On Sunday, Day 9, we left New Ulm
for a kayak ride on the Blue Earth River. This river starts in Iowa and
actually flows north. The trees lining the river were very green and there were
a few Class I rapids. We were so lucky
to see 2 adult bald eagles flying overhead near their nest, and also saw a
juvenile bald eagle as we finished our kayak trip. We were also very fortunate
in that the rain didn’t start until after we were out of the water! Then we
traveled to Le Mars, IA, home of Haley Berner’s grandparents and assorted
relatives, including a new cousin who Haley had not met. Le Mars is the Ice
Cream Capital of the World and we had an ice cream snack and most of us had an
additional late snack of ice cream with our host families. This is the concert
where David Haun arrived. Dave was a ringer in the late 1960’s with Terry. Dave
shows up each year on his motorcycle at a WBR concert. He lives in Austin, TX,
so this was a big motorcycle ride (900 miles!). Once a Wesley Bell Ringer, always
a Wesley Bell Ringer.
Sunday night we played in the
United Methodist Church of Le Mars. The stained glass in the sanctuary was
absolutely breathtaking and the Ringers
looked and sounded great. It is so rewarding for the Ringers and the
adults on tour to see so many different parts of the United States, and to
witness audiences so attuned to both the music and the emotions of the teens as
they express the music.
Thoughts from the ringers…
In my years as a bell ringer, I have made some of my
greatest friendships, toured around the United States, and had some of the most
rewarding experiences of my life. The bell choir is unique in the sense that the
dedication and love towards the group as a whole directly reflects what you
take from it; it’s like contributing to a cycle that provides endless rewards.
It’s hard to explain exactly what each ringer takes from their experiences in
the choir, but I know for a fact that they’re worth it; otherwise they wouldn’t
come back each year. Even the quietest
among us tend to find a way to express themselves. The bell choir functions as
a family; we cry with each other, laugh together, we play music together. Once
one becomes a Wesley Bell Ringer, they will always be a Wesley Bell Ringer. We
will always hold a little thing we like to call “bell pride” deep down in our
hearts, and we will forever express it to the world. I love the Wesley Bell
Ringers and I am so thankful to have been a part of such an amazing
organization.
-
Jeff Wood
I thought last night’s concert went great! We played in La
Mars, Iowa which is the ice cream capital of the world. So before the concert
we all went out to the Blue Bunny ice cream place and got yummy ice cream!
Larni and I stayed together in a host home last night, in a house built in 1918,
it was beautiful! When we got to the house we watched Sherlock Holmes 2 in
their theatre! I’m really enjoying this tour, just like all the others I’ve
been on and I’m really excited for the hotel night tonight and Mt. Rushmore!
See everyone in about a week!
-
Catherine Knapp
Yesterday we went kayaking on a river in Minnesota. It was tons of fun! To me it was the best thing we have done so
far. Most of us were in single kayaks,
some were in double kayaks, and others were in canoes. We stopped at a place called devil’s
gulch. It was super pretty and covered
in moss. The next place we stopped had a
waterfall. I stood under the waterfall and
got all wet. We kayaked for like nine
miles. We saw like three bald
eagles. I had to pee so bad I went pee
in the river. It was so much fun!
-
Alicia Simons
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Ed Duncan with WBR alum Dave Haus
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Haley with her Le Mar relatives
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