68 Summer 2013

Randy and Jan

     With trike building, home modifications, visits from friends and some rides the summer went to quickly.  It seems as if this area is a magnet drawing visitors here.  We have had as many as 17 drop in to say Hi on a weekend.  Their destination is either the Pioneer Club Wabasha MN, on their way to a weekend camping trip at nearby Pioneer campground, boating on the Mississippi, a drive to enjoy the beauty of the area, (as relatives from Texas said "to view the Mountains across the river, (Wisconsin) you also have to take into consideration they asked what a cheese curd was?  And some were just out riding and stopped to say Hi.  It is great, what a wonderful place to live. 

Jim and Sandy, Happy 44th Anniversary!

     One day I received an email from Randy and Jan, it stated that they had acquired a mobile traveling sleeping device,  Strange,  I thought maybe they had bought a motorcycle camper like ours.  Couldn't wait to find out.  They asked if they could bring it and their trike over for a visit. We said No!  Just teasing, of course they could. We can't say no to anyone, I always say "they might stop asking.". When they arrived we found that even though they wouldn't be ready to retire for a few years.  They found such a good deal on a Road Trek that they couldn't pass it up.  Beautiful self contained unit they pulled their trike behind it on a trailer.  They parked it in our drive and we ran an electrical cord to it.  They were set.  All the comforts of home.  A nice weekend showing them some of our favorite Wisconsin roads.  We stopped at Buena Vista lookout by Alma Wisconsin with a wonderful view of the Mississippi basin.  They were taken with nearby Wabasha,  Randy called it a "walk about city". The kind where you just get off your bike and walk around.  The Eagle center, levee along the Mississippi,  Slippery's restaurant (famous for Grumpy old Men.)   Statue and fountain depicting Chief Wapasha.  Fun town, what always amazes us is the way the city and school children decorate for holidays, I think our favorite is fall and Halloween time.
     We were fortunate to be home when Jim and Sandy dropped in on their special day, it was their wedding anniversary.  We stopped what we were doing, climbed on our trike and off to Wisconsin.  We like to lead visitors on small black top roads that would be missed if they follow GPS or maps.  A stop at the Stone Barn Pizza near Nelson Wisconsin and our day was complete.  Wood fired pizza while dining within the foundation of a cow barn, you got to try it.
    
     Our good neighbors Wes and Brenda

Wes and Brenda on their Harley!

planned a fun trip to the Delta Diner and included us.  It was a two day trip to a Diner in the middle of the Wisconsin forest, they advertise as being in the center of the middle of  nowhere.  That about covers it, it doesn't matter when you go there is always a waiting line.   We spent the night in Hayward at a neat motel by a river.  A trip to the original Famous Dave's was a special treat for us.  Thank you for including us in your trip.

Amazing detail, thank you
 Greg and Mary! for the
 "Walking Sticks"

    
     We were the recipients of some good natured kidding from some of Michelle's motorcycle friends.   It started when we received a pair of hand carved diamond willow walking sticks from a couple we built a trike for.  We were so pleased with them we put a picture on Facebook ( and the fire was ignited) Jim or Dennis (Harley riders, not judging, just supplying background information)  posted that they thought canes were standard issue with Gold Wing trikes.   A few good natured barbs back and forth and then Michelle came in with a bomb. Our daughter, can you believe it?  She said she was at the Wabasha pharmacy and was surprised to find they had a Gold Wing accessory area, see picture.  Will the abuse never end?  It is probably time to acknowledge the kind group of friends we have met by being involved with motorcycles.  When you hear us talk you may not know it.  Kind of like Ford and Chevy or Democrats and Republicans. (not going there) Anyway we might tease each other about what we ride, but we are brothers and sisters of the road.  A finer group of loyal friends you will not find.  We treasure them!  While we are talking Harley here is something I heard.  Over 80 % of the Harley Davidson's manufactured are still on the road...............

I think (Honda rider) Nancy is a nice balance to Jim and
Dennis To bad about the Green Bay Packer outfit!

