Sunday, May 14, 2006

A Trekkie's paradise




Iowa is known for the "Field of Dreams, the Bridges of Madison County, and the only state where pigs out number people. However, what you may not know is that it is also a Trekkie's paradise.

This weekend we drove up to Riverside IA, to watch my brother graduate from U of I with a degree in nursing (I'm aware of the stereotypes). Anyway, we visited him at his home in Riverside. Riverside is a small little town outside of Iowa City too small for a McDonald's or Walmart. Infact,the only restaurant in town also has the only gas station attached to it. Riverside is also where they hold the annual "Trek Fest" (which my brother is the chairman for). Riverside has long claimed it is the future birth place of Captain James Kirk (even though it has never been mentioned in the "Star Trek" series). Riverside take's great pride in this since as you drive into town, you see the "USS Riverside" and signs leading you to the sacred spot where Captain Kirk is born. I thought this was so cool, I had to pull over and get pictures. I have to admit, that without this little piece of Trek paradise, Riverside would just be another little Iowa farm town.

5 comments:

shakedust said...

Is it just me or does that "future birthplace" sign look like a tombstone?

Dash said...

... it's a multipurpose stone - in the future they'll fix it up with one of those perspective hologram thingys that change from one image to another as you turn your head:

Future Birthplace (Turn Head) Final Resting Place.

I'm just glad I can visit this site. Making the trek to his other burial (on Veridian III) would have been to far off the interstate.

f o r r e s t said...

It would be cool to be driving down the highway and then see the USS Riverside pass you as being pulled by a truck.

Doc said...

I love midwestern quirkiness (Kirkiness?).

shakedust said...

Kirkiness. Man, I wish I had thought of that.