second shoulder this year..installed October 16

A Summer of Gardens ... managed by Marnie

We installed about 70 plants including:

 

Laurel and Forsythia from Mother's Day

 

Karl Foerster Feather Reed Grass

 

Lavender and Russian Sage

 

 

Grasses and Mums

 

Russian Sage

 

Butterfly Bush

 

 

Russian Sage and Lavender

....and Marnie has tended all summer...now preparing to cut things back this Fall

 

 

 

 

Last trip of the summer '13

West Fall Trip   8.25 - 9.8.13
BMW '12 1200GS


Week One .... On the road again by bike
Day 1 - Sunday - 8.25 -    ... to Marshfield (my hometown)
STR CTY: MADISON  
STR MLS: 5720  
END CTY: MARSHFIELD  
END MLS: 5877  
DLY MLS: 150 MILES  
TOT MLS: 150 MILES  
TIME     : 1.75 HOURS  
NOTES   :      N WOOD CO PARK
Went to 8:00 church and left home at 10:15. 150 miles, arriving at 1:00, on roads thru rural Wisconsin. I stopped at North Wood County Park where dad figured how to turn the mud bottom swim pool into sand, where we went for Boy Scout jamborees, and where youth had a sunrise service for the church on Easters.  Temperatures reached 94 deg by the time I arrived, and it feels like 98.  Accidentally took Marnie's bracelet with me so I am looking to ship it home, did so overnite USPS. Very hot riding around town to see homes, lo & hi schools, friends' homes, church, Hefko pool, Wildwood park, and new areas never before seen. Came to MFLD, SwampyMeadows, partly to eat at the Japanese restaurant and had great ribeye plus all the fix'ins. Ate with Amanda and Ryan from Spencer celebrating a year of dating. When I lived here the population was about 12-13K and now 19-20K. Helmet gave me a headache twice and both shoulders ached more than on my other bike..Arms are spread wider I think!



Day 2 - Monday - 8.26  ..To the North Woods/Mississippi River
STR CTY: MARSHFIELD  
STR MLS: 5900  
END CTY: BEMIDJI, MN  
END MLS: 6286  
DLY MLS: 394 MILES  
TOT MLS: 544 MILES  
TIME     : 6.5 HOURS  
NOTES   :      94-OVERCAST
Up at 5:30 to beat the heat and on the bike at 6:32.. Overcast and mid 70s. The overcast lasted til 11 and then the heat rose, topping out in Brainerd at noon at 94. 100 miles further the cloud cover returned and temp to 89 degrees with heat index of 104. After crossing into MN I was on a detour along the St Croix River- beautiful with turkeys and other animal life. When I got north to Mille Lacs ("thousand lakes") county and to Brainerd I was within close proximity to a lake or two all along. At the HIexp by 2 to cool down with a swim. Bemidji has 13K and BSU is 5400. Rode 394 miles in 6.5 hours. Arms were better, headaches were minimal, but upper back was painful for about 50 miles. After resting I went for a tour of the city, the origins of the Mississippi River, the tour agency and Bemidji State University. Ate an omelet at Perkins-across the street cuz it was raining.

Day 3 - Tuesday - 8.27 ...
Out of the Woods, across the valley, onto the Prairie
STR CTY: BEMIDJI, MN  
STR MLS: 6286  
END CTY: IPSWICH, SD  
END MLS: 6646  
DLY MLS: 361 MILES  
TOT MLS: 905 MILES  
TIME     : 6.25 HOURS  
NOTES   :      94

Leaving the rolling, treed land with small fields and fallow spaces (Hwy 71-34).. Down and across the Red River Valley, green and table-top flat (Hwy 94-11)... on to North and South Dakota with its crop lands and open spaces (cross country - 281)... Bemidji to Fargo to Ipswich... Had to add oil! Discovered I forgot my nite meds and a pharmacist in Aberdeen would not give me an emergency 14 til Marnie could send some. Went to the Physician Assistant, Rayanne Waage and her assistant (Sam),at Avera health in Ipswich and after screening they got me a 14 day script in town. Mid 60s at 7am and 90+ by noon in Aberdeen and 94 degrees by Ipswich. 351 miles in 6.25 hours. Two towns I went thru were consumed by factory buildings.. Jennie-O turkey processing in Barron, WI and Bobcat in Gwinner, ND. Off to get my meds, eat and ride to Roscoe in 99 degree heat. Ate in Roscoe and went to see the house and the grave yard to say hello. Everyone is working here..hotel is full with Hispanic workers building grain elevators, my waitress was a sophomore at Roscoe HS, and the nite clerk here is an Ipswich freshmen and athlete. Roscoe high school sophomore class is 6 students and the school is held four days per week due to budget problems. The girl moved to Roscoe with her parents for work at Adee bee/honey from CA. This whole area appears very prosperous.

