I mentioned last week that Iowa was the state that got our two detours. First up was about 20 minutes out of the way from our dash across on I-80 and it took us to Riverside, Iowa, future birthplace of James. T. Kirk.
There was NO WAY I was going to get close enough to Kirk’s future hometown and not stop to see it.
Yes. I am a big nerd.
No, if you don’t know who James T. Kirk is, I can’t help you. (I mean, I can tell you he’s the captain of the starship Enterprise, but beyond that, you’ve lived a sheltered and deprived life and you need to watch some Star Trek.)
I loved that all the lamp posts have little flags with photos of the original crew on them (you can see Scotty and Uhura in the title image if you look close.)
Winners this Week
If you’re a winner, you should have received an email from the author in charge of the giveaway. If not, please email us at: prizes at inspyromance dot com.
Valerie Bodden’s winner was Jeanette Cepeitz!
Toni Shiloh’s winner was Jessica B!
Valerie Comer’s winner was Jessica G!
Amy Anguish’s winner was Melynda!
Congratulations!
Don’t forget… every comment you make qualifies you to win one of the monthly Amazon card giveaways!
Reader Gathering
Did you know Inspy Romance hosts a Christian Romance Reader Gathering group on Facebook? Please join us… but don’t forget to answer the questions for admittance!
StoryChats @ InspyRomance
Story Chats launches an all-new episode every Friday! Elizabeth, Valerie, and Narelle talked about teachers as heroes and heroines in our last episode. You won’t want to miss it!
Listen to our new weekly show on your favorite podcasting app, through the player on our podcast tab, or watch us on YouTube! Wherever you listen or watch, please be sure to hit subscribe so you don’t miss an episode!
There was a museum. They have some pretty cool Star Trek memorabilia. Including a life-sized Gorn. And really, who doesn’t want their photo with a life-sized Gorn?
Last Week on Inspy Romance
On Monday, Valerie Comer gave us an interview with a cowboy.
On Tuesday, Hannah Jo Abbott talked about her almost college romance.
On Wednesday, Lindi Peterson talked about finishing well.
On Thursday, Angela Ruth Strong introduced her lazy hero.
On Friday, Milla Holt talked about being meant to be together.
On Saturday, Liwen Ho asked how you feel about sneak peeks.
Next Week on Inspy Romance
Monday: Deb Kastner
Tuesday: Tabitha Bouldin
Wednesday: Laurie Larsen
Thursday: Janine Rosche
Friday: Narelle Atkins
Saturday: Jan Thompson
New Releases
September 2021
Let Me Off Easy, Cowboy (Cavanagh Cowboys Romance 3) by Valerie Comer
Save the Date box set by Jan Thompson, Liwen Y. Ho, Jaycee Weaver, and nine others
Candy Cane Wishes and Saltwater Dreams box set by Amy R Anguish, Shannon Taylor Vannatter, and three others
Ruby Radiance (Pot of Gold Geocaching Romance 2) by Valerie Comer
So You Need a Fake Relationship (So You Want to be a Billionaire 5) by Elizabeth Maddrey
August 2021
Amethyst Attraction (Pot of Gold Geocaching Romance 4) by Valerie Comer
So You Have My Secret Baby (So You Want to be a Billionaire 4) by Elizabeth Maddrey
Husband Auditions by Angela Ruth Strong
Coastal Hearts: The St. Simons Novels by Janet W. Ferguson
A complete list of Inspy Romance books by our authors is always available on our BOOKS tab. Find our audiobooks, our permanently free e-books, and our thank-you gifts for newsletter subscribers there as well!
Mary Preston says
I do know who James T. Kirk is.
I love the statue.
Lori R says
Looks like you had a fun detour!
Elizabeth Maddrey says
It was so fun to poke around this little Start Trek oriented town!
Elizabeth Maddrey says
We definitely did!
Renate says
Hi Elizabeth! As a person, who enjoys road trips, especially back roads, I enjoy stopping and exploring unique out of the way towns, museums, restaurants. Our family enjoys Star Trek and Captain Kirk. We watched the TV shows and seen the movies. Often bought hubby Star Trek trinkets and shirts. Thanks for sharing. Second best to being on a road trip, is to be an arm chair traveler. Best wishes. Enjoy your Sunday.
Jessica G says
I smiled at this post for two reasons. 1. I cannot stand Star Trek and 2. My dad absolutely loves it. Whenever I see or hear anything about Star Trek it makes me think of my dad! He’s always talking about me being on my communicator. Haha
Elizabeth Maddrey says
It was a very fun detour and I’m glad we did it.
But I am also a fan of the armchair traveling as well.
Elizabeth Maddrey says
Haha. Well you can share the post with your dad 🙂
Glad to give you a smile.
