Baby # 4

The last of the 2009 Strikepoint babies is here! Welcome, Avery Jean, born October 7.

Erin is taking a few weeks off, but will be back with us soon. We think babies really LIKE the sound of bells!

Afterwards

We are home. (Well, we've been home for a week now...) The laundry is done and we're re-adjusting to days that are NOT spent riding in a bus! Back to real life. It's funny, though, how during tour it seems like real life *is* tour! We did 12 concerts in 14 days. We drove more than 4000 miles. The air conditioning only went out when it was really hot. :) We met some great people and saw some magnificent countryside. We played some really good music, and sometimes it was magic. Erin did not have her baby. (But we were prepared!) We learned the pertinent facts about five states. Go ahead - ask us what the state bird of North Dakota is! We climbed a volcano and a mountain and ate a lot of ice cream. We saw lots of friends and family and three former Strikepointers (who are both friends and family!). We saw Stonehenge. Really. There's one in Washington. Who knew?

- Nancy

Day 10 Pictures

International Test Rose Garden, Portland

(look for Mount Hood in the background!)

Multnomah Falls

The view from the top of the falls!

Tour de force

Strikepoint is now halfway through our whirlwind tour of the Pacific Northwest, enjoying a well-deserved day off! After many hours (and over two thousand miles!) in our newly un-airconditioned bus this last week, we were able to stretch our legs and do some more sightseeing the last few days. We've managed to hike to the top of Multnomah Falls, frolic in the Pacific Ocean, eat our weight in cheese and ice cream at the Tillamook Creamery, visit Stonehenge in the Columbia River Gorge, and drink in the beauty of the International Rose Test Garden in Portland. Whew!

We've also discovered several cool new places to eat and highly recommend: The Pickle Barrel in Bozeman, MT; The Hot Rod Cafe in Post Falls, ID; The Crazy Pepper in Hood River, OR; and the Elephant's Delicatessen in Portland, OR. We also played some highly competitive mini golf in Bismarck, ND.

And we've seen former 'Pointers Monica Belzer and Erik Rau, now both living in Oregon. Former FUMC ringer Ruth Brickell gets the prize for the person who traveled the furthest to a concert - from Thunder Bay, Ontario to Yakima, WA!

So far we are all unscathed - except for the to-be-expected mysterious bruises, of course.

We'll try to keep you posted with more tour updates/highlights/hijinks!
-Elissa and Nancy

Meet Max

Our new trailer has finally arrived! Isn't it beautiful? Packing all the equipment and luggage should be SO much easier than with the old trailer. We'll test that premise after our final rehearsal tomorrow night.

- Nancy

Summer Tour 2009

We're just about ready for this year's summer tour. Take a look at the list of concert sites (if you go to our calendar page, there are maps to help you find the churches). We'd love to see you (and your friends!) if you're in the area. If you know people who live in our concert areas, please help spread the word. We can guarantee an evening of fun and good music!

Monday, August 3, 2009

Fargo, ND

7:00 p.m.

First Presbyterian Church

650 2nd Ave. N.

Fargo, ND

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Tuesday, August 4, 2009

Bismarck, ND

7:00 p.m.

United Church of Christ

1200 E. Highland Acres Rd.

Bismarck, ND

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Wednesday, August 5, 2009

Billings, MT

7:30 p.m.

First United Methodist Church

2800 Fourth Ave. N.

Billings, MT

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Thursday, August 6, 2009

Missoula, MT

7:00 p.m.

First United Methodist Church

300 E. Main St.

Missoula, MT

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Friday, August 7, 2009

Yakima, WA

7:30 p.m.

Central Lutheran Church

1604 W. Yakima Ave.

Yakima, WA

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Saturday, August 8, 2009

Beaverton, OR

7:00 p.m.

St. Matthew Lutheran Church

10390 SW Canyon Rd.

Beaverton, OR

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Sunday, August 9, 2009

Tillamook, OR

7:30 p.m.

Tillamook United Methodist Church

3808 12th St.

Tillamook, OR

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Tuesday, August 11, 2009

Boise, ID

7:00 p.m.

Cathedral of the Rockies

717 N. 11th St.

Boise, ID

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Thursday, August 13, 2009

Bozeman, MT

7:30 p.m.

Bozeman United Methodist Church

121 S. Willson Ave.

Bozeman, MT

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Friday, August 14, 2009

Dickinson, ND

7:00 p.m.

St. John Lutheran Church

146 6th Ave. W.

Dickinson, ND

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Saturday, August 15, 2009

Park Rapids, MN

7:00 p.m.

Riverside United Methodist Church

1005 Park Ave. N.

Park Rapids, MN

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Sunday, August 16, 2009

Duluth, MN

3:00 p.m.

First United Methodist Church

230 E. Skyline Parkway

Duluth, MN

Hope to see you at a concert!

- Nancy

The New Strikepoint Press Photo 2009-2010