Day 4 - Wednesday - 8.28 .... West young man, go west ...
STR CTY: IPSWICH, SD  
STR MLS: 6646  
END CTY: MILES CITY, MT  
END MLS: 7050
DLY MLS: 405 MILES  
TOT MLS: 1310 MILES  
TIME     : 6.5 HOURS  
NOTES   :      90S
South Dakota, North Dakota and Montana .....
Up at 6 to thunderstorms, back to bed til 7:30 and mild rain. Left at 8:15 for breakfast in Roscoe and visits. Temperatures were in the 70's and chilling, then to the comfortable 80s in ND and finally 90s as I crossed into MT. South Dakota looks like a bread basket. West of the Missouri River was 60% grass lands and grazing.. 40% crops, mostly hay. Toward MT crops were non- existent and dried up. Lots of cattle all the way. Very lonely on Hwy #12, the Yellowstone Trail, with very little traffic..so a nice ride. 405 miles to Miles City in 6.25 hours. Intersect here with the Yellowstone River. Ached but no headaches. Severe weather warnings here, but nothing showed. Small portion of good ribs and two salads for dinner.

Day 5 - Thursday - 8.29 ….On The Yellowstone Trail to Helena
STR CTY: MILES CITY, MT  
STR MLS: 7050  
END CTY: HELENA, MT  
END MLS: 7410  
DLY MLS: 385 MILES  
TOT MLS: 1662 MILES  
TIME     : 5 HOURS  
NOTES   :      91K  57K  59K
Have ridden Hwy# 12 to Helena... 385 miles in 5.5 hours. Started at below 2400' and rose over 5900' to 4k+ here. Temperature did not reach the 90s until the last 15 miles. Most of the terrain was dry-brown except the irrigated and planted fields (less than 40%). Very few autos, some pickups, and generally very good road. Stopped at Ingomar (miserable little town on side road) to talk with an elderly man training up a team of horses. Many other very nice rural communities all along 12. After a great salad at the Silver Star I gassed up. Upon starting, the "lampf!" Lite came on and my low beam was out. I discovered the metal retaining spring had broken and must be replaced.

Day 6 - Friday - 8.30   ....  Getting my lite fixed!
STR CTY: HELENA, MT  
STR MLS: 7410  
END CTY: CODY, WY  
END MLS: 7748  
DLY MLS: 340 MILES  
TOT MLS: 2002 MILES  
TIME     : 6.5 HOURS  
NOTES   :      8800 3 Con Div
5am got a list of BMW dealers, stored the lite to keep it safe, and began looking for service. Took bulb out and stored it so it would not be a problem all day. Parts people said I need a whole lite assembly housing as the $1 spring is not a separate item.  Arranged for an evaluation in Boise for Tuesday am (9.3) and hopefully they have the part somewhere or can order by 10 AM (9.4 Kelzie's birthday) the next am. Then I can go onto Bend, OR. Started at 4k' and backtracked on 12 to 287 to West Yellowstone and then into Yellowstone and onto Old Faithful. Rode up the Missouri River til the Madison River came in and followed the Madison into Yellowstone National Park. It had just erupted so it would take another 90 ' which I did not want to sit for. Saw on elk, a herd of buffalo 1/2 mile away, and get caught in a traffic jam where a bunch of buffalos were walking down the road. Crossed the Continental Divide (with no big announcement) twice in Yellowstone, once over 8800', making the summer total of 22 CD crossings. I left OF and rode across the park and downhill to Cody. At the HI for the most expensive nite this year.... Went to my nice restaurant for beer and steak I remembered fondly. It was overrun by tourists and the steak was not worth writing about. Getting tired of the road...

Day 7 - Saturday 8.31. Chief Joseph, Beartooth, & Red Lodge
Turned out to be an amazing, phenomenal day for bike riding..the best terrain in America.
STR CTY: CODY, WY  
STR MLS: 7748  
END CTY: IDAHO FALLS, ID  
END MLS: 8131  
DLY MLS: 379 MILES  
TOT MLS: 2381 MILES  
TIME     : 8 HOURS  
NOTES   :      10980
Thot I would have a short day 113 miles, just riding to Red Lodge over Chief Joseph Highway and Beartooth Pass.... BUT... I went over 8800' on Chief Joseph and had dramatic scenery throughout and cold like in the hi 60s. Went over Beartooth and 10980' in 54 degree cold - more clothes. I got to Red Lodge about noon, the motel I was going to stay








at was full, and I was not tired. I drank coffee and decided to get back to West Yellowstone and stay there, but still wasn't done riding, so I came onto Idaho Falls for the nite. Crossed the Continental
Divide again near West Yellowstone, #23 this summer. So I rode 379 miles (instead of the planned 113) in 8 hours, a lot below 50 mph. Here exhausted. I decided to skip bike repairs until I get home as I stabilized the problem and it can wait. Therefore, I will go to Bend on Monday and leave Wednesday after a rest/cleaning day. I do not know about the Boise State game yet on 9.7. Added oil today.

Week Two . On the road again by bike and almost West
Day 8 - Sunday - 9.1-  .... On to Boise...
STR CTY: IDAHO FALLS, ID  
STR MLS: 8131  
END CTY: BOISE, ID  
END MLS: 8473  
DLY MLS: 340 MILES  
TOT MLS: 2720 MILES  
TIME     : 6 HOURS  
NOTES   :    51 TO 95 44 DEGREES
Now one day ahead of planned schedule..
Added oil yesterday and not as disciplined for daily activities as usual. Need to get more rest and organization. Left at 8am in 51 degree temperature. Rode to Arco on 20 and then 93 to Challis. The only commercial fields had to be irrigated and the rest is scrub gradually getting into the Sawtooth Range.. At Challis I hit the Salmon River and 70 miles on winding hwy 75- beautiful. At Stanley I hit hwy 21 and went into the Sawtooth rough terrain, arriving in Boise in 94 degree temperature. At low elevation the temp was high while as I rose to over 6k' the temps were tolerable. The ride was interesting, challenging, and beautiful.  Got to the motel and relaxed before touring the Capitol area and BSU. Boise is great, state Capitol, 205k, and the nicest Whole Foods I've seen. A day of the second best ride on this trip. Need sleep.

