycle ride...hardly any traffic to speak of so the road was clear and the rollers, were just that...rollers.
The scenery is still wonderful!
The Iowa horizon
A photo to document the fact that Iowa is a lot of corn!
The Basilica in Dyersville, Iowa
The Basilica of St. Francis Xaiver, Dyersville, Iowa
"Build it and they will come!"
The roads are straight and seem to go on forever!
"Build it and they will come!"
I am so excited to get the chance to finally see the Field of Dreams. In 2008, I had already departed the X-C Ride to return to work and missed getting to see it. This time I finally got to Dyersville! I am so psyched.
The Field of Dreams is a baseball field built for the movie "Field of Dreams" staring Kevin Costner. It is in Dubuque County, just about 3 miles outside of Dyersville, Iowa.
The story line of the movies is that Iowa farmer Ray Kinsella hears a voice in his corn field tell him, "If you build it, he will come." He believes this message is instruction to build a baseball field on his farm, upon which appear the ghosts of Shoeless Joe Jackson and the other seven Chicago White Sox players banned from the game for throwing the 1919 World Series. When the voices continue, Ray seeks out a reclusive author to help him understand the meaning of the messages and the purpose for his field.
Hollywood built the baseball diamond on two farms. When production completed, the baseball diamond was left behind. Most of the baseball field, including the diamond and the house, was on one farm owned by the Lansing family, but the left and center field were on an adjacent property owned by the Ameskamp family. The field was built on the two properties because the producers wanted the field in a location where sunset shots would be uninhibited.
In August 2007, Rita Ameskamp sold the land containing her portion of the baseball field to Don and Becky Lansing - the owners of the remainder of the field. As a result the movie site is now entirely owned by the Lansing family.
In 2009, the Lansings canceled the 20 year Field of Dreams celebration because of the economy. They donated $5,000 to the local food pantry instead.
On May 13, 2010, the Lansings announced they are putting the farm used for the movie up for sale.
I have finally gotten here!
I am like a little kid!
"Put me in Coach!"
Marnie R is having fun also!
The House
Up Close
I got to run the bases!
I'm thinking about stealing...
Thank goodness the catcher is a ghost cuz otherwise I would have been thrown out before I left first!
Marnie R takes a turn pitching!
I didn't find any of the Ghost Players....
Neither did Marnie R.
Vicki L runs to first!
Marnie R hit a nice one right back at the pitcher!
View from home plate
View from the pitcher's mound
Ray loves Annie
It was a great day at the ball field!
Now if you think Field of Dreams is kitchy...how about this...just 80 miles south of Dyersville, IA is the:
Birthplace of James T. Kirk (217 years from now)
You’ll have to really 'live long and prosper' to witness the actual event, but it is just tourism kitchy enough for me...bummer that it is so far away.
We stayed at the Super 8, Dyersville, Iowa which was right next to the National Farm Toy Museum.
After our rest day, we ride on to DeWitt, IA.
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