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.