Day 9 - Monday (Labor Day) - 9.2 ..Bend and the Downing’s
STR CTY BOISE, ID  
STR MLS: 8473  
END CTY: BEND, OR  
END MLS: 8815  
DLY MLS: 321 MILES  
TOT MLS: 3041 MILES  
TIME     : 5 HOURS
Downings are old friends from IU and our doctoral program. Jerry had me teach in the summer at UN-Reno, we took backpack trips and skied in the Sierras with the family, and he helped me get a job at FSA in Chico. Start at 8:15 at 4k'. The first 50 miles were on the freeway and then 40 miles of irrigated truck and grain farms. Then unexpectedly, I went to 6k' and thru mountains, not part of the mental picture memory of my last trip thru here on '07. Finally, at Burns, OR rain (very unusual) started and continued for the next 30 miles, and after the flat 4k' desert scrub lasted for the 130 miles to Bend. Forgot about the time change and got here early. Doing laundry now and shaved. Shirley Downing Morrissey and I spent the first 3 hours catching up on who we know and how they are doing.  This evening will be dinner out with Shirley, John and Julie and the girls, and the Shorters (Julie's parents).

Day 10 - Tuesday - 9.3...   Rest Day in Bend
STR CTY: BEND, OR  
STR MLS: 8815  
END CTY: BEND, OR  
END MLS: REST DAY  
DLY MLS: SHIRLEY DOWNING’S    

Washed clothes, washed bike, got gas-oil, napped and relaxed for the day. 5:30 to dinner at Julie/John's.








Day 11 - Wednesday - 9.4 ......On the way east...
STR MLS: 8818  
END CTY: ELY, NV  
END MLS: 9477   D
LY MLS: 650 MILES  
TOT MLS: 3691 MILES  
TIME     : 10.5 HOURS  
NOTES   :    38- 94 DEG

Left Shirley's at 7am in 54 degree weather... Suddenly I was in fog and 38 degrees... And later in the day 56 degrees higher, at 94. Stopped at the restaurant in Paisley and had an omelet to ward off the deep freeze I felt. From Paisley to Denio on 140. I needed gas there but the pumps were out of service and I only had 50 remaining miles of gas to make 77 miles.. With a 1/2 gallon of siphoned gas from a state highway worker, I made the 77 miles to north of Winnemucca. At Winn. I turned east on I80 and thru construction to Carlin and fuel. Then south to Eureka in the rain and then east on 50 to Ely. 650 miles in 10.25 hrs (compared to my last trip here in July of 654 miles in 11.25 hrs from San Francisco). I started at 4k', went over 6k many times and peaked at above 7k'. The terrain went from mountains, to sand dunes, to deserts, to grasslands, to coniferous forests, to valleys with irrigation, and to volcanic moon-scapes. Roads ran straight, wandered thru mountain passes, 80mph on interstates and slow thru many burgs. No animals except cattle. Varying states of cold, wet, dirty, hot and tired. In a $38 terrible, smelly motel tonite with thundering rain and flash flood warnings. Did not use any points tonite. Thru all these rides I have noticed that an increase in elevation brought an increase in shoulder pain. This effect is magnified by lower temperatures. Julie Downing thinks the elevation causes edema and the swelling causes more pain on damaged body parts.










Day 12 - Thursday - 9.5. South to Zion and Bryce NP
STR CTY: ELY, NV  
STR MLS: 9477  
END CTY: TORREY, UT  
END MLS: 9929  
DLY MLS: 448 MILES  
TOT MLS: 4139 MILES  
TIME     : 7.5 HOURS  
NOTES   :    9900    9600 EL
Left at 7:30.. The LaQuita Motel, that turned me down cuz it was full, was having breakfast. So instead of MickeyDs, I stopped in for a bite. Sat with four 1/2 ironman from Boise going to Las Vegas for the world championships -great breakfast but not as good as exp's. rode 200 miles south on 93 thru the Great Basin area. Turned toward Cedar City and down to Zion NP. Rode all of Zion at this entrance and went back to CC. Turned on to 14 and went over 9900' on great winding road- nice ride. Then north on 89 to 12 and Bryce Canyon...problem here is every view area requires a walk from parking.. Difficult ... So after a couple photos I moved on on 12.. First, I went thru 60 miles of canyon land with multiple colors and water-shape rock walls. Second I went to 9600 feet and thru birch forests. Finally, I entered coniferous forest and dropped to 4k' at Torrey UT for the nite- staying at the Best Western with a room/balcony view. Great ride today...tied for second this trip. Dinner at a steakhouse, unknowingly recommended to me by the chef’s girlfriend. 450 miles in 7.5 hrs - 1100 in last two days and 4139 total.. No rain, sunshine all day and moderated temperatures.

