Monday, July 30, 2018

Sandhill Weekend....and Bountiful Other

Last week, Thursday afternoon I believe, Peg mentioned that there had been a pair of Sandhill Cranes out in our hay field.  Typically and in year's past, I've only seen them further south, Wisconsin further south.  We've only seen them once before on our farm as far as I can remember.

Friday on my ride I saw 2 pair in grassy pastures and yesterday, I came upon a pair with twins almost in the road.  Quickly slowing down, they split up.  Pop took for the far side of the road, mom and the kiddo's stayed on my side and casually began walking deeper into a hay field.  Now fully stopped, I was able to photograph mom and babies....


Meanwhile, I was being craftily deceived.  Father was on the other side of the road, unwilling to move very far, making himself as large and known as he possible could.  My photo didn't catch him at maximum wing spread, but he was trying to convince me that he was the better target, injured and helpless.


The big news this weekend was our family Reunion Gathering, honoring mom's 90th, a couple of 50 year anniversaries, other anniversaries that were multiples of 5's; Peg's and mine included.  I gave a speech, a toast and everything, dodging the ripest red fruit successfully.



 Mom, we love you and again, thanks for everything!!

On another subject much closer to home, Peg found a fermenting crock (a crock for fermenting) in Poland; our cabbage won't be ready until early August.  Until then.....Bloop.......Bloop.......Bloop....Other vegetables can expect to be fermented in the future and they have now been warned.


The Himalaya will be taking me on a couple trips over the next month and tire planning/scheduling needs to be accounted for.  Now at ~3500 miles, 6/32" tread left on the rear.  I'm actually quite pleased with these MT-60's but some other tire may be next.


There were various rides this weekend...Thursday evening, Friday morning, Friday evening, Saturday evening and finally, most of the day Sunday.  The GPS wasn't always along but I can still subtract and add; there were a bunch of miles covered.  I won't worry about the total until end of season but there were almost 350 on Sunday.






Lunch in Stone Lake...


Desert didn't happen until Rice Lake, a proper span of time later.



I was in Cumberland at 3:15, Sunday closing is 4:00....the place was hopping.  Lots of Twin Citians load up on their way home from cabin weekends and they WERE loading up.  My stash of sticks at home was gone so a stop was mandatory. We shall not go without.


I promised Peg that I'd be home by 6....a picnic and campfire was scheduled in the State Park.  I was actually home by 5:30, mostly dry after an intense 10 minute shower south of Baldwin.

In the park around 7, there weren't very many picnickers and by 8, we were all alone.  It was almost 9:30 when we came back home; a wonderful evening, a great weekend.




Sunday, July 22, 2018

Lorem Ipsum - 2018

Peg asked, ".....which event is tomorrow again....??

After I responded with an upbeat tone....

"Maybe just take the sidecar."

Of the many rallies and events that I've ridden to now these last 14 years, none have provided quite the challenge that this annual event seems to have.  One year there was a close and personal connection with a guard rail, another year Lauren and I started out on the scooter only to be rescued by her mom with Helix transmission trouble.

Not only did I manage to both Go and Return this time, it was a Very Fine Grand Day Out.  Since I'd expected to see a bunch of the British Bike Cooperative riders in Viroqua and then didn't really, it was a good thing my day started out with a British theme.  Realizing that my planned first time breakfast stop at the River Cafe in Trempealeau was going to be far too far away for my first hot cup of coffee, I stopped at my favorite convenience store in Wabasha for a starter cup.  Dana was there as he was a couple of weeks ago, asking if I was headed to Mondovi again for breakfast.  Then he'd said hi and yesterday, we chanced upon another meeting.  Nice to meet you Dana, hope to see you again soon, same time, same place! :)

In Trempealeau at the River Cafe, I immediately see Full English Breakfast on the special's board and there it was in the menu as well.  Annie quickly said, "you'll want this for sure".


...and this was why she was so confident.....


HP Sauce, no mustard, no ketchup.....

 

 In Viroqua right around 11am for the official 'start'....Frank's bike was immediately drawing attention.




Glen was right in there checking out the gizmo's....no valve adjustment or shim replacement on this baby.


Darrel was there.  If you're not a subscriber to his newsletter, you should be.



Steve was there, hope to see you on the road again soon and nice to meet you!



Driftless Books is inside.....



I don't see grips like this everyday....



I went inside the bookstore and of course came out with one....there is a LOT to choose from.





Good Luck sir........


You never know what's going to show up....




Glen said, "I should have brought mine".  Not that large of crowd and 2 real owners....My TranZalp just a poor wannabe.


Not a Kawasaki but there's a very good chance he's got one of those too at home.



Eric and Cindy arrived after a hectic morning.  I didn't get a decent photo of the new rig but will.  It sure looks awesome!  According to Cindy, it appears to work just fine too.

Such a beautiful day, the decision seemed to be a universal one....we should be out riding.  I stopped on Hall Road to highlight the many buggy wheel tracks.


Not very crowded at The Goose.


A ceremonial stop at Kolbo Road...


It was a perfect day for a poor sense of direction (none of it really planned) and I was still south of Plainview when Peg texted "The music good, you should come".

 
So I did.....arriving just before 8PM


Red Wing's annual Rolling River Music In The Park Festival.






A 359 mile day, 15 hours and for the record, 15 hours is just about the perfect amount of time to cover 359 miles.  A good day though some of my friends missing at the last minute and if the BBC guys were there, there weren't enough of them on old stuff.

Of special note, Kammel Road is in fact now REALLY CLOSED.  It was closed the last time I was there but still ridable on whatever I was there on.  This time, no way could even the mighty Himalaya traverse that washed out mess.  I saw a signboard reporting that the Town Board held a meeting about culverts and road repair.  You guys better hurry, Kammel is reverting back to the way god created it.