Making Time ~

 Another nice day in June!  All in all, this month has seemed to be a little cooler & less humid than what I think of as normal for the time of year.  The storms have rolled through & we've had wind damage - but we've also had some really perfect late spring, early summer days.

Smokey~

I realized today my Cannondale Adventure EQ Smokey - hadn't had his picture taken in front of Happy Trails!  I hadn't even met Mari Jo, when I took the first photo of Sunny here on my first ride from Silver City.  The concrete patio is such a nice addition to an already cute building.

Sunny, 4-1-2020

The Electra Townie 3i above, was the first bike I bought as an adult in WA.  It had been more years than I want to count since I'd done much riding.  In WA, Butch & I rode the paved surface of the 30-mile long Centennial Trail.  Here, on the limestone with longer grades, it took me two more bikes to find one that works the best for me on the Wabash.

Soy Beans~

The crop rotation has changed this field back from corn last year, to soy this planting.  Beautiful & green, in 2021 Iowa ranked second in the nation, in production of soybeans.  Illinois took first by a narrow margine.

Dappled shade~

Without the shade, I doubt I'd ride the miles I do in the summer months.  Even though the air can get "close" on a warm day, the shade still makes a huge difference.

The cotton was flying through the air like snow at the Trestle.  I ran into Mari Jo coming back north just a mile shy of the trestle.  Our schedules didn't mesh today.  By the time I reached Malvern, I'd only seen two other riders.  I stopped at the park for my break & talked with Butch for a while before starting back.

Silver Creek~

Silver creek is still running full of silt, from the last rain storm.  I was making good time & remembered to turn the Garmin off when I stopped to talk to Mari Jo & when I took photos.  Back at home, I downloaded my stats to find I'd reached my long-time goal!  My third year of biking & after a lot of dust under the bridge -  I'd ridden 16.5 miles at an average moving speed of 10.1 mph.  My best ever!  

With the upcoming forecast of our usual July beginning of the heat/humidity season, ride days will be few & far between.  I'm hopeful I can find at least one day a week where it's decent enough to be able to enjoy the ride!

Plenty Hot Enough!

 It's summer!?  Weather watching, today was supposed to be a little bit cooler & less humid.  Temperatures dropped last night into the low 70's & we woke this morning to cloud cover.  I was hoping it would stick around, but by the time I left our matt-making group, the sun had burned through.

Smokey enjoys Mari Jo's new concrete patio!

Neither Smokey or I were too enthusatic about going out into the hot sun with the temperature already at 89 degrees.  I told Mari Jo I just planned on going to the Trestle.  She had ridden Monday in the awful heat/humidity & said the ride to the Trestle had been more than far enough.

On our way~

As usual though, as I entered the shade of the trail, the temperature dropped at least 5 degrees.  I wish the heavy shade covered the entire route.  At least this is one of the sections of trail with the most tree cover.

The corn is growing!

No problem this year with the corn being knee high by the fourth of July!  It's already almost taller than I am.  Before long, it will start sweating & the humidy will climb even higher!

Between the rows~

It's sure a different looking crop from when I visited my Grandparent's farm summers.  I can hardly fit between the rows now.  In a couple weeks, it will be impossible.  As a kid, I could ride Topsy between the rows, even when it was higher than her head!

Broken tree, north end of the trestle~

I have an awful time seeing the poor trees broken & battered after these darn wind storms...  It takes a tree so long to grow to any size, then when they get nice & big, the winds take them down.  Mom was always amazed at how fast the trees grew in Washington.  Now I know why.

On the Trestle~

By the time I'd reached the bridge, I was more than happy to turn back.  The biting flies were out in force.  One tried to bite my thumb while I was riding!  Note to self - spray my hands too!

Looking down from the Trestle~

Can you guess the plant?  You for sure don't want to take a walk through here!  The stinging nettles are probably two to three feet tall!

Back in Silver City, my ride had been nine-miles.  I went in to enjoy Mari Jo's AC before heading home.  Tomorrow it's back to trying to catch up with the mowing in the marsh.

