Mini Visit to Mason City

My good friend, Chris, needed to use a groupon she bought a while back and never used.  It was for a night at the Clarion Hotel in Mason City and some spending money for eating at their restaurant.  She also had to use the groupon before the end of Sept. because they are tearing down the hotel.  Sooo Chris invited Pat and me to come and share the room and meal with her.  Did I  mention there was an indoor pool?  So Chris knew that Pat and I would use the pool, which we did.  In fact, we also used it for recording my ALS ice bucket challenge.  See it on Face Book.

When we arrived, Chris, as the great hostess that she is, prepared a brunch for us.  Then we toured Mason City, especially the Frank Lloyd Wright Hotel downtown.  Very interesting, but I didn't have my camera.  Darn.  Then we ate at the restaurant.  After that we were content to hang out in the room and watch the Emmy's with visiting in between.  You know these are the Golden Years.  Right?

The next day, after swimming, doing the ALS ice bucket challenge, having a nice free hot breakfast, and checking out of the hotel, we toured Clear Lake, mostly the Surf Ballroom where Buddy Holly performed his last concert before his plane crashed and he dead at a very young age.  It was very interesting to see all the celebrities who performed there.

"Let Me Entertain You."  Sing to that tune.  The stage lights are blinding.  You cannot see anyone out in the audience when you are on stage.

There is an autograph room just off the stage where the performers have left their autographs.  There were a lot of them.   Here are a few of them.

The phone Buddy Holly used to call his wife just before he left the Surf to board the plane that tragically crashed.

We also drove around the lake and stopped to enjoy it for a little bit.  No boat though.

After a very delicious meal, we said our good-byes.   It was a very nice and relaxing visit.  I guess it was a trial run for our GROUP visit there next summer.  I'll be looking forward to it as well.  Thank you, Chris, for a delightful time.