Day 13 - Friday - 9.6    On to Colorado at Gunnison
STR CTY: TORREY, UT  
STR MLS: 9929  
END CTY: GUNNISON, CO  
END MLS: 10419  
DLY MLS: 482 MILES  
TOT MLS: 4622 MILES  
TIME     : 7.49 HOURS  
NOTES   :    9900 8500 X2
My morning view from my room... Left at 8am in nice weather west on 24 to Hanksville. South on 95... 32 miles down the road I discovered my back bag was missing. I retracted 64 round trip to no avail. Moved on thru Glen Canyon NP and Natural Bridges monument, saw great rock walls and high mountains until north on 191 to Monticello. Then east on 141 to Nucla and down 145 to Ridgville over 9900' pass on 62. Then north to Montrose on 550 to east on 50 and over 2 8500' passes and 10 miles of construction in one pass to Gunnison, CO. Temperatures rose to 94 but varied depending on elevation. Much shoulder pain at higher elevations. 448 miles in 7.5 hrs and 4139 total.. bike passed 10k miles.

Day 14 - Saturday - 9.7..... On to the east of here.
STR CTY: GUNNISON, CO  
STR MLS: 10418  
END CTY: KEARNEY, NE  
END MLS: 11081  
DLY MLS: 658 MILES  
TOT MLS: 5280 MILES  
TIME     : 10.5 HOURS
NOTES   :    11.3X2// 12.2
A day of temperatures and elevations. 41 degrees at 7750 feet elevation when I left Gunnison at 7am in nice sun. In 50 miles I went over Monarch Pass and the Continental Divide (for the 24th time this summer). It was actually warmer at 11300+ feet at 54 degrees and it was colder as I went down. Then I went over another 11300 pass between Leadville and the Interstate. Did not hit 60+ degrees for 180 miles when I finally turned east. There I went over 13200 feet with hundreds of other cars and hordes of people - beautiful and dramatic. When I got to Loveland and Greely the elevation was 4k' and over 90 degrees. From 1pm til 7pm the temperature was in the hundreds and peaked at 3:00 at 104 degrees. I made myself stop every 50 miles and drink 24 ounces of fluid in each period. When the sun got to my back and the wind mellowed later in the afternoon riding got more comfortable and I planned to be more than 1/2 way home from Gunnison before I stopped. Rode 658 miles in 10.5 hours for a trip (total a mile 5280 miles) and 585 to get home. Added oil late today. BBQ for dinner. Had an email from Lisa Prince of Reno that they picked up my lost bag...they will mail it back Monday.

Day 15 -Sunday - 9.8....  Home ..Home ..I hope
STR CTY: KEARNEY, NE  
STR MLS: 11081  
END CTY: HOME  
END MLS: 11684  
DLY MLS: 599 MILES  
TOT MLS: 5879 MILES  
TIME     : 8.25 HOURS  
Left at 7:30 due to fog. Fog for 1.5 hours and then mild mid 60 to mid 70s. It went to 85 in afternoons but the closer I got to home the cooler it got...76 degrees. I hate this run for it without scenery or turning riding.  Rode I80 as fast as I could.. 599 miles in  8.25 hours and 5879 total - MN, ND, SD, MT, WY, ID, OR, NV, UT, CO, NE, IA, & WI.

Spring to Hilton Head.    4712 miles
Mid summer west.       10444 miles
Fall West.                  5879 miles
TOTAL SUMMER '13     21035 miles

COST TOTAL 14 nites 15 days 5879 miles
          $1739.63 115.98 .30
FUEL $ 501.86 33.46 .09
ROOM       $ 829.08 59.22 .14
FOOD $ 345.67 23.04 .06
MISC $ 63.02   4.20 .01

Garage Project - Summer 2013..

April 28 - Sunday

Moved decorative plants and pads for plant pots.

April 29 - Monday

Mike Fountain layed out and dug the 10x20 foot foundation for the addition to the garage. Issues : design approved v. thot, electric and water lines for watering system, landscape edging out, and tree transplant. Lite rain at 1:00. Delivers digger and carrier. Moved arbor vitae tree. Who knows... Mike Fountain did not return after his physician's appointment yesterday.

April 30 - Tuesday

Lite rain over nite... Should dig today anyway.... Dug footer 4' wide and 5' deep, must be below 3'6" for the freeze line.  If not rain, footer tomorrow... 83 high.

 May 3 - Friday

Rain and 36, so NO Footer built and filled. 

May 7 - Tuesday

Got green card from the building inspector saying we can form and pour when ready.

May 8 - Wednesday

Came mid afternoon and formed the footer.. Then at 4:30 it was poured in spite of red card from the Inspector who came at 1:00

May 9 - Thursday

Remove forms for footers and install wall forms. Rain started at 9:00. Formed and poured by 2:30 in mild sprinkle. Re-inspected and approved.

May 10 - Friday

Forms off the walls.. Tuesday to back fill.. Told Ben (sprinkler man) so he could reconnect the watering system . Tip $60

May 14 - Tuesday

Dirt hauled, backfill, gravel into interior of addition foundation by Mike.

