First Year with Nationwide~

 One year ago today, we drove to Omaha. Butch had completed his orientation at Nationwide Transportation, Inc. & was picking up the semi he planned to drive.  His sixth since starting OTR.  We named the shiny blue Volvo Maverick.

10-31-2023 A stop at Love's ~

On the way home, we stopped at the Love's just off I-29.  It was a beautiful evening & as I returned to the Explorer, I couldn't help but admire Butch's new wheels as the sun set.  We spent a couple hours loading some of Butch's things into the truck.  He was leaving on his first dispatch the following morning.

11-1-2023 - 239,496 Miles on the odometer~

The 2022 truck had the mileage above as he took the keys.  I wouldn't see him again until just a couple days before Thanksgiving.  He parked the semi & empty trailer by one of the local schools & I picked him up.  Since then, he drops the trailer at Nationwide's yard & brings  Maverick home.

11-27-2023 Leaving after Thanksgiving~

We had snow on the ground the day he left.  It took him a while to get used to the new to him semi, but after a short time, he was appreciative of the comfort of the larger cab & smoother ride.

11-14-2023 Shopping for a horn~

There was one issue with Maverick!  The horn just wasn't loud enough.  Traveler, Butch's last truck had a great horn & Butch used it.  He joked that Maverick's horn sounded like a VW Bug!  His first stop at Iowa 80, he bought a 130-decibel horn & installed it.  Maverick's horn is now loud, distinctive & attention getting!  I love hearing it when he's a few blocks from home!

In December, Finnigan became a member of our family while Butch was away.  On the 12th Finn & I made a drive up to the Flying J truck stop near Avoca. Butch & Finn took to each other instantly.  It was meant to be!  

12-22-2023, Butch comes home for Christmas!

When Butch pulled in before Christmas, Finn remembered the truck & got so excited as Butch parked the semi.  It hadn't been a chance meeting after all!  He did have a dad!  

1-7-2024 Great Sauk Rest Area, IL

Butch was home to see in the New Year & left on the second.  By the time he was driving in IL, winter was making itself apparent.  Definitely not as difficult as driving I-80 through WY had been last winter.

2-18-2024 - Rest area Chelsea, MI

Driving the mid-west states, he still sometimes made deliveries to warehouses he was familiar with from his first year driving for Blake Scott & pulling D&D trailers.  I appreciated him getting home now & then for an overnight stop.  Also reminiscent of his first year OTR.

3-24-2024

He had driven 633-miles to make the delivery above.  From spending the night at the Flying J in Lebanon, OH to Steelcraft in Cincinatti, OH & finally to Allegion Steelcraft in Lenexa, KS.

4-1-2024

The first of April, Nationwide gave him an April Fool's surprise!  A full set of new tires on Maverick!  He said the difference was noticeable & now the truck traveled about as smooth as could be expected of a semi.

5-22-2024

In May, the rains came!  He was waiting in Jackson, TN as rain came down in buckets.

6-1-2024 - Valero, London, KY

The first of June was another drive of over 600-miles from London, KY, to Steelcraft in Cincinati & ending the day at his favorite truck stop, Iowa 80.

7-15-2024 Lights on the trailers ~

July, mid-month he had a short drive & a long wait, as usual at the Triumph Warehouse in St. Joseph, MO.  To be so close to home & have long waits is the worst.

8-20-2024 Driver Appreciation Day~

In August Nationwide has their Driver Appreciation Day!  The company has drivers who have driven for them over 25-years.  This says a lot about a company's integrity.  They never fail to wish a driver happy birthday on their Facebook page or give congratulations when an employment anniversary date arrives.  All drivers received the above gifts.  Butch is one of the lucky ones who lives near the yard.

9-25-2024 In the shop~

Maverick had traveled a lot of trouble-free miles, until Butch had issues with the battery charging. Luckly he was on a dispatch from Holstein, IA to Sioux City & then home, when it happened.  He made it to the shop, where the alternator was replaced.  He left, but within a couple miles the battery was still not charging.  Back to the shop, where the mechanics found the ECM ground wire was corroded & replaced it. 

