Category: 2011 Out West Tour

  • Personal Victory Day #10!

      

    41 degrees upon rising today! I rode a horse for the first time in over 15 years—I got back on a horse again and lived to tell the story! I had a bad experience about 15 years ago when a horse bucked me, landed on my head and suffered a mild concussion.

    I rode “Lucky” who reminded me of Mr. Ed from the popular 1960s nonsensical TV sitcom (I loved that show!)  My patient wrangler-trainer, Bo, showed me the ropes (literally) and basics of holding the reins. He explained that I need to lean forward when climbing a hill and backward when descending. Paying attention to centering my balance over the horse is key to sticking with a horse. 

    We rode in the Absaroka Mountains (part of the Rockies)—the terrain proved up and down and round about. God provided just the right guide, horse, and timing!  

    ***

    Bo, our wrangler-trainer

  • Day #8 and #9 – out west tour

    Powder Pass, Big Horn Mountains (outside Buffalo, Wyoming) – elevation 9,600.  Temperatures started out at 61 and rose to in the 90s during the day.

    Lunch in Ten Sleep WY at the Crazy Woman Café. The name Ten Sleep got its name because it took ten nights to get from one camp to another.

    Earthy smell of pine trees which were thick on both sides of the road.

    Toured the Buffalo Bill Dam built in 1910. Amazing rush of waters held back by a 320 foot concrete wall providing power, irrigation plus a recreational lake, and much more. “Ranger” Alex drove us in his golf cart from the far end of the parking lot to the museum. Alex retired from military and this was now his Forest Gump job and he loved it!

    Day #9 – got to 32 degrees overnight! The cabin desk clerk says they’ve had frost before and some of the leaves have started to turn already.

    Drove through the eastern Yellowstone entrance doing the southern loop. Met our Grand Rapids, Michigan friends, Kathy and Ron, on the porch of Old Faithful Inn and watched our first showing of Old Faithful geyser. Saw a bear cross the road and bison in the fields—one bison walking along the edge of the road). Witnessed many thermal phenomena where sulfur hangs in the air.

     Love our cabin at Shoshone Lodge, just 3 miles away from the east Yellowstone entrance.

    Many I’ll get brave tomorrow and ride a horse…although I had a bad experience the last time I rode many years ago.

    ***

  • Day #7 – Out West Trip

    Steve & Teresa in front of Mt. Rushmore

    Morning started cool at 47 degrees; day ended in the upper 80s. Yesterday, I felt weak and half-sick, tired, no ambition. Pat (owner of Custer’s Mansion) suggested I was dealing with the high altitude and its adverse effects. Napped for a couple of hours and felt good enough to ride out to Mt. Rushmore for the night lights…which was totally worth the effort!  I know to drink LOTS of water and/or Gatorade.

    Devil’s Tower, Wyoming—location of film, Close Encounters of the Third Kind. Indian legend claims the line markings down the side of the granite was made by a bear’s scratches. The tower is sacred to some.

    “God is our refuge and strength, a very present help in trouble. Therefore we will not fear though the earth gives way, though the mountains be moved into the heart of the sea, though its waters roar and foam, though the mountains tremble at its swelling” (Psalm 46:1-3).

  • Days #5 & #6 – Out West Trip

    Day #5: Entering Black Hills, South Dakota – bear country (says a huge billboard)!  On Mountain Time zone now, which means two hours behind our normal time.

    Just the ride up Mt. Rushmore Highway to see Mt. Rushmore and the President’s faces was worth the ride. Seeing only pictures of the four men doesn’t do the monument justice. It’s true what they say: at least six sets of eyes followed me. Washington, Roosevelt, and Lincoln eyes seemed to follow me in the afternoon sun. Jefferson’s head, slightly tipped, didn’t appear to follow in the same manner.

    As I sat at the base of the monument in the outdoor amphitheatre alone in the hot afternoon sun, a few words came to mind. Democracy, decency, morality, pursuit of life, liberty and happiness. 

    Day #6: Arrived at Custer’s Mansion Bed & Breakfast a bit early (2:30). Swung on the blue swing in the yard until the owners came home. As soon as I walk the path to their front door, the heavy aromas of petunias tickle my nose. Netting is spread over all the flowers. Later, I learn deer tend to help themselves. Curious, since the building is near town and the highway runs along the front of the property line.  Tonight, Bob and Pat (our two delightful owners) will house 12 guests. Breakfast is served at 8:00 a.m.  2 from France + 4 teenagers; 2 from Switzerland, and 2 from Minnesota.  Delicious fare of fruit plate and almond pastery, fluffy French toast and sausage links.  Love their hospitality and home cooking! 

    In the evening, we rode our motorcycle back for the Mt. Rushmore night lights. What a spectacular sight when tribute was also made to all those who had served in the military from the past and present. They were asked to come to the amphitheatre stage and were given two standing ovations! 