Dianne says
What a fun time for you, such an amazing trip! I do know who James T Kirk is, however am more familiar with the Chris Pine films. I do know enough to sign off with Live long and prosper! Or something like that, lol
Trudy says
Oh, that sounds like fun!!! I’m just going to say, if you’d like to read some really good books that to me are Christian Star Trek, you HAVE to read Sharon Rose’s Diverse Similarity and Diverse Demands. Reading those reminded me just how much I like SciFi.
Elizabeth Maddrey says
That is right!
And I love the Chris Pine reboots. I wish they would do more.
Elizabeth Maddrey says
It was very fun! And I will look for those books. I read all sorts of genres and definitely enjoy sci Fi.
Trudy says
Me, too! I’ve even read some really good Fantasy and Sharon has a series for that, too!
Angeline says
The statue looks cool! Congratulations to the winners
Elizabeth Maddrey says
It was!
Erin Stevenson says
I have lived in Iowa for almost 10 years, but I’m not a trekkie and haven’t been to Riverside. However, one of my sons (who lives in TX) is, so I will highly recommend we go there the next time he visits!
Elizabeth Maddrey says
Excellent! It’s high on the kitsch scale just to set expectations. But I found it well worth the visit.
Paula Marie says
It appears that detour was just what Dr. Spock ordered!!
Elizabeth Maddrey says
It was actually probably very illogical, but I think Bones would have approved the mental health benefits of our away mission.
Alicia Haney says
How exciting, sounds like you had a great time on your little detour trip. I used to watch Star Trek all the time and I really enjoyed it. Have a great week and stay safe.
Elizabeth Maddrey says
We definitely did!
Thanks, you too :)
Trixi says
I grew up in Illinois and had no idea about Riverside. My husband and I are huge Trekkies & this would be a perfect place to explore :-)
Congrats the the winners & happy Sunday IR!
Priscila Perales says
I don’t know about deprived but I just found out that I’ve lived a sheltered life concerning Star Trek, lol. 😂
As for you, your smile in the pics says it all 😊 so glad you had so much fun :)!
Elizabeth Maddrey says
It was definitely fun!
Elizabeth Maddrey says
I probably employed a bit too much hyperbole :). But I really do enjoy star trek
Susanne says
Sounds like a fun trip!
Ausjenny says
Wow what a cool side trip. I know when I was in Gibsons BC Canada My friend pointed out the house the producers of Stargate lived in and I was so excited. If I was where it was filmed or a museum I would be the same. I think going to the home town of James T Kirk would be amazing. (I was probably more a Next Generation fan and the other series) (My pen pal in Australia was a huge fan of Star Trek and a Trekkie and Star Trek 4 had just come out and they had seen it 12 times in 14 days. at that stage I hadn’t seen any Star Trek as we didn’t get it on tv where I was when it first came out. I did get to watch it on a bus trip when they use to do videos and actually liked it and have now seem them all)
Elizabeth Maddrey says
It was!
Elizabeth Maddrey says
How fun! My sister went to a StarGate Con one year that was in Vancouver and they did a bus tour of lots of filming locations around the area.
Deep Space 9 is actually my favorite.
denise says
Congratulations, winners.
Wasn’t there a recent anniversary for Star Trek? 55 years.
I’m a Star Wars fan.
Lelia (Lucy) Reynolds says
I never did like Star Trek
Lincoln says
Hi, Elizabeth!
A life-size Gorn! Oh, my! Not without my gunpowder ingredients nearby!
This, of course, could open the door to all sorts of geeky discussions about Shatner vs. Pine, etc. But let it suffice to say that the spirit of the whole thing is captured in Galaxy Quest!
Congratulations to all this week’s winners and prayers for a week of safety, faithfulness and joy in the Lord!
Debra J Pruss says
I am so happy for you that you were able to enjoy at least one detour along your way west . I hope you have a marvelous week. God bless you.
Ausjenny says
I didn’t see all of Deep Space 9 but did like it. I also like voyager. I have always liked Sci Fi. My friend goes to a lot of the conventions in Melbourne and will go to other cities also.
Elizabeth Maddrey says
I did like Voyager for several seasons but Neelix got annoying.
Elizabeth Maddrey says
There might have been – that sounds right. To true Trekkies I’m probably just a casual fan, but I like it more than average people.
I also really love Star Wars.
Elizabeth Maddrey says
That is okay lol
Elizabeth Maddrey says
We are big Galaxy Quest fans here too! Really if it’s space oriented there’s a good chance I’ll watch.
Elizabeth Maddrey says
Thanks! You too.
Megan says
That’s such a neat detour you took! I never realized they had all those Star Trek things here in Iowa. Thanks for sharing!
Natalya Lakhno says
Great pics!