10-15-2024 - Fall ~

On the evening of October 15th, Butch was at the eastbound US 30 rest area near Nevada, OH on his way to Chillicothe, OH.  He's familiar by now with most of the dispatch routes, or at least the one's he travels often. 

10-31-2024 - Maverick's odometer

Butch has driven Maverick 125,903 miles!  Congratulations to my husband on another year of safely navigating the highways & byways of the central United States!  Soon, I'll be adding up the mileage from his first day of driving February 1, 2022, to the same date in 2025!

Boehner Park - South ~

 Tuesday & I was ready for a longer ride.  We'd received .27 of rain overnight.  Just enough of a sprinkle I was hoping it had cut the horrible dust on the trail.  We'd also had one-night last week where the temperature had dropped to 27 degrees.  I was hopeful it had killed off some of the biting bugs.

Shadow & the Explorer~

Finn was visiting Doris, the sewer construction was still going on at home, so time away was welcome.  I chose to leave from the park & go south.  I don't ride this section as often.  There's really no place to sit & take a break until you reach Imogene.  

Leaving Boehner Park~

Imogene is a tough 14-mile stretch one way & takes a while for me to do.  The last time I'd ridden the this direction was with Butch in March.

Fields harvested~

There are some beautiful views.  I only had one issue seeing a loose Rottweiler dog ahead on the trail, with a woman trying to catch it.  She grabbed him by the scruff of his neck & smacked him as she led him away.  I had slowed my approach, planning to wait before trying to pass.

White Cloud Trestle~

My view of the White Cloud Trestle was perfect.  The new boards of the railings actually matched the golden color of the leaves & the fall light.

West Nishnabotna River~

The river was still low, but at least flowing & so beautiful.  I knew I wouldn't have time today to reach Imogene, but planned to ride a ten miles out before turning back.

Shadow turns over 500-miles~

I was almost surprised when I saw Shadow had turned over 500 miles!  It didn't seem to take long from my first ride at Lake Manawa March 28th.  There are times since my leg injury, I wonder how I rode Smokey, my analog bike from December of 2021 until March of this year.

New Signage & my turnaround spot~

The new signage for the marathon that was run on the trail, faced north.  I decided three miles from Imogene was over ten miles from where I'd started & turned back.

Hedge Apple tree~

I spotted a Hedge Apple on the ground.  (If you click on the link above, you'll be directed to a fascinating article on the history of the Hedge Apple - through National Geo.  You must enter an email address.)  My thoughts instantly went back to the first time I'd seen one.  

I'd been riding Farah at Pierce Creek.  She had stopped from a full trot to grab one she'd spotted at the edge of the trail.  Before I could stop her, she'd taken a big bite out of it!  She dropped it faster than she'd picked it up!  Obviously not the taste she had expected! :-) 

 I thought about bringing one home with me, but didn't have a bag.  The trees have thorns too, which would have made them perfect for marking property lines & acting as fence in the old days.

Cottonwood Pass~

I stopped for my break when I again reached Cottonwood Pass.  A good climb from either direction.  The Cottonwoods here had already lost most of their leaves. The wind had really come up as the afternoon warmed into the high 70's.  I was riding right into it & thankful for power.

White Cloud Trestle, fall colors~

Back at the Trestle, I stopped again to admire the fall colors.  With winds of 20-mph almost every day & the ongoing drought, our color won't last long.  We're on track for the dryest Sept. & Oct. in history.  A record no one wanted to break, especially the farmers.

I was happy to be back at the Explorer having logged 22 miles.  The back of my neck at my hairline started itching on the way home.  I ended up with six big bites along the neckline of my t-shirt.  No, the bugs aren't gone yet!