     

     Our adopted home town Kellogg Minnesota has an annual event, Watermelon days, what fun, it is the kind people reminisce about from their child hood.  A parade, pedal tractor pull, a farm tractor ride, small carnival and rides, soap box derby, evening street dance, firefighter water battle, burn out event (cars) and a
fun event organized by our friends at Yahooligans's Bar and Grill.  A sawdust scavenger hunt.  I had never heard of it before.  They dump a huge pile of saw dust and chips in the street, then add quarters donated by local sponsors into the pile.  Now you turn the children loose in groups of ascending age for a timed period.  Fun to watch.  Tiffiney says it was of her favorite memories and Ruthie said as a child her Sunday school had done a similar thing only with dimes and oats from the field.  And then the main event on Sunday, free watermelon in the park.  Looks like more memories in the making.  Thank God for small towns. 

      On August 23rd we headed North to Duluth, new friends we met at Stillwell Ranch (post #46 T for Texas  ) had invited us to spend a few days and participate in their annual barn dance.  Sounded like fun and we could use the rest and relaxation.  We figure we had 11 days this summer where we felt like we were retired and rested.  Dene and Sally generously let us stay in their camper so we didn't have to drag ours with us.   Sometimes expectations are not reality.  From the moment we arrived our visit was planned, Dene wanted to make sure we weren't bored.  Supper with the group that had already

arrived family friends of Dene and Sally's and their son's. We had already met David and Janet  at Stillwell's Their friends Bob and Gayle and Melissa who as it turns out was from our neck of the woods.    The next morning we headed to the Duluth harbor to board a tour boat to view and learn about the Harbor.  The tour guide told a legend of the rivalry between Superior WI and Duluth over their competition to be the shipping harbor.   Superior had filed an injunction to stop Duluth from building a canal, the story goes that a group of Duluth residents finished the canal with picks and shovels.  Then lunch at Grandma's (this is where Grandma's marathon is held.   Now a short walk (Dene's word, I think it was more like 4 miles)  along the harbor wall and a stop at the gardens, Of course a statue to Leif Ericson ( who discovered America anyway) notice the date?  While walking along the canal wall Dene related a story,  he said when the lake waves were high young people like to run along the wall and

race the waves.  On a Sunday in April 1967 (now referred to as Black Sunday) a storm drew three teenage brothers to the wall.  It has been said that Lake Superiors waves were over 20 feet high.  All three were swept into the water and never found.    A coastguardsman searching for them also perished that evening.  Because the brothers that perished had the same last name as Dene it left a lasting impression.

    Then back to their place for a short rest and more get-together.   Next morning a walk in the woods to see a cabin they are building, so they can get away?  Did I mention they already live in the woods?   A hike back to their place ( I'm getting tired). I think it was about this time we were scheduled for line dance lessons, then a little rest, now set up preparations for the dance and dinner.  Caption for picture Couple on right "What's Ruthie doing?  "she's showing them how to find someplace called Kellogg!"

    You won't be around Dene and Sally long without hearing about their son Marty, and rightfully so.  It seems like he has made many size decisions during his life time already.  Nice guy, built a log cabin across the road, rebuilt a triumph motorcycle, an antique vehicle, a successful career and remember the walk to the cabin?  Dene tells of him driving in 20 pounds of 20 Penney nails when he was eight for the 330 foot board walk we had just traversed above the bog. (Several child labor laws may have been violated here).   I remember when we first met Dene in Texas he had just received a phone call from Marty he had just finished winter surfing in Lake Superior, I shiver to think about it, that water is cold enough in the summer.   However I caught the Marty band wagon and when he stepped out of the dance I mentioned that he probably heard a forest creature in distress and went to rescue it and on the way back he build a cabin for a neighbor.  Wish there were more people like him. 
     The dance and dinner were a huge success attended by friends, relatives and church members.   Proceeds went to the Salvation Army kettle drive.  During the dance our group did our group line dance, didn't know I would be part of the entertainment.  Heel- toe-kick-turn-slide-repeat.   Breakfast with the group some clean up, hugs, goodbyes and we returned home.  Great friends, good times.  Repeat.....  We will rest when we get back home.
     The summer was not with out trials.  I suffered some dizzy moments, I think Tom was afraid I was going to fall off my stool when I was working on a trike while he had the lift up in the air.  Comment from Wes. "When Vern is on the stool he is the same height as Tom."  The Doctor decided to put me on some light blood pressure medicine and it seemed to do it's job. 
   Then we said goodbye to Ruthie's Aunt Dorothy, my memory I will always have of her is the smell of baking that always was present in her kitchen.    Always ready to welcome guests.  My nephew Marty lost his battle with cancer, you mention your age to Marty and in one breath he will tell you what year you were born.  The funeral director helped with a light moment in the middle of our sadness. Imagine your following in the funeral procession.  Then you realize you have passed the turn that would lead to the cemetery.  The procession drives on, soon they turn East heading on Highway 30 leading out of Stewartville MN.  Totally the wrong direction.  Where are we going?  What would you do?  Do you drop out of line and head for the cemetery, do you pull out and head them off?  Well soon we pulled into a large parking lot made a circle and headed in the right direction, Always the jokester I thought "good one Marty."
     And then my sister Jessie, answered the call, a good fight to the end, "love you Sis you are missed!". Will think of You every time I see something purple!
     And what can I say about Taylor, one of the first acquaintances when we moved to Kellogg.  Always had a cap with his beloved International Harvester tractor displayed on. (He was on it when he was killed/lost his life.)  (driving while texting/cell phone use, Just STOP IT!) Gentle gruff man, Ask him about the cap. "If it ain't Red, leave it in the shed!"

