Lower Columbia Washington, September 5th, 2017

 Lower Columbia Washington journey to Cedar Rapids-Iowa City

    Eleven members of the Lower Columbia, Wash., Friendship Force Club started their journey to Cedar Rapids-Iowa City with a welcome party on Sept. 5 at George and Stephanie Schulte’s home.

    On Wednesday, the group toured Cedar Rapids with Sandy Fowler, assistant city manager, followed by a tour of Turner Alley and the Grant Wood exhibit at the Art Museum. 

    Thursday’s activities included a stop at the Amana Heritage Museum followed by a  the play, “Footloose,” at the Old Creamery Theater. After the performance, the group met for dinner at the OX Yoke Inn. 

    Many of the guests said they came to see the John Deere Tractor assembly plant in Waterloo, which they toured on Friday. The Frank Lloyd Wright House, known as Cedar Rock, was visited on the way back to Cedar Rapids. They enjoyed hosted dinners that evening.  

    Saturday and Sunday were free days. The farewell dinner, held in conjunction with the Kosovo Open World welcome dinner, was held Sunday afternoon at Lowe Park.

    Their stay concluded Monday with a visit to the Herbert Hoover Presidential Library in West Branch and the National Advanced Driver Simulator in Coralville. We said our goodbyes as they headed to LeClaire for a Tuesday boat ride on the Mississippi River.