May 15 - Wednesday

Poured the floor about 3:00 and finished at 8:00. Tip $20

May 16 - Thursday

Sprayed sealant on concrete

May 17 - Friday

Rain.. Mike worked out roofline with architectural committee.

May 20 - Monday

Framing was to begin.  Trash wagon came.. No carpenters showed

May 21-Tuesday
Wood is delivered and visit from Kris.

 May 22 - Wednesday

Kris and crew of 3 started at 8am.. Opened up, eaves off and ready to beam the opening by noon.   Moved wall.. Too tall and angle to joists were too tall... Frustration.

May 23 - Thursday

Up at 2 am... Pissed and frustrated over addition.  Emailed Mike and got a 8:30 meeting with him and Kris. Did not look as bad as we thought and they guaranteed finishing so not so high and eyesore.  More comfortable. Staying away from construction.  Wall and rafters in and covered.  Tyvek covered. Tomorrow odds and ends and roofer.

May 24 - Friday

Two workers finish overhang on south... And some other odds and ends. Finished closing in and adding hanger boards. Then late the guy came to seal the roof and put on the metal sides... Roof shingles tomorrow.

May 25 - Saturday

Working on shingles most of the day...

May 26 - Sunday

Worked on roofing and flashing... Out of material so cannot finish until Tuesday

May 28 - Tuesday

Steve the electrician coming for wiring and plugs. Plumber, Nick, coming for toilet and outside spigot in back of house. Eric here to order inspection of framing and electrical.

May 30 - Thursday

Inspection completed and ready to insulate and electrify.

June 1 - Saturday
Eric and the insulation person to insulate today... Eric 3/helper 2

June 7- 14

Interior drywall installed and finished

June 20 week

Finish dry wall... Painting ... Down spout for emergency drainage on deadend gutter

July 6
Kris worked all day and at least until 8:10 on facia and soffit.

July 9 - Tuesday
Fritz (landscaper) called this AM. We are doing a walk-around Thursday afternoon to discuss the schedule and plan. Special ordered siding shingles to arrive at Brunsell today and Kris is to start installing Thursday after painting them tomorrow.

July 10 - Wednesday

No call from Kris confirming tomorrow's installation.

July 11 - Thursday
Message from Kris that our shingles did not arrive on Tuesday and should come in tomorrow. If so, Kris will paint them over the weekend and possibly install Monday and/or Tuesday.

Good afternoon meeting with Fritz, the landscaper to begin developing a plan

July 14, 15, 16 - Sunday, Monday, Tuesday

Siding by Kris after an overwhelming 2 days  of cutting, sanding and some painting of the shingles.

July 14 - Sunday

Ben is scheduled to come tomorrow eve to start the sprinkler system and set it to run 1 X per wk.

July 15 - Monday
Kris and assistant Dan worked all day installing and painting shingles and horizontal board.

July 16 - Tuesday

Kris and Dan finished touch-up and garden wagon bed, uncovered light bulb, installed interior window frames. Done at 11:30. Dan $20 tip,  Kris $80 for extra work beyond contract. Kris gave us all the paint cans and cleaned up pretty well. I organized the leftover boards, primed both sides of the wagon bed and prepared the garage floor for scrubbing to remove construction mud and drywall mud.

July 18 - Thursday

The garage floor is done except for one last spray down and vacuum. Got mud and most drywall mud up.  I will finish the garage tomorrow morning then move all the cars in late day after it dries.

July 19 - Friday

Steve here to hang fluorescent light in addition, install all sockets and covers including outside. Dismantled inoperative light fixture in our bathroom - socket is shot. He recommends taking to Madison Lighting for repair.  No extra charge for his work today.

July 22 - Monday

Meet with Mike re landscaping. Results: Fritz will do all the work, including the yard repair. We pay Mike $400 total and he'll pay Fritz for labor and materials. No paver wall will be used, as originally thought.

July 23 - Tuesday

Rick home from trip west

July 25, 26 - Thursday, Friday
Landscaping by Fritz

August 19

Grass is up, having been watered daily since July 26 (3 1/2 wks). Some areas were overseeded to cover spots where birds ate the grass seed that wasn't adequately  covered by straw.

The shop to the right ... The garage below with the addition in the right pix where the ABC sports flag, which Marnie  "procured" while in college, hanging on the wall and the motorcycles are parked.

 

Week Five and Home

West 2013 - WEEK FIVE.   .... Last steps before heading home.
Day 29 - Monday - 7.22.13 ....... to the Dust Bowl and beyond
Across Texas..Oklahoma..Kansas..and into Missouri..!  Up at 6 and riding at 7.. North thru the Texas panhandle and 68 miles into the Oklahoma panhandle.   Guymon and Boise City are the principal cities/towns from which the Dust Bowl emanated. Boise City is quite dumpy with the local county court house as the middle of town. As I searched the town for the advertised museum I hit one of their storm water swells and dumped my phone, cracking the whole glass face - tho it worked ok thereafter. Then I took Hwy# 64 60 miles to Guymon, a much more prosperous location, but not a place I would like to live without 50000 acres of land. The soil in the OK panhandle is sandy and rocky with none of the humus soil found in SD. The land, for the major part, was much more level and flatter than SD.  Then I continued for a ways before I put in home and started driving. I turned NE on 54 to Wichita, KS where I caught I 35 north and 335 toll to Kansas City(s). Then around to the north and the HIexp in Liberty where it was 97 degrees upon arrival. 604 miles in 8.5 hours and a total of 9979 total. 475 miles home tomorrow, the 30th day.... 1145 miles in the last two days from Austin to KC.