     We received an unexpected call at the end of the summer, it was Karen and she was inviting us to go out on "The House Boat.". It was scheduled for October 13 not to long from our winter departure date.  There was no way are we missing this. Docked in front of the Pioneer club we had always wondered what it looked like inside. On a beautiful fall Sunday we boarded "Someday I'll" and with Denny at the wheel we headed out on the Mississippi river.  Our gracious hosts provided refreshments as we crossed the channel and headed North, we stopped at the dock in Wabasha beside the Eagle center

and the Chef Wapasha fountain to pick up a passenger.  Interesting the way he can guide this huge boat up to the dock, I understand it has side thrusting engines to help it maneuver.  It was a cool day however the sun was warm and we were content.  After we reached Lake Pepin by Lake City we turned and headed toward home.   At one point Karen came up on the upper deck with some bread in her hand, calling to us she said " come and feed the sea gulls".

What was she smoking, there were no sea gulls even close.  Undeterred she tore the bread in small pieces and started launching it in the air.  She said 'all we need is one."   Soon she got one, not a sea gull, but one of the guests to help her throw bread.  Karen knew what she was talking about soon there was a sea gull following the boat and diving after the bread.  And she was right, now the whole flock was following us, diving for the bread and even catching it in the air.  I think I will call her "the Bird Whisperer" from now on.  Thank you Denny and Karen for a wonderful day. 
     Sorry I must have been disturbed and didn't finish my thought,  Harley Info continued...  The other 20 % made it home.  Sorry, just teasing, love ya!  (disclaimer:  This pertinent cycle information came from a senior editor for a major men's magazine.)

     Now time to pack and prepare for our winter trip.

67 Back to Texas?

 May 2013

      As it turned out it was a strange spring.  The weather was not conducive to riding or even being outside much.  We had several snow storms after we returned home . 

     Our winter trip had convinced us to try and replace our motorcycle camper.  The stop at the Roll-a-home factory had confirmed our decision to sell our camper and replace it with a RAH.  I listed our camper on the internet and within a few days it sold.  On May 1st we drove to Hurley Wisconsin to deliver the camper.  As we headed to Northern Wisconsin the temperature kept getting milder and we wished we had rode the trike.  By the time we met the new owners it was 82 degrees, not normal.   As we headed for home the temperature started to drop and when we awoke the next morning we found one of the worst snow storms of the year had passed thru depositing 12 inches at our place and over 17 at daughter Katy's in Byron. 
     With our current trike projects completed and now snowed in we went on the internet looking for a camper replacement, with our requirements the choices were few and far between.  We finally found a used one in our price range, a deal was struck, guess where?  Austin Texas, can you believe it.  Part of the negotiations was where it was located and how were we going to get it home.  I mean really, we just got back from Texas. 


All Gave Some, Some Gave All!

