71 Thumper Biscuits!

Sent: Saturday, November 02, 2013 6:56 AM  Good Morning, We are Vern and Ruthie from Kellogg MN,  We are wandering thru your area later today.  Would there be a place to stay tonight?
 

Yes, We have plans and will be gone till later this afternoon.  What time will you be arriving?
 

     Some of you have asked about our motorcycle club connection and how it worked.  Above is a copy of the correspondence for today.  On our membership map I found a member in the area I wanted to be tonight.  Sent the email, and sometime during the day received the reply.  A couple of phone calls to verify time and address.  Since we don't know our plan very far ahead we choose members that are okay with short notice.  It doesn't always work this smooth however we have had great success with it.
     When we left Moonshine we set the GPS for Newburgh Indiana, when we arrived at Willie and Bev's the garage door was open.  Worked out well, their garage was deep enough to pull the whole rig in.

sometimes shortcuts are gravel!

     They showed us to our room in the basement so we could get settled.   The best part is we already have something in common, we like to ride.   Meeting later in life they started motorcycling on a whim,  some ride for a year or two and then other interests take over.  Not these two, they are passionate about it  logging around 25,000 every year on their Gold Wing.  Interesting, it was the same color and year as ours.  How did we get talking about DNR, maybe it was when Bev was talking about some medical issues Willie had been thru.   She mentioned she knew a Doctor that had DNR tattooed over his heart.  I don't know.  The important thing is that Bev was talking about "Do Not Resuscitate" and I was and I was thinking the Department of Natural Resources.    

 

     I think I will stop abbreviation's this could have been a critical mix-up.    We went to a local restaurant for supper and after visiting for a while we called it a night.  Bev inquired on what we like for breakfast.  (my stock answer is anything except those salty little fish and Ruthie gives me a dirty look.)  I may add to this, no Pepsi with doughnuts, happens to be Bev's favorite.  She said she was going make biscuits and we told her not to go to so much trouble.   "They are just thumper biscuits". We had never heard this term she said "you know the ones that come in a tube and you just thump them on the table edge."  Makes perfect sense now.  The next morning we had a delicious breakfast and some of the "thumper" biscuits were great.  Bev said she rolled them in butter and coated them with sugar and cinnamon.  Very good, we are going to try it sometime.  (update:  We did and it wasn't near as tasty as Bev's, this should be easy.  It wasn't, I emailed Bev for help an d received this back.

It sounds like you’re having a great trip (except for the gravel J)

Willie and I have been following you online.
Thumper biscuits:

Any brand of canned biscuits will work, I usually get the Grands (not flaky) but the regular size biscuits will work as well. (this may have been our mistake)

Melt ¼ cup of butter in microwave.



See, I didn't make it up!

Mix 1 c sugar with cinnamon (I just sprinkle the cinnamon and mix until it looks right) That depends on how cinnamony you want the biscuits.

Dip the biscuit in the melted butter, then in the sugar/cinnamon mixture.

Place on cookie sheet and bake according to directions on the can of biscuits.

Let me know how your next batch turns out.

Ride Safe!

     Thanks Bev, there you go a recipe, a full service blog.  

 

      One of the rides Willie and Bev are quite passionate about is called ride for the relay .  It is a organized ride on Old Route 66 to raise money to cure cancer.  We left their home with some hints on roads to ride as we headed East toward Kentucky.    Our GPS veered us a little off Willie's route, some gravel but was the scenery spectacular.  Buzzards Roost here we come. 

70 Moonshine

    At the start of the journey we only had 4 time sensitive destinations, doesn't sound to hectic a schedule for five months, I should add one more.   We wanted to be far enough South to not get caught in snow.  The only other destination was the Moonshine store.   This raised a lot of eye brows.  None of our friends had heard of it.   For several years I had read about a one day hamburger run to the Moonshine store.  Ruthie had also heard about it from blood donors.  (if we hear of a frequent motorcycle destination we probably will like it). Not wanting to travel from Minnesota thru Illinois on the store's busiest day we had never done the trip.  Since we were headed thru Illinois anyway I had included a stop on this trip.  We at least wanted to see it and have a hamburger.  We assumed the trip from Janesville Wisconsin to Moonshine would be a straight shot and we would get there by late afternoon have our burger, then find a place for the night.  Because of the time of year I also assumed we would be one of the few travelers to this remote spot.   You know what they say about assuming anything, wrong again.


