I was awake just after 7, but dozed until 8. Geoff had gone out to arrange laundering; I got dressed, he came back, we went down for breakfast. The Starbucks downstairs, 'Beignet Done That', looked OK, but Jim, Trevor, and Betty were down there and said they'd been waiting for half an hour already. Geoff wanted something quick, and so we found a place called Urban Grind around the corner. The people were lovely, the service was good and quick, and the food and drink were good. I had a toasted bagel with jam, and a chai. Geoff opened a paper and found a photo of himself in there. Funny. The woman behind the counter said she liked our accents.
We headed back (the others were still in the cafe) and Geoff got a taxi to collect his cleaning. I went online, and tried to print a map. It didn't work, but there was a map at the front desk with lots of helpful stuff on it. While I was at the desk, Josh came up, and pointed out the coach station, and also said that I was unlikely to find a power adapter in downtown Davenport. There was an expedition leaving for Walmart at 10.30 and he said I was more likely to find one there. I looked more closely at the map and decided that I'd be unlikely to find a bikini in downtown Davenport anyway. I went back online to see whether Walmart was likely to have an adapter, and decided that they wouldn't. So I ordered one on Amazon to be delivered to the hotel, and joined the expedition to Walmart to get a bikini.
I met Neil's wife, Agnes, and got a seat in Sherry's car with Betty, Agnes, and Trevor. Also going were Neil, Harry, Jim, and Greg (who I didn't know) in Ernie's car (Josh's dad). Peter Locke showed up, but there was no space for him (about which I felt bad) but Sherry said she'd go back for him, and maybe Grahame too. It was an interesting drive, past mansions, highway signs, and other features of suburban American life. Walmart itself was nothing particularly offensive - much like Big W, but with a full food supermarket, and a pharmacy. I found a scraped-together version of a bikini that wasn't too awful, and bought juice, muesli bars, yoghurt, and a roll for lunch. Oh, and fruit. I had a good chat to Peter in the fruit section.
I waited outside in the not-too-hot sun for a while, and a convoy of three cars arrived to take us back. I went with Josh, Neil, and Agnes, and Josh pointed out restaurants, and the high school that Bix went to, and the place that they'll be playing on Sunday. Back at the hotel, I rested for a while.
We met again in the foyer at 2.30 (which turned into more like 3 because Peter appeared late again, not ready to go). We drove to the Wesley United Methodist Church in Muscatine (which took half an hour - I was with Geoff, Crystal, and Chauncey - Chauncey and I had some nice chats, and he told me about lots of bridges, and played samples from a classical music toy as well as playing his pink harmonica very nicely), where the band set up and had a sound check. The church was very modern, and huge, but with stunning golden stained glass windows. I took some photos.
We moved off at 4 for dinner at Salvatore's Italian restaurant. I ordered fettucine alfredo, which was delicious, and with which we got a salad and garlic bread. I had an iced tea, and was horrified when it came out with sugar sachets. Turned out that it was just cold tea - totally unsweetened. I had to put two sachets in it (a pint, that is). Josh very naughtily paid the bill - I vowed to get them a gift.
We went back to the church and into the green room, where Grahame promptly fell asleep in his chair. I had a chat to Jim. I found a seat, and the band eventually came out. It was a good gig - Geoff played a trumpet that Josh just bought, and sounded completely awesome on it. Strange that a trumpet can sound deeper, rounder, and warmer than a cornet. I Can't Get Started With You sounded particularly good. Peter played some lovely solos. I took lots of photos. They got an instant standing ovation - it was such an enthusiastic audience. We drove back to Davenport, and while Geoff made a call home I jumped on the internet downstairs. I had a shower and went to bed at 11.30. I slept well again.
We headed back (the others were still in the cafe) and Geoff got a taxi to collect his cleaning. I went online, and tried to print a map. It didn't work, but there was a map at the front desk with lots of helpful stuff on it. While I was at the desk, Josh came up, and pointed out the coach station, and also said that I was unlikely to find a power adapter in downtown Davenport. There was an expedition leaving for Walmart at 10.30 and he said I was more likely to find one there. I looked more closely at the map and decided that I'd be unlikely to find a bikini in downtown Davenport anyway. I went back online to see whether Walmart was likely to have an adapter, and decided that they wouldn't. So I ordered one on Amazon to be delivered to the hotel, and joined the expedition to Walmart to get a bikini.
I met Neil's wife, Agnes, and got a seat in Sherry's car with Betty, Agnes, and Trevor. Also going were Neil, Harry, Jim, and Greg (who I didn't know) in Ernie's car (Josh's dad). Peter Locke showed up, but there was no space for him (about which I felt bad) but Sherry said she'd go back for him, and maybe Grahame too. It was an interesting drive, past mansions, highway signs, and other features of suburban American life. Walmart itself was nothing particularly offensive - much like Big W, but with a full food supermarket, and a pharmacy. I found a scraped-together version of a bikini that wasn't too awful, and bought juice, muesli bars, yoghurt, and a roll for lunch. Oh, and fruit. I had a good chat to Peter in the fruit section.
I waited outside in the not-too-hot sun for a while, and a convoy of three cars arrived to take us back. I went with Josh, Neil, and Agnes, and Josh pointed out restaurants, and the high school that Bix went to, and the place that they'll be playing on Sunday. Back at the hotel, I rested for a while.
We met again in the foyer at 2.30 (which turned into more like 3 because Peter appeared late again, not ready to go). We drove to the Wesley United Methodist Church in Muscatine (which took half an hour - I was with Geoff, Crystal, and Chauncey - Chauncey and I had some nice chats, and he told me about lots of bridges, and played samples from a classical music toy as well as playing his pink harmonica very nicely), where the band set up and had a sound check. The church was very modern, and huge, but with stunning golden stained glass windows. I took some photos.
We moved off at 4 for dinner at Salvatore's Italian restaurant. I ordered fettucine alfredo, which was delicious, and with which we got a salad and garlic bread. I had an iced tea, and was horrified when it came out with sugar sachets. Turned out that it was just cold tea - totally unsweetened. I had to put two sachets in it (a pint, that is). Josh very naughtily paid the bill - I vowed to get them a gift.
We went back to the church and into the green room, where Grahame promptly fell asleep in his chair. I had a chat to Jim. I found a seat, and the band eventually came out. It was a good gig - Geoff played a trumpet that Josh just bought, and sounded completely awesome on it. Strange that a trumpet can sound deeper, rounder, and warmer than a cornet. I Can't Get Started With You sounded particularly good. Peter played some lovely solos. I took lots of photos. They got an instant standing ovation - it was such an enthusiastic audience. We drove back to Davenport, and while Geoff made a call home I jumped on the internet downstairs. I had a shower and went to bed at 11.30. I slept well again.
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