.    One of the factors that helped us make our decision was that we could combine picking up the camper with a visit to our daughter Michelle (aka;  Bandanas byMichelle  on Facebook)  She is a story in herself, starting a business selling hand crafted Bandanas traveling to motorcycle rally's on "Big John" (her Harley) pulling a motorcycle trailer which contained all of her goods.  She left our home in April and plans on traveling until November.
     We left in May planning on meeting Michelle in Longview Texas for a Memorial day rally.  This was not a pleasure trip we planned on being there in two days,  We stayed with a motorcycle club member just outside of Kansas City, they went above club guidelines and asked us to join them for dinner. 
     As soon as we crossed the Texas line I finally got my elusive picture of Braham cattle. (see Post #40 Border Patrol) I love their ears, remind me of baby Moose.
      Michelle had temped us with a motel complete with a swimming pool, as you know our winter trip had not been warm enough for luxuries like that.  So much for well made reservations, not only was the pool closed, during our stay they brought in a backhoe and filled it with dirt.
      It was great to see her again.  This visit gave us a real insight into the life she lives on the rally road.   It makes us appreciate all vendors and participants in events like this, sometimes you take things for granted without thinking about what makes them possible.  A little insight:  This is what we learned after assisting her with this rally.  Think of all of the expense of living on the road then the promoter of the rally charges a fee (based on expected attendance.) for you to attend which can be from a few hundred to thousands of dollars for the big rally's.  Yes, the organizer has cost also, the arena or fairgrounds, advertising, bathrooms and facilities for a large crowd, security and clean up.  (in the case of a Gold Wing rally, additional security at the local Dairy Queen.)   You arrive and the promoter has stuck your booth in the corner across from the sheep tent or in a building away from the main traffic area. 

   Now the convening authority (thanks Al.) levees a tax before you have sold a single item.  Then it rains for three days or in the case in Texas, rival gangs had boycotted the event and the city had initiated a regulation that discourages attendance.  She knew it wasn't going to be good when the promoter asked for a deposit for her pass that wouldn't be returned until 3pm on Sunday.  Evidently vendors had pulled out early the year before.    And yes attendance was very poor,  I believe because of the quality of product and her display (quite the promoter this one!)  An attractive booth, large display, lots of lights to show off the crystals, a little fan so they shimmer and oh yes, a heated candle with a baking sugar cookie aroma.  (I almost bought one.) she did Okay, sometimes you just hope not to loose money.   The food vendors at this rally lost money, local health laws made them buy all there supplies locally or delivered by a recognized provider to their site.  No food could be prepared ahead of time.  One vendor didn't read the memo and they made him destroy his food products by pouring bleach over them.  Painful!    
   The Straw that broke the camels back.  If any of these participants get greedy it will ruin the rally,  We had a wonderful family oriented rally South of us in Iowa.

     Perfect balance,  it was supported by the town to the extent that many of the residents turned their homes into B&Bs for the weekend housing riders and sharing in the fun.  The boy scouts handled camping at the city park.  There was a cycle parade the riders held to show their gratitude to the city.   A breakfast by the seniors at the community center.  Lots of vendors, riders and enjoyment for all.  We looked forward to going.   Then one year the organizers decided to raise the fee for the vendors, the next year at least half of the vendors didn’t come.   The next year a lot of the riders didn’t go.  We haven’t returned in years now”. 

     Time to rest? No! Time for some electrical trailer repair, load 400 pounds of tent crystals, bandanas, fans, lights, chairs, table, a forty pound heat press, a file cabinet, all personal items, and clothing ( casual, warm, rain and riding ) into a 300 pound capacity trailer.  Now off to the next rally.  Ruthie and I needed a rest after helping her for a few days.  Bless her heart. 
   To save us some time the seller had  met us at the rally with our camper.  With that in tow we were going to ride as far as we could with Michelle. 

  Since it wasn't far out of our way we headed to Sulphur Springs Texas to see a public glass bathroom that daughter Tammy had heard about.  Yup, natural beauty or oddities, count us in!  Interesting,  I have taken pictures inside bathrooms before (don't ask) but never of the outside from inside.  Ruthie and Michelle, wonder if they can see me?   The site of the bathroom was in the city square , children were playing in the water tube sprayer,  there was a life size chess set and others were wandering among the many  tribute areas honoring the veterans and freedom.  Very inspirational.  A very touching memorial to all who serve.   I think the unique bathroom was a great way to attract visitors,  However the rest of the square is what you will think about for a long time.
     We rode with Michelle North to the Texas border, always tough to part with loved ones.  You may see a grown woman swinging her Harley Davidson into the street with her trailer in tow. But I still see our two year old toddler clinging to her mommies hand, it's tough to let go.  (I sent her a copy of this post to proof read since she was in it.  I received this note back.  "

*** a side note to your story. After we said goodbye at the chicken restaurant I cried like a baby for about an hour as I drove down the road. I actually had to pull over so I could gain my composure so I could drive again. Once a little girl...always a little girl. Goodnight.") Thru tears I thanked her.  .I guess we are a sensitive bunch. 