I ask you, does this look like anything we packed

      With breakfast behind us we bid our goodbyes to Vonnie and Verne (with an E).  It was uneventful until we stopped for lunch along the freeway.  Back on the road it seemed we had just gotten up to the designated speed plus a few mph to allow for speedometer error.  Suddenly a car pulled up along side of us with someone hanging out the window.  We were used to cars pulling along side and taking pictures especially when weather dictates that no one should be traveling on a cycle.  But this was different, he was shouting and pointing, what? Tires?  Ruthie spun around in her queen seat and seen my hooded sweat shirt dragging from the storage trunk mounted to the tongue. 


We don't like to turn around and admit defeat!

We gave our good Samaritans a thumbs up and pulled onto the side of the road.   New plan: We seen several things were missing from the trunk.  It was a busy freeway so I pulled as far into the ditch as I dared.  When there was a break in traffic we crossed over to the North bound lane watching for our items in the ditch.  There was a very strong wind coming from the West so I figured any thing we lost would have been blown to the center median.  We seen a couple of items but continued to drive until we reached the exit where we had stopped for lunch.   With our emergency flashers on and freeway traffic flying by us we drove in the lane closest to the median.  I was concentrating on driving and watching traffic in my rearview mirror while Ruthie was scanning for our gear.  When she spotted something I would drive into the median, dismount, and walk back to retrieve it or discover it was just road debris.   For the next hour and a half to two hours this continued, I was getting plenty of exercise and quite warm with my riding gear on.  At one point I was starting to think Ruthie was having a good time sending me back.   I could just see her grinning as I trudged back to discover a road gator or  truck taillight.  My roadside hikes had left me tired and ready to stop for the day, we have plenty of time, no need to hurry.  We found an economical motel in Farmer City Illinois.   The next morning we took our time getting on the road waiting for the Sun to do it's job. 

Another pretty Harley!

    Some times I get in trouble without even trying.  One day friend Wes said he had stopped at a local auto parts store in Wabasha and Jeff was ticked at me.  Why?  Evidently I had told friends that Jeff's new Harley was "pretty"  evidently pretty is not a word to use when describing a Harley Davidson.  Hence the caption.
      With the address of the Moonshine store on our GPS we headed out.  A few miles before our destination the GPS had a hiccup, sent us North to the next road corrected itself, turned right, turned on a gravel road that went between a farm house and a barn curved thru a hayfield and a woods and finally met up with the original road we had been on. ( don't know, just following directions.)    



Wayne's tree service eats pretty good!

    We had heard it was in the middle of nowhere, however you do expect to see some houses around a store.  Population 2 but not today.  Ruthie guessed at least 70 cars, 3 cycles and now 1 trike.       
      We were visiting about the ride and trike when a man came up and said if we came for a burger we better get it ordered.  It seems their is a guard at the door and at 12;30 he stops the line and the grill goes off at 1pm.  Today we ordered our own burger
 just one patty, A triple cheeseburger pictured above only $8.50.   It is a crowded little country store with people milling around waiting for their orders.  No frills,  the condiments on the old wood stove.  Take your burger outside to the picnic tables.  In the summer (when it's busy) they use a PA system.  The store over a hundred years old.  At first they fried sandwiches on a little electric grill then they added a gas burner.  Somewhere along the line CBS Sunday Morning with  Bill Geist visited the store and the rest is history.  A motorcycle ride destination of one of the forums I read helped spread the word.  On one day they sold over 2,000 burgers.   Delicious!  By the time we finished, took some pictures and mounted up there was only two cars left in the parking lot.  Guess they were serious about closing time.  Glad we made it. 



69 2013 Winter trip

Goin' places that I've never been.

Seein' things that I may never see again

And I can't wait to get on the road again.

On the road again -

Like a band of gypsies we go down the highway

We're the best of friends.

Insisting that the world keep turning our way

And our way

is on the road again.

Just can't wait to get on the road again.