Day 30 - Tuesday - 7.23.13.   ..HOME HOME HOME
448 miles in 6.25 hours home thru Missouri, Iowa and Wisconsin and 1052 miles in the last two days.. Thru 20 states - wi, mn, sd, co, wy, id, mt, Alberta, British Columbia, wa, or, ca, nv, ut, nm, tx, ok, ks, mo, and ia. Cool today, first under the cold front moving south and then behind the front in bright sunny coolness. Picked up two new chin strap hooks at J&P. Home by 2:30 to empty bike for equipment storage and wash. The new garage was waiting for me.

DATA.          Total.       Per day.      Per unit

OVERALL        $4156.44     For 30 days / $138.55 per day
W/out service   $3340        $111.33/day
MILES GPS      10444        348/day, did not ride 5 days, 417 miles
MILES odom     10989        Going to dinner, for gas, etc.
FUEL             $ 991.71     $33.06      46.44 miles, average MPG
ROOM            $1775.72    $71.02
BOARD           $ 423.58     $16.38
TRAVEL          $ 835.00     Including $816 service- Austin Lone Star
MISC             $ 130.43     Tolls, etc.

Week Four on trip West

Week Four of the Trip West

Day 22 - Monday - 7.15.13...... going to Colorado & Mountains
Up at 6 and off at 7:15 on Hwy 128 which runs along the south side of Arches NP and the Colorado River. Then  I 70 which runs to Grand Junction and Whitewater Colorado again intercepting the Colorado River at it source. Then I turned south down # 141-145 past our first uranium mine and the first Super fund cleanup site.
The canyon narrowed and the sides were sheer.  On the way to Ridgway on #62 I crossed a 9k' pass. At Ridgway I turned onto Hwy 550 to Ouray and  Durango. Ouray is such a beautiful place... I could live there! After Ouray I went over three major passes -  the first pass was 11081' almost on the divide,  the second was 10.9' and the third was 10.2'. I have no picture of the third pass as it was raining like hell. I slowed and all the cars I had passed, passed me. Beyond Ouray was where I took a great riding picture of Marnie. The clouds held but the rain ceased after 20 miles. It was dry into Durango so I moved on. But another downpour re-soaked me, so I stopped for an hour along with 10 other riders. When the rain let up a little, I pressed on to Pagosa Springs (short of my goal of South Fork). Dried out and dried my clothes. 7500+ feet having ridden 401 miles in 7.4 hours and 7446 overall. Dinner at a closeby bar... Finally warm... I have decided to go home and after the building project is completed we will take a car to go to Austin cuz I am tired and it is very warm in Texas.

Day 23 - Tuesday - 7.16.13   .....on to the Divides...
Up at 6 and ready by 7:15.. Wolf Creek Pass.. 10,856' ...1st divide......I rode it in Oct '11 on the way to California. then... Spring Creek Divide... at 10898'... On  Hwy 149.... Which is the head waters area for the Rio Grande.
Then ... a higher pass- Slumguillon - but not a divide... 11530'


Then the third divide - Monarch Pass - which Marnie and I rode years ago... 11312'... On Hwy 50..

And finally, 20 miles from Aspen and the highest... 12095'... On Hwy 82..

These 4 bring the total to 19 Divide rides, including an Arctic and a canyon Divide. One more tomorrow before leaving the Rockies.

Rode two passes - Wolf Creek on 160 and Spring Creek on 149.  Monarch on 50 and Independence on 82 .... In Gunnison tonite..got here and checked into HIexp by noon, gassed up and went to ride two more passes ... Colorado amazingly green compared to it neighbors in both direction. WV was know for rusting junk cars in the yard..they do not exits in WV however .. but there are rusting, old junk vehicles and equipment around the ranches in CO and NM. 429 miles in 8 hours and a total of 7871 miles. News now and the Tour later...Changed my mind and will go to Austin to visit Kelzie- Taos...Guymon..Abilene.. Austin.... Gunnison is 7700 feet high and I slept very well.

Day 24 - Wednesday - 7.17.13.   To the Dust Bowl area of Oklahoma
Changed my mind when I realized I was only 600 miles from Austin and I could get service on Friday- so I turned south, went cross country, and ended in Lubbock which is 388 miles from Lone Star BMW.

Up at 6:30 and off at 7:45 finding my gps power did not come on. Finagled til I got power and fixed it tonite - broken wire. Chilly but bright. 30 miles down the road I went over my 20th divide ride - 10135' over North Cochetopa Pass. Rode on to Hwy# 285 and Alamosa and on to #64 to Taos all above 6K'. Before Taos I crossed the Rio Grande gorge- unbelievably deep, but no picture as I could not walk back to the middle of the long bridge. Then into the San Christo Mountains #64 and went over a pass of 9100' and 8500'. Passed Philmont, the Boy Scout reservation, alone the desert area. Thereafter, the terrain changed and the fields had a grass cover without desert fauna and was on the Prairie after Cimarron, NM. When I checked my gps I discover I was only 600 miles from Austin, much closer by 300 miles than I had guessed, so I called and moved my schedule for service up to Friday. Will go to Guymon on the way home. I rode to Clovis NM and crossed into TX. Then it began to rain and I was rewetted many time in the next 180 miles to Lubbock. It is raining hard so I can't go to dinner.  588 miles in 9.5 hours of riding to a total of 8459 miles.