Storms Aftermath~

 We were experiencing a day of extreme heat & humidity.  Miserable to be outside at all, with the air so heavy.  By evening, the temperature was still 90 degrees.  The lightening bugs were extremely happy!  Floating through the air of the marsh, with bright flashes of light.  

It was just after midnight when the Tornado sirens went off.  It was raining buckets & the wind was blowing sideways!  I'm experienced enough now to just say a prayer & hope for the best.  It was a little unusual to have the winds so strong from the west, but it was constantly changing direction.  Butch told me later, he'd fought the wind his entire drive south Monay night.  He was hauling an empty trailer...

The big Cottonwood~

The next morning, we woke to calm, if gray skies.  We were very thankful to have been on the outskirts of the strongest part of the storm.  Several parts of town were without power & wind gusts had been reported at over 90 mph.  There had been tornado sightings near Mineola & Pacific Junction, both towns near Glenwood.

One of the big old trees just up Elm from us had blown down, narrowly missing the front of the house.  Several trucks & a lift pulled in, closing the street as I was leaving for matt-makers.  By the time I returned home, most of the mess was cleaned up & my neighbor was walking my direction, purpose in her step.  She informed me that the huge Cottonwood at the west end of our mutual woodland, had gone down in the storm.  It's just over the property line on her side. 

Cottonwood & Walnut~

It had hung up in two trees, one a large old Box Elder, you see on the left, then taking the top off a smaller Walnut, both on our side.  I was just sick as we surveyed the damage.  She & a friend were going to start in with the chainsaw & asked permission to cut my trees if necessary.  I had to agree, since there was probably no other way to get it down.

I decided there was nothing much I could do & it was our one cool day in the forecast for over a week.  I left for Silver City.  Not quite sure what I was thinking, since Mari Jo had mentioned the severe winds they'd received too.

On the trail~

As I left, Mari Jo looked at her watch.  She doubted I would make it far.  The trail clearing crew was already out working somewhere to the south.  I ran into them, just a short way out of town.  They told me it was doubtful I would make it - even to the trestle.  Looking at the mess they were working on, I knew they were probably correct.

First of four downfalls~

I didn't get much farther until this mulberry closed the trail.  I managed to get around it & kept going.  About 3 miles out I saw the red truck of another crew working.  They'd come north from down in Shenandoah & had cleared all the way to where I met them!  Yippee!  I would make it to Malvern!

Silver Creek - full of silt~

I told them they would soon run into the crew that had been traveling south & had the northern end of the trail clear.  My timing had been perfect!

Once in Malvern, I again rode to the park.  It was such a nice day, the sun had burned through the hazy of smoke from fires burning somewhere north of our state.

Smokey at our new rest area~

By the time I'd arrived, it was later in the afternoon than my usual rides, so I didn't stay long before turning back.  The trail surface was still an obstical course, with all the smaller limbs & branches on the trail surface.  With my limited depth perception, I hit more than I wanted to & had to adjust my speed accordingly.  

Once back at Happy Trails, Mari Jo & a couple of the men from the local crew were sitting at her picnic table.  It's become a gathering spot during the summer months.  The men all agreed - again that I'd planned my ride perfectly.  I only had to navagate about 2-miles that hadn't been cleared.  In that two-miles though there were four large downfalls.  That gives you an idea of the severity of the storm & the work the crews had to do to get the trail clear.

Smokey on the new bridge at Silver City~

I road a little further, wanting to see what the trail looked like north of town.  It had as much debri as had the trail to the south.  Back at the Explorer, I loaded Smokey.  We arrived home later, but I had to go & see what had been accomplished in the woods.  Sadly the chainsaw had been grabbed by the tree as it had started to fall.  My neighbor hoped it would fall during the night, but so far, no luck.  

A huge clean-up project~

I have a lot of work to do just picking up what's on the ground.  Once they're cut, there will be the work of hauling all the wood.  I'm just sick at having lost these trees. The Cottonwood provided the west end of the woods with so much shade...  The snag that was home to woodpeckers was taken down too :-(  Summer fun!  Not!