The life I love .........

     When we took our young daughters on vacations I would sing (my opinion) the chorus when we started out.  I don't think they really appreciated it.   Well here we go again.    
October 30, 2013



seven days before the trip

strange, the arrow was on the
cardboard I was using to kneel on!

      It seemed that the pressure to finish upgrades to our trike,  tires, normal maintenance that had been neglected because of our busy schedule unnecessary chrome and lights,  ready our home for our absence and prepare for a planned five month ride continued up to the moment we pulled away from our prairie home.   With as little as seven days to departure our five wheel rig only had the front wheel on the ground.  Adjusting the trailer brakes (thanks for your help Tom) turned into a major event when I found that the new axels had a problem with the keepers for the magnetic brake coil.  Our new white wall tires ( yes we are still kids at heart) finally arrived, mounted with a balancing solution they were ready to go.    To keep up with tradition We stopped in front the Pioneer Club Wabasha MN to take a picture, note the Wisconsin mountains in the background. (just teasing)



We still are having trouble with packing.

     Stopping in Kellogg MN we filled with gas and grabbed some protein bars , we were on our way.  What did we forget this time?  Our motorcycle camper was filled, evidently we had not learned from our meeting with the experienced long distance rider in  Eureka Springs  to start the trip at 80% capacity.  It was 46 degrees misty with some fog however it was a full 28 degrees warmer than when we left last year.  Ruthie had dressed with full rain gear partially for the mist but mostly for the protection from the wind. To save some time and because of the extra fairing protection the driver has I didn't put on my rain pants.  We had heated Jackets and the extra layer kept the wind from sucking the heat away.



It will be months before it is this clean again!

     As we traveled along the Mississippi river we pointed to the bluffs to our right and mentioned why would we want to travel anywhere else.  This area is just beautiful.  However the reality that soon it would be covered with snow and there would be layers of ice forming on the side of the bluffs as water seeped from the hills.  Beautiful but not conducive with motorcycle travel we will keep on our current path.  We crossed over the Mississippi river into Wisconsin just North of  Lacrosse.
     The owner of the Humble Bumble had asked us to stop by Tomah and say hi on our way thru.   He was waiting for us as we pulled up to the truck dealership where he worked.  He had a lot of nice things to say about the trike we had built for him, it seems his wife and daughter are learning to drive it.   Todd told us about a popular pizza place South East of Tomah that he would like to take us to.  We made a tentative plan to meet him there in the spring on our way home.   Always new places to see. 
     When we said our good-byes the road turned South and we started to pick up a few degrees, maybe the weather would look up for us.   The way we were dressed made it quite comfortable and we were enjoying the fall ride. 
     Nice thought, however the weather didn't hold.  just beyond the Wisconsin Dells it started to rain.  Light at first and I thought we can live with this.  Soon it picked increased intensity and was soon a heavy rain storm, it was at this time I started hearing voices.  "I have my rain pants on-why don't you have your rain pants on- I'm glad I spent the extra money and purchased a whole rain suit- I'm dry back here, how about you.-etc"  It seemed as if the verbal abuse continued for some time.  Tomorrow I will either wear my rain pants or find the mute button for the intercom!

     We arrived at Verne and Vonnie's around 5;30 I had a double history with these two.  Vonnie's family lived within two miles of my child hood home and Verne with an "E" was the brother of one of my classmates.  We had been reconnected at the funeral of a neighborhood farmer and she had visited my sisters at their Wednesday morning ritual of breakfast at the Chickadee coffee shop in Lake City MN.   When they heard about our upcoming trip invited us to stop for the evening.  We took the opportunity to dry our damp clothes in their dryer, all set for tomorrow.   I had forgot about Halloween until children started showing up at the door.  A pleasant evening followed reminiscing on our shared country background.  Her fond memories and recollection of her child hood was impressive to me.  At our breakfast meeting in Lake City I heard her tell the story of  a lamp we had seen on the tour of their home.  Vonnie's text makes it very interesting:  "My parents purchased my grandparent's farm (Otto & Ella R) when I was approximately 2yrs. old.  My mother rolled the lamp (a wedding gift to my grandparents in 1911) down by the creek because neither her or my grandmother no longer wanted it.   Later her friend, Ardeen M, (Dean M's sister) Dean was a friend and neighbor of my parents and lived on what I liked to call a country block, a mile long on each side.  visited mother.  They went for a walk and Ardeen saw the lamp and mother told her to take it.  Later Ardeen moved to California and left the lamp with Dean & Olive M.  When I played with Pam (their daughter) I saw the lamp at their home.  I  told mother about the most beautiful lamp I'd ever seen.  Mother asked Olive if we could buy it, of course Olive being so kind, said Vonnie can have the lamp.  It is a Gone With The Wind lamp. 