Day 25 - Thursday - 7.18.13.    On to Austin and Kelzie's.
Up at 4:47 cuz on the western edge of the Central time zone in Lubbock of which I was unaware. Misting rain at the start but quickly cleared. Texas has good roads and great speed limits, but beyond that it has nothing for which it should be a state- the territory of texas.... The closer to Austin the higher the temperature as I rode cross country on state roads according to my gps. I rode thru a windmill farm of thousands of fans generating electricity... I have never seen so many in one location. Once I checked my bike into Lone Star BMW for service, I had to wait for Kelzie's arrival...what part of six messages that I would arrive at 3:00 did the kid not understand. Rode 388 miles in 5.25 hrs and 8800+ overall. As I was standing there my glasses lens fell out... We scoured the town for a glasses place for repair and found it across the street from K's apartment. Checked up on emails and did laundry. Which Wich for dinner..umh!

Days 26-27 - Friday and Saturday - 7.19-20.13
Nice days with much discussion about the future. Breakfast of frozen cherries, granola and my yogurt was great. Kelzie rode her bike inside for 1 hour...her workouts are shortened due to injuries in a running fall on Thursday around the lake. She went for her massage after dropping me at Lone Star to get my bike.. I think good service but $816 cost. Went to dinner Friday at a salad bar to counter the Which Wich item Thursday.

Saturday started late and after Kelzie ran outside for an hour and I gassed my bike. Then we went for a ride around the Capitol, University of Texas, and several neighborhoods. After cooling off since Nook's car does not include AC Kelzie went to get her hair cut. Dinner was at the County Line BBQ restaurant - stuffed unhealthfully. Then we watched the Tour..bed early.


Day 28 - Sunday - 7.21.13
Up at 5:30 and off at 6:45 with the help of Kelzie. 90 degrees by noon and 93 by 3 with high humidity. I find no redeeming value in Texas- politically of geographically - for me, after riding 1000 miles in TX. The roads are not bad, the speed limits are good, and Nook lives here - the only redeeming things. Went thru many small communities off the major roads ... 50% of the structures in the communities are abandoned..what a mess.. It does not look like Texas has the same economy about which Perry is out advertising in other states.... Depressing... Except for Dumas which is bustling because of a new pipeline. Went thru another very large fan farm. Tried to get as close as possible to Boise City so I can turn east thru the source area of the Dust Bowl.. 541 miles in 7.5 hours and a total of 9375 miles. So I shall arise early and ride 90 miles for that start... Nice to be resting and cool here in Dumas, TX HIexp. Gas tonite after dinner.

END OF WEEK FOUR

XX

TRIP WEST - week three

BEGINNING OF WEEK THREE

Day 15 - Monday - 7.8.13... on to Mt St. Helens and Portland

Up at 6 and trying to make contact with Hustons. Finally found Alka Seltzer cough and cold so cold symptoms are mitigated. Called Russell and cannot get my seat worked on in Shasta Lake, CA. Left at 8 on Hwy 12 for 50 miles going over White Pass at 4500'. I  went 25 miles on 131 to the turn off for a great view of Mount Rainier.. 

Along the road were beautiful flowers wherever the sunlite could get thru the unusually dense forest...close, tall, interlaced trees.

Up FS99 for 15 miles one gets varying views of Mt St Helens......

Along the way you see thousands of blown down trees all laying tops away from Helens and no soil - burned to the bedrock. I went back to Hwy 25 and rode 100 miles to Portland and our friends, Dick and Evie Huston. I could not rouse them on the phone but they seemed delighted when I showed out of thin air...nice talk of current life and history together from IU and when we visited their beach house hunting razor clams. Am at HIexp for the nite.

Day 16 - Tuesday - 7.9.13      .... out to the Pacific coast

First up the Columbia River gorge for a look on Hwy 14. The scenery after 50 miles was not too dramatic, except to look up the river at one point. So, I turned back and moved on to Astoria, Oregon at the mouth to the Columbia River (where Lewis and Clark camped). This put me on Hwy 101 heading south. Periodically I got good views of the Pacific Ocean and the immediate terrain. Great forests!  It was cold all day, sometimes sunny and cloudy at other times, it was always cold. This was a hard ride as the road wound and wandered, up and down- the pace changed frequently due to small towns, slow drivers and slow speed controls. Finally, I got to Coos Bay for the nite after 384 miles in 7.75 hours and 5200+ overall. Shoulders and back good even in tough driving condition. Almost dropped my bike last eve but a guy helped me and saved my shoulders.

