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
Wednesday, October 9, 2013
Tuesday, October 1, 2013
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
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