     The top was broken and they had turned it into an electric lamp.  I had it in a box for years as no one was able to paint a new top to match.  I found the perfect rose silk shade at the Lamp Lighters in Madison.  It now sets beside the bed in "The Wedding Room" next to Grandma Richter's wedding dress from 1911.  A full circle for this beautiful lamp.

    Update Dec 6, 2013 6;23 AM  I just read an email from my sister Arvilla. 

Hi,

     I was just reading your blog and did you know that Jessie (our sister) was at Irene’s when she threw the lamp away.  she also threw some fingernail polish and Jessie was more upset to see her throw the fingernail polish away.  (I have a closer connection to this lamp than I knew.  Now every time I'm reminded of the lamp I will think of my family.)

     The next morning our hosts had prepared a wonderful breakfast and Vonnie continued to amaze me with her recollections.  She brought out a book called Grand mother remembers.  It is a commercially available book used for memories, family history for ancestors.  A wonderful idea to pass on unique memories that are often forgotten or considered unimportant enough to pass on.  The book asks question to prompt memories. 
      One of the pages Vonnie shared with us, the book asked the question, Did you have a happy childhood?  Because of my love of horses and the people involved  this response was of particular interest to me.    Vonnie's mothers text front the book about her pony named Dicky Daddels.  "A neighborhood man tried to break him but he'd just buck him off.  Clarence took him, kept him for several months.

Clarence would ride him to Elmira school and finally got him calmed down.  All the kids at school took turns riding him.  I got brave and rode him home.  He went so fast that I could hardly hang on.  Going to school in the morning he'd walk slowly.  A few times he'd stop in front of Frank Hinckley's, lay down in the  middle of the road.  Frank would come and get him up.  Funny he always chose the same place to lay down.  She stated that she was 9 years old when she started riding him.  He turned out to be a gentle, loving pony.  Her dad made a sled and harness so he could pull her around the yard.  He died after I was married." 

  This farm boy Clarence was a neighbor hood farmer who my father worked for and we all attended the same church at Elmira.  It was at his funeral I had been reconnected with Vonnie.  Again a full circle, I wish I had known this story about Clarence when I was a child.  When you are young it is hard to imagine older acquaintances as every being a child.   Not having many pleasant memories of my childhood I was very interested as well of jealous of Vonnie's memories.  Then as we were at the breakfast table I had a pleasant memory, I was very little and a elderly gentlemen had stopped by the house to take me and my dog fishing.  Evidently we were on the farm because we walked (our pasture was 80 acres of woods with a creek running thru it).  Could this be a memory I can pass onto my grandchildren?  The two of us walked along accompanied by my collie dog (seemed to go everywhere with me) When we reached the creek (even though the rest of the memory is foggy I can see this very clearly.  The creek makes a bend at this point, it is deeper with a tree hanging over it.  I used to swim here and in the winter we chopped thru the ice so the horses could drink.  Okay the cows too.)  the elderly gentlemen slipped on the steep bank and hit his head on a rock.  ( this isn't turning out well.)  he was dazed but conscious.  What was It going to do, I was so little.  His voice was weak and hard to make out.  I could barely make out his instructions to me.  "Send Lassie for help, Timmy!". Dam!  another borrowed TV memory.   I apologize, but I did have a collie dog named Susie our neighbor Dick raised them and gave one to my family.  On a serious note just think of your stories that would be of interest to your children or grandchildren.   I have heard somewhere (maybe Oprah) it's never to late to have a happy childhood, and in my case even if you have to borrow someone else's. 

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.