Iowa Great Lakes Trails~

 It was the kind of morning I'd been missing for weeks.  Overcast & probably at least 10 degrees cooler than yesterday.  A perfect day that actually felt like fall!  We were looking forward to getting our bikes out on the trails.

Start of the actual trail~

I don't really think of sidewalks along streets, or riding to the right of a painted line on a road as a trail.  As long as it's designated for bikes, in Iowa & most other places it's a trail.  We did ride a sidewalk for a few blocks, until Butch found a gravel road between buildings that dropped down to an alleyway going right to the trail.

The colors were gorgeous!

The surface was paved & so smooth!  It was like cruising through a fall paradise.  We enjoyed every mile of the trip north.  When we reached the edge of Spirit Lake, near the Hy Vee, we had a choice of trails.  Called the Iowa Great Lakes Trails, from what we rode, they are beautiful hard surface & well marked. 

Trails junction, Spirit Lake

It was obvious when we reached the crossing point for two trails.  We took photos of the map that was provided there.  Our goal had been Spirit Lake.

Tatanka Ska Trace - Beautiful, artistic Trail Signage~

From here it was easy to pick the correct trail going the direction we'd planned.  It wasn't long at all before we recognized where we were!  The same area at the south end of Spirit Lake where we'd driven in 2017.

Butch & the bikes~

It was such a still & quiet early afternoon.  A few people were fishing from the dock.  The trail from this point on followed a sidewalk along the road.

Sidewalk trail~

From here it wasn't far until we turned in an entrance to Isthmus Park. We were greeted by the cute carving below.  I wish we had an old stump just so I could have a carving.  

Owl carving~

After our visit & a short stop at the park, we returned on the same trail, back to the trail's junction.

Old paddle wheel boat~

The old boat above was off to the side.  Such a pretty thing, I have no idea if it still floats or what its history was. We decided to take the trail heading almost due west to Lake Park & Silver Lake.

Colorful!

It took us out of town & into the surrounding countryside.  A very long, very straight stretch of trail!  We rode out to the intersection of Hwy 86 before turning back. At that junction, we could have continued on another six miles or so to Lake Park or turned back south & ridden a sidewalk trail along 86 & around the south end of West Lake Okoboji.  Looking at it & the traffic, we decided to return the way we'd come.  Next visit, we'll start this way first & plan on visiting Lake Park.

Butch heading back east~

The open fields were beautiful & thankfully there was hardly any wind.  I appreciated getting back into the canopy of the golden trees!

Butch's bike along the trail~

Back at the Spirit Lake trail head for the second time, we found our way back to the trail to Okoboji.  It was a beautiful ride & the sun finally broke through the clouds.

Our Routes~

By the time we'd returned to our motel, we'd covered just under 24-miles.  If we lived in this area, I would have a lot more trails to choose from, but I think most are still at the side of roadways.  The Tatnka SKA trace is a newly opened trail of over 11 miles.  There are future trails planned too.  It was great fun to get out on such a super fall day & ride in a new-to-us area!

On West Lake Okoboji ~

 Friday was a sunshine & very warm day in Okoboji.  Just as warm as it's been at home & just as dry.  This year is the third time we've celebrated our anniversary in Okoboji.  Our first visit was in 2017 & last year was our second.  We went out for breakfast & walked through our favorite antique shop before heading over to Okoboji Boat.

Leaving the dock~

We'd reserved what's become our favorite boat, the Robalo - new last season.  The staff remembered us, since we come the same time of year & after the season is over.  We heard all about the flooding this spring & the damage it had done to properties around the lake.

First of the damage~

From what Luke told us, the repair estimates on some of the properties is upwards of $400,000.  We started up the east side of West Okoboji, to do our usual loop.  We rent the boat for two hours & it takes all of that to tour most of the shoreline.

Bank sloughed off~

It wasn't long until we began to see the damaged properties.  

Another severely damaged landscape~

This eastern shoreline was where the worst of the damage occurred, probably by wind driven waves.  I wouldn't have wanted to be anywhere near the water!