   She was heading to NE Oklahoma for a rally and we were going to swing by the camper factory in Hobart Oklahoma to have some modifications done. (doesn't anyone realize it's tornado season in Oklahoma?).

      Due to the number of miles we put on with the camper in tow we thought it would be a good idea to have an axel installed at the factory that had electric brakes.  We fought a pretty stiff wind from the South as we headed West across Oklahoma,  Arriving in Hobart we spent the night at a bed and breakfast that used to be a funeral home.   Nice place, slept with one eye open. 
    
    The next morning this was the weather map Severe storms moving across all the way from Texas to Minnesota, looks like we are in for some weather.   We had dropped the camper off the night before and knowing tornadoes were in the area.  ( not to be rats deserting a sinking ship) we asked Billy to just install the axel and new wheels and we would wire it ourselves when we reached home.  Kind of anxious to be on the road. 




  

Billy finished our modification and we were on our way the storm threats were serious enough that we weren't wasting anytime.   There had been damaging tornadoes the week before and we headed North out of Hobart as fast as we could.  The wind was at our back until we  reached interstate 40 heading East now we felt the full effects of the Strom we were told that the wind was a steady 60 miles per hour with some stronger gusts.  It kept us on our toes as it tried to help us change lanes.  The sky was changing scenes dramatically every few minutes.  Beautiful to  watch and take pictures with an every watchful eye out for funnel clouds.    We took 35 North out of Oklahoma City and again had the wind to our back,  (We found out later that Oklahoma City suffered severe Tornado damage that evening, just as benefit concerts were being held there to aid the last storm victims.   As a precaution we stayed in a brick motel with our little rig parked on the North side.
       
     One more stop at Paul and Mary's in Holton Kansas,  who knew we would be back this soon?  Another pleasant evening with them and we were on the last leg home.   A quick interesting trip, now back to work. 

66 The Humble Bumble project!

      I thought this would be a fitting time to show you the  project we went thru blizzards to arrive home to finish.  Also it will show you what we do when we aren't traveling and how a trike is created.

Not a professional model, this is Todd! 

 Todd contacted us in the fall before our scheduled winter trike trip asking us to convert his Gold Wing "The humble Bumble" ( you'll see why)  Todd had a special color scheme in mind.  To make sure we had it right we put tape on our trike with the desired color location and sent the order off to the trike company.  As you can see it all starts with a standard motorcycle, usually one of the larger touring variety.
     The crated conversion kit arrives by semi and a kind neighbor allows us to use his fork lift to offload it.  (yup, lots of snow aren't we glad we hurried home.).  After uncrating and checking for damage we disassemble the kit.

     When I have been asked how we build a trike, I like to tease and say we (Ruthie, I and Tom) remove everything that doesn't look like a trike.  Maybe it is a little more complicated than that.
     Some of the items are removed and will be reinstalled when the running gear is on.  We remove the saddlebags, frame structure that holds the saddlebags, mufflers, rear wheel and final drive. ( this would be similar to the differential on your car.)  On touring motorcycles there is a swing arm that supports the final drive, rear wheel and provides a cushion or spring effect to soften the bumps.  Normally this gets modified to add strength and a means of attaching the trike running gear. 
     The preparation leaves a bare bones bike ready to accept the trikes running gear and frame.  Not so pretty anymore. 
     The running gear has a substantial support frame with automobile tires and wheels, a differential and braking system.  The chore now is to attach it to what's left of the motorcycle.   Note the little heater, not a solution but it takes the chill off.  Tom say's "Vern doesn't work unless it's freezing or over eighty" perhaps a little exaggeration on his part, but sometimes it does seem like that. 
     One of the tricky parts is installing the drive shaft from the motorcycle transmission to the running gear differential.  It has to be done as the running gear frame is joined with the motorcycle frame.   There are several attaching points besides the swing arm plate that used to be attached to the final drive.  It gives it a lot of strength and stability.  It is at this time we join and bleed the braking system.  
     For the first time it is on three wheels.   One of the benefits of where we live and work is our neighbors.  At any time we might get a visit from our friends Wes and Brenda (usually with a little friendly ribbing) . Or Gary might stop by with his 4 wheeler.  (love to tease him about his backup camera, on a four wheeler, really? )  And they are always ready and willing to give a helping hand.  Great people!  So glad we moved here.