Feeling Blue ~

It was SO wonderful to have nine whole days with my husband!  Not that every single one wasn't jam packed full of errands & chores etc.  Especially when combined with his change of companies & the trip to TX.  But, we still found time to sit out on the deck, have a couple morning lattes & enjoy some late evenings.  I even remembered to show him my super sized hail - saved in the freezer!

Late this afternoon, leaving Butch at the airport, the lonely feeling didn't take long to catch me...  I got home at dusk & took a walk in the woods, returning to the pale blue lights of the Cabin.  The color of my mood.  At least now, depending on how the scheduling works out, Butch plans to get time at home at least every three-weeks.  That will seem short to me now!

The Cabin~

Done feeling sorry for myself, the following day I tore in to the house & laundry.  Never my favorite chore, it was still nice to get things picked up, finish Butch's washing & have things organized again.  He left with only a duffle bag, his sleeping bag & pillow.  (The plan is for him to return home shortly to outfit his new truck.)  It had been very hot & humid too, good weather for doing the inside chores. 

Wednesday, I returned to mat making & enjoyed the company of my friends.  One had been on vacation to FL, another had gone to TX.  It was fun to catch up on all the news, since I'd missed last week.  The day was cooler & partly overcast.  After lunch I loaded Smokey & made the drive to Silver City & the trail.

Smokey under the Walnut trees~

I guess it comes from living in WA for so many years, I still really enjoy the cloudy days.  With so many sunny ones, the clouds add a filtered layer of silvery gray light.  It seems to make the greens deeper.

Fields growing!

The sun came & went as the afternoon progressed; it dominated the sky once again.  I made great time getting to the Trestle, with the wind at my back.  I was congratulating myself for doing so well after ten-days without riding.

At the Trestle~

I took a short break to watch the river flow by.  Butch never did get out to try his new bike & now with the heat of summer coming up, it could be a while.

Almost to Malvern, ahead on the trail was a couple with a large dog.  The dog was dragging probably 10 feet of leash.  I announced my presence as far out as I knew I'd be heard.  The minute the dog heard my voice, he turned & came right for me.  The owner grabbed the end of the leash - now I had the dog in front of me & the leash stretched out all across the trail.  My only options were to go off the trail into the mud or hit the brakes.  I was forced to stop cold.  The owner finally wrangled the dog & said "sorry"...  I have to say - I was so mad I couldn't speak.  Why, oh WHY do people bring their dog to public trails & not have them under control?  Rant over!

Malvern Park

I waited up at the Depot until I could see if they were coming further my direction or turning to town.  They turned & I could go back the way I'd come & stop at the park.  It was so soothing to just sit & watch the little family of Canadian Geese.  Going back, I had wind :-(  Never fun on a return, when you've already done a few miles.  By now - I could feel I hadn't ridden lately!  

Mulberry down~

Just in the time it had taken me to ride south, the wind had knocked down a large Mulberry tree.  I love Mulberries, so had to stop & pick all that were ripe!  It made for handy picking, but now there'll be one less tree to pick from.  Back in Silver City, I sat out at the picnic table under the awing at Happy Trails talking with Mari Jo & another lady from town.  A really pleasant way to end a super beautiful day.  My mood was greatly improved!

Goodby Big Red~

 On May 26th Big Red's computer started shutting down while Butch was hauling a Hazmat load.  He drove to a Loves before the engine shut down completely. CFI had it towed to the Kenworth dealership in Dallas.  Butch spent a day & a night waiting in the driver's lounge for word on the repair.  The mechanics cleared the on-board computer, took it for a drive & could find nothing wrong.  

Butch was dispatched to the terminal in Seagoville on the 27th.  There he picked up a trailer going to Waco.  He dropped half of the load, then returned to Seagoville.  When he dropped the trailer there, he found grease everywhere. The driveshaft seal was leaking.  (The driveshaft had to be removed for the tractor to be towed.  It had been reinstalled at the dealer in Dallas.)