Day 17 - Wednesday - 7.10.13      ...on toward San Francisco

Up at 6:30 to get to Fort Bragg, CA HIexp. Got to ride the coast on 101 with continued views of the Pacific not readily available yesterday- beautiful. Cold and clear. All of a sudden fog....and cold - freezing! I was riding the "Highway of Redwoods" thru several groves on the bypass- Drugy Scenic Parkway. Then a long period to the Rockefeller Forest and the "Avenue of the Giants". The trees are so huge and close together- to say nothing about the amazing height. I had dinner with two grads working for the CA forest service marking and putting for bid state pine and redwoods. As I proceeded down the Avenue the temperature rose from 50s to 98 degrees... Hot.. hot... so I stripped down. Then I hit CA #1 which goes up to 1800' over the Coastal Range mountains and down to sea level ....and the temperature fell to the 40s....cold... freezing..adding clothes. I then hit the coast again and the foggy views were coldly beautiful.... Arrived to heat my room and rest.. Nice but demanding ride in the Coastal Range and in the Redwoods. Dinner at a bar with calzone, with WW points. 368 miles in 8 hours of gawking.

Day 18 - Thursday - 7.11.13.  San Francisco and the Wharf (for free)

After the weather changes and thinking about crossing the desert from San Diego to Austin, I have decided to change directions. I will go from San Francisco to Grand Junction CO, crossing Nevada and Utah in the central areas but far north of the southern route. Back into the Rockies I shall go south on the continental divide to Santa Fe and Austin, stopping in Oklahoma Dust bowl areas to give Nook time to clean her apartment.

Up at 6 and left in the cold and moist coastal conditions at 7:15. Rode 176 miles on CA #1.

Stopped in Mendocino,  the town we visited in '76 and near which we camped in the same kind of weather as today. What a ride...up-down, left-right with many turnouts to save my passing. Eucalyptus and redwoods line the road in some areas and I can still smell the eucalyptus. One stretch required riding 500 feet up from the straight down ocean without guard rails. Views were limited but dramatic. Towns of few people were numerous and closer to SF there was some cattle farming. After some suburb driving I hit the Golden Gate Bridge and entered San Francisco very tired and sore from the very demanding ride in cold weather. After checking in and arranging parking, I took a 20 mile trip around the city and its parks, including the underside of the Oakland Bay Bridge. After complaining about the quality of this facility- no wifi in the rooms, 18 TV stations without MSNBC and the tour, not being told but charged $45 to park my bike, and being refused to, got my free nite back- I walked to the Wharf and ate. Within points I had clam chowder & fried calamari. They compted my parking and put some points on my account 25% of a free nite. Over at the cable car the line was a block long and I am not a  consummate "waiter" so I moved on after talking with some Swiss people. The number of foreign speakers here is amazing. Nice ride today...one of the best of the trip in spite of the cold. Walked 16 blocks in two slow sessions- one for dinner on the wharf and to see the cable car, and one for Carmel corn.

Day 19 - Friday - 7.12.13    South to Santa Cruz, Yosemite, & NV

Up and out of here... Good riddance!  Paid my ticket to Wyoming... Started in San Francisco at sea level. Went down CA1 on the Cabarilla Hwy 60 miles to Santa Cruz out of San Francisco and along the ocean. Then East to Merced on 152 for 120 miles thru the truck farm area at 100'. Rode to Mariposa for gas and on to Yosemite National Park at 4200' on 140. Cold to SC and then very hot until 7000'. Leaving the valley I climbed to over 9800'. Then down to Mariposa from 8100' for gas before starting across the high desert above 5k' on 120. This is the area where we packed to 10k'+ in the late '70s with the Downings. Picked up gas in Lee Vining on 120 and Tonopha while riding 300 miles of high desert on route 6. 13 miles from Ely it started to rain for about 5 miles and on arrival met Hwy 50 (same as thru Salem WV). On the road I saw two does and four fawns, all very dark, thick hair which made the fawn white spots stand out.  They ran down the road with me until they figured out where mom was and doubled back. At the Ramada Inn in Ely at 6000 feet after 654miles in 11.5 hours and 6670 total miles so far. Very comfortable above 7k'. 

Day 20 - Saturday - 7.13.13.      On across the desert.... To Utah

Very poor nite of sleep for only 5 hours. I did too much yesterday and drank a Pepsi at dinner.  I did learn last nite that it frequently rains in the desert around Ely. I got up at 6:30, exercised, cleaned bike, got gas and dressed to eat and ride. It was a beautiful cool morning riding at 80 mph above 5500 feet thru desert terrain over 6k'+ passes. Got gas 200 miles out and rode on after a coke. The entire road was rolling and winding interspersed by long straight flat sections connecting the hills-mountain passes. The last 100 miles were colorful and dramatic formations and canyons rivaling the national park scenery.  Cool and comfortable above 5k'. The last 60 miles dropped below 5k' and the temperature went to 98 degrees.  Adjusted my seat and repaired my clock-heat indicator. Made 380 miles today in 5.5 hours, a total of 6994 miles, and 1036 miles in two days from San Francisco.

Day21 - Sunday - 7.14.13.  Rest day before going to Colorado

Up late after deciding on a rest day. Laundry and bike washed by 10 so I took a ride thru Arches National Park. This afternoon the temperature was 101. Went by balancing rock and got to the arches as prescribed. I swam and read in the afternoon, with early to bed. Race watch from the Tour de France ... nice climbing into the sky by Sky.

End of Week Three

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