      And now the front end?  Yes! A motorcycle was designed to be on two wheels. When you change the length and width you have affected the geometry of the bike.  Some trikes bikes can develop a front wheel vibration under certain conditions.  To alleviate this and also to make it steer much easier we install custom triple tree ( picture; it is the pivoting point for the steering that holds the front forks.)  It requires a total disassembly of the front end.  Since we have them off we check the fork oil and change the springs. (Yes warm clothes and a heater, Tom was right.)

 After double checking all the bolts, (the bolts are installed using a torque wrench that allows us to adjust the tightness to the engineers specification.)  air pressure in the tires, align the wheels,  we are ready for a road test.  I usually put on some warm clothes throw a pillow over the battery and take it for a bare bones road test to check before we install the body.

    

     We now remove the wheels, prepare the body by installing taillights we removed from the saddlebags, install wiring to the lights, fit and adjust the body, install exhaust, trailer hitch and wheels. Another road test and we are ready to roll.   

Thanks Todd for allowing us to use your trike for the story. 

65 Snowmobile anyone?

 

 

     It was morning and there was no question anymore concerning the weather.  We had very heavy snow falls during the night.  Our hosts tried their best to discourage a fool hardy trip on the trike.  Paul even mentioned that if he was my commanding officer he would order me not to go out.  I said if he was my commanding officer that I would obey. 
     We weren't looking forward to it either. Paul and I decided to take the four wheel drive truck and drive to the main road to see if it was doable..

     Stopping a few times to check the snow depth.  We were the first ones on the gravel road leading to their home.  When we reached  the secondary road there had been some traffic on the South lane however there was drifting on the North side of the road.  Breakfast was ready for us on our return.  A little more pressure from our friends and we packed for the cold trip home.  I helped Mary with the computer so she could follow our path as we made our way home.  After getting our rig turned around some hugs and a final word from Paul " we will leave the garage door open and if you can't make it please turn around and come back.  (I didn't have the heart to tell him that because of the incline of their driveway I knew the trike would never pull the camper back up the hill.) We will never forget this wonderful couple!
    We were committed or as others have said, we should be, who travels in weather like this? Having been raised in Minnesota we were used to winter driving.  Approaching the secondary road Ruthie kept a look out for traffic so I could keep the trike moving up the hill.  So far so good.  As we approached town their was more traffic and less snow to plow thru.  The main thing was to keep moving and stay in the tracks made by recent traffic.   We headed East on 36 past St Joseph on our way to Interstate 35.  In one of the small towns we got thumbs up from two fellows snow blowing their drive ways.   Not much cycle traffic this time of year. 


Something wrong with a trike and snow plow in the same picture!

     The snow storm had caused many accidents and their were still many in the ditch from the night before.  Along the way Ruthie came up with a new term for the cars that had slid off the road.  "Digger" And she was able to use it many times between Kansas and Des Moines Iowa.  Some were pretty serious,  There were some that had went in the ditch just before we arrived and our children mentioned that they may have driven in the ditch after seeing us on the road.   Many times cars would pull up beside us and take our picture. (they probably turned their heater up after seeing us.)

Yes, she is Okay! Just anxious to get home  note the "pigin" string from the ranch.
 

  We were bundled up against the cold, had a heated jacket liner that plugged into the cycle's electrical system and were able to make it all the way to just North of Des Moines before we called it a day.  Bundled up like we were it is easier to just keep moving if your not to uncomfortable.  We only traveled a couple of hours the next day before we stopped, planning on making it home on the third day. 

     The last day was cold however the sun was out and we were anxious to get home.

 

     We made it.  Stuck in the snow 10 feet from our deck.  Over 11,000 miles more than 120 days on a trike, 10 states, at least 5 forts, 1 aircraft carriers, many museums, 1 slippery bridge, 2 dust storms, 2 blizzards countless amazing friends, numerous hotel yogurts. Stuck in the snow ten feet from the deck. We are home safe, warm and sound.  Priceless.   Lets do this again!