The CFI mechanic did not have a seal in stock, it would have to be ordered.  The seal was not, but should have been replaced by the dealership.  There was no estimate as to how long it would take for a part to arrive.  When I spoke to Butch on Friday - we decided he might as well fly home.  With the upcoming hoilday weekend, he wouldn't be able to return to the road for at least a couple days.

In the meantime, he'd received another job offer.  A dedicated run, smaller company & better pay.  

8:11 p.m. on Friday - we arrive at the Seagoville Terminal & find Big Red~

I picked Butch up at Eppley midnight Saturday morning.  It seemed like a long six-weeks since he had been home.

Butch called his dispatcher Monday, who asked Butch to drive Big Red to Joplin when the repair was complete.  After waiting this past week for the part to come in, it hadn't.  (Probably why Kenworth had not replaced it.)  Late Thursday, CFI agreed to have Butch leave the truck at the terminal in Seagoville.  We would have to make the drive down to empty his things out of Big Red.

6/3/22 - Dallas traffic 7:04 p.m.

It was a 665-mile drive, we left Friday morning with Butch's truck & Nika.  A beautiful day to be out on the road.  We made great time, even with Butch making more stops than usual with his wife & dog along :-)  After light cloud cover all day, by the time we crossed the TX state line, the clouds were ominously dark.  In Dallas, the rain hit & followed us the rest of the way to the CFI terminal.

By the time we pulled in, it was almost dark - Butch went to start Big Red & put him under cover, to make our unloading drier & easier.  The battery was dead...  With semi's parked on both sides, we had just enough room to open the doors...  No fun at all...  We were both soaked to the skin by the time our truck was loaded.

Butch has driven Big Red 42,000 miles in the four-months he's been OTR.  His home away from home...  We were sad to say goodby to the big red machine!

6/4/22 - 10 a.m. North through Dallas~

I'd made reservations at the Townplace Suites in Mesquite.  Pet rooms scare me, but this hotel assured me the room & carpets would be clean.  They were & it was a relief to get some rest.  

We woke to a beautiful, if warm & humid day in TX.  Heading back north on a Saturday, the traffic was much lighter  & in no time we were out of the metro.  I was happy when we crossed the Oklahoma state line.  I've never been a fan of Texas & it hasn't gotten any better over the years...

Entrance to the WinStar Casino~

We had seen this casino from the road on the way south & had to stop to check it out.  It's huge & still has high rise hotels under construction.  A vacation destination for sure!

Beautiful landscaping~

The buildings were amazing, but so was the landsaping!  Most of the bushes & flowers were in bloom.  Such a colorful sight against buildings styled to replicate different places around the globe.

We're in Oklahoma?  :-)

We drove around the area, I had to take a few pictures.  

Connie & Nika~

Butch had to check out the construction & came back satisified that he was correct.  The project was done with EIFS.  Far from complete, this casino puts any other I've seen to shame.  

Back on the road, we had another destination in mind for a late breakfast.  On the way down we'd seen a sign for fried pies?  We had no idea what they were, but they sounded good!  About 50-miles north into Oklahoma we found Arbuckle Mountain Fried Pies!  We ordered both a egg & sausage pie & another pecan to save for Sunday morning.

Nika's "Ewok" look :-)

We decided eating on the road just wasn't working - about the time I saw a huge horse farm!  We took the next exit & parked along the side of the road going to the Dunn Ranch.  The pastures were full of solid looking young stock.  I had several favorites picked out by the time we left. :-)

The Flint Hills, Tallgrass Prairie

The rest of the drive was beautiful.  The Kansas Flint Hills Tallgrass Prairie was stunning.  It was easy to imagine yourself back in time, moving cattle through what was pristine country.  The last miles always seem the longest, but it was another in a string of amazing evenings.  High clouds blocked the sun in the west & the sky was a blue/gray.  

We pulled in at home by 9 p.m.  Butch has had nine days at home.  The most we've had together since the first of the year.  He leaves Monday afternoon for Salt Lake City.  A new employer & a new truck!