    Next stop: Gillette, Wyoming

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  • Day #4 – out West trip

    Today we cross the border from Nebraska into South Dakota. Itinerary: Badlands and Wall Drug (Wall, South Dakota). 66 degrees (perfect traveling weather on the bike) and sunny. Temperatures will climb to the 90s before the day is done. Slept better because it was the first night there was no loud noises from above or drunks stumbling around in the hallway at 3:00 a.m.

    Toured the Badlands, South Dakota on our motorcycle and on foot. Appears like giant sandcastles built upward toward the sky. My mind is too finite to comprehend the Creator’s handiwork. Colorful layers, texture with barely any greenery in sight. Oh Lord, oh Lord, how majestic is your name! And to think, God, you created all this by merely speaking this wondrous landscape into existence.

    Motorcycles make up the majority of traffic. Many being ridden; some being trucked in and out for the big Sturgis bike rally. Motorcycles-motorcycles-motorcycles EVERYWHERE we roam.

    Today, storm clouds with lightening traveled in front of us, then away from us. We were hit with a little rain. As soon as the front moved on, the wind picked up. Most of the day, we’d experienced tremendous forceful wind on the front side, moved to a head wind, shaking the bike side to side. My teeth, head, and jaws ached—maybe it was due to clenching my jaw so tightly? We only had about ten miles to reach our motel. At one time, clumps of tumbleweed flew across our path under and in front of us. Thank you, God, for your mighty hand of protection over us by missing the storm and keeping us and the bike on the road.

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  • Day #3 of our journey

    Left Omaha, Nebraska. Windy day – helmet and bike buffeted about.  Road construction zones – feel every bump, grove and inconsistency in the pavement. Travel day – passed through Hazard, Nebraska; pop. 66. Cornfields and a lot nothing to report – wide, open spaces. Many trains and cars loaded with coal.

    Contour changing from flat to texture and hilly. Less and less cornfields and more open spaces. Camper blew tire, tire smoking just before tire blew and a chunk of rubber skidded across the yellow line. Thankful the tire just missed us! 

    ***

  • Day #2 of our Journey

    We did see corn, corn, and did I mention corn (again)? And soybean fields galore. Iowa—feels like I’m coming home even though we don’t plan on meeting family members. Most have either died or moved to other locations throughout the U.S.

     I hear that “Sarah Palin will re-launch her “One Nation” bus tour in Iowa tomorrow; the same day that Republican presidential contenders will take the stage for a debate in Ames, Iowa.”  Plus, Obama turns up the volume in campaign. Iowa must be the place to be! And here we are.

    But I was more interested in eating at the alley Canteen in downtown Ottumwa, established 1930s. I haven’t been to Ottumwa for at least 25 years. Radar, from the TV show Mash and I share the same birthplace. I wonder if the donut shop will still be there—the one Grandpa, Karen (my sister) and I visited when we visited Grandpa and Grandma. Maybe I’ll get some more memoir writing material while in town.

    Nearly all the seats in the diner are full and the screen door constantly opens and closes. Some order in; many order out. One friendly employee said she’d been working there for 17 years; Flo has been there for over 30 years.

    What’s a canteen you ask?  A loose meat hamburger in a bun ordered wet or dry. Wet choices: ketchup, mustard, pickle and onion.  Steve topped his off with a slice of fresh peach pie ala mode. Nothing beats a canteen!  They are the best…now, I can die happy. 

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  • Day #1 of our journey

    We made it 370 miles and landed in Muscatine, Iowa traveling through four states (Michigan, Indiana, Illinois and Iowa). The first thing I heard upon entering the city was the sound of locust armies—very loud and annoying.

    Beautiful day for travel beginning the day at 61 cool degrees. Saw temps rise to 88 degrees later in the day. Breakfast at Cracker Barrel (one of my favorites) in Stevensville, Michigan where the waitress knocked my tall water glass and water and shattered glass hit the floor like a shotgun.

    By 2:00 p.m., I felt a bit toasty in stop-and-go traffic on black, fresh asphalt in the middle of a 17-mile construction zone. It might be because I still wore black leathers and long johns for the chilly early morning hours.

    Around 3:00 p.m., we crossed over into Iowa—my birth state!  Traveling downtown, we discovered Riverside Park bordering the famous Mississippi River. My sights immediately went to a small marina the edge of the park where houseboats proved most popular.

    Dinner; then headed back to the motel. Early to bed since we’re both tired from being out in the sun and wind all day. Good night to all!

    ***

  • Today’s the Day!

    Road trip day – soon to begin.  Anticipation high and somewhat difficult to sleep. After tossing some in the early morning hours – decided it was time to rise and shine (even though the sun had not.)  My mind/brain kept adding just one more thing to do or cram into my bags.

    This evening: Muscatine, Iowa (355 miles from Grand Rapids, Michigan).  Plan to post again when arrive at our destination with Internet access. Until then, blessings to you all this day. 

    “The Lord turn his face toward you and give you peace” (Numbers 6:26).

    ***