Backyards gone right up to the decks~

The pictures don't show how choppy the water actually was.  I'd asked Butch to slow down so I could get photos.  The many of the trees were in full color, but there were a lot yet to turn.  I love seeing all the beautiful homes.  Originally many of the lots had small summer cottages, but those have been replaced over the years by large mansion type homes.  It's sad to see them gone.

North end of the lake~

We reached the north end of the lake & Okoboji Harbor before turning back to the south.  It wasn't long after we made the turn, the wind picked up & with it, the size of the waves.

Looking south from the north end~

I told Butch he could speed up!  I'd been feeling queasy for a while & it wasn't getting any better.  He opened the boat up & now we were flying along, hitting the tops of the waves with a thunderous thump each time.  Between the thumps, the boat would fall sideways into the troughs between the waves.  I looked down once & didn't do that again!  I was standing to absorb some of the impact.

Arnold's park~

Notice the flag in the photo above!  I love going fast, but I finally had to ask Butch to slow down.  By the time we were back at the dock, I was ready for firm ground.  Luke met us & asked me if I was usually green?  Butch told him the waves had done me in.

10-11-2013 Our favorite restaurant~

We drove back to the motel & I had to lay flat for a while, to recover.  All I could think about was how hungry I was!  I finally got up & decided dinner sounded really good.

Our drinks~

Not only dinner, but I needed to replenish my electrolytes!  An amazing Bloody Mary that the Store is famous for hit the spot!  We arrived before rush hour, so enjoyed a table out by the water.  As usual, the food was wonderful & the service perfect.  

I told Butch this may have been my last boat ride!  Next time, he can take the boat out & I'll sit on the shore of the state park, soak in the sun & watch him with the binoculars! :-)

Arnold's Park ~

 After getting home late in the day on our anniversary, (a day earlier than we'd expected!) Butch still had to make a delivery in Omaha Thursday morning.  We had reservations at Okoboji for Friday.  I thought it would be better to drive up today & enjoy an extra full day tomorrow.  Past the end of the season, our room was available.  While Butch was gone, I packed us up & by the time he was home, we were ready to leave.  

Lights of the Promenade~

We dropped Finn off with Doris & were on the road.  It didn't seem like a long drive; we stopped to eat at the China 1 Buffet, just south of Spencer.  The outside of the building didn't put us off, we were hungry!  Inside was neat, clean & the buffet was excellent.  

We arrived at the Vintage Block Inn & Suites in Okoboji about 6:30 p.m.  The motel reminded us of something from the Motel Rescue on Discovery Plus.  Who knows when it was built, but the current owners have made many improvements.  Our room was cute, with plenty of room for the bikes & had the bonus of being within walking distance of local bike trails.

Arches lighting the path~

After checking in, we drove to Arnold's Park.  The new arches over the lit pathway were beautiful in the gathering darkness.  The restoration of this area was started the first year we visited, 2017.  The pathway was new since our visit last year.  The lights cycled through a change of color every minute or two.

Covered Pavillion~

The path directed us toward the waterfront.  All the improvements have made a huge difference in the area.  On our visit & late afternoon walk last year, we'd wondered what was being constructed in the area below.

State Pier~

The sails were a beautiful addition & I'm sure they can be seen from quite a distance out on the lake.  It was as nice a fall evening as we could have asked for.  Just a light breeze off the water & amazingly quiet for being so close to town.  

Our little motel~

Returning to our motel, the little Block Party retro pub was open.  A few people were sitting out enjoying the warm evening & view of the lake. I borrowed the photo below from the web site.  It looked inviting, we walked over to check it out.

Outside seating~

We ordered drinks, Butch tried a new to him brew.  We found a quite table toward the back. The owner came by to welcome us.  We discussed the weather; the entire state & I think the whole of the Midwest is as dry as it's ever been.  Sitting out in the fresh air, on such a beautiful fall evening, it was the perfect place to unwind.