Butch was out over four weeks since his last home time. With only one overnight stop & one quick lunch in Council Bluffs I was happy to see the big blue truck coming down our street! As usual when he's homeward bound, there were delays. First, a day waiting to be loaded, next a big chunk of metal through a tire.
He'd left the Cumberland Road Rest Area in IL the morning of the 23rd & made his delivery to Smithfield in Olathe, KS at 1 p.m. Friday afternoon. His dispatcher gave him the all clear to deadhead the remainder of the 687-miles. He dropped the trailer at Nationwide before using Personal Conveyance to arrive home Friday evening after a 11:25 hour drive day.
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| May 23, 2025 - 7:21 p.m. |
We had reservations in Creston for the weekend & planned to take our bikes. Butch had ordered a new bike rack & installed it on Sat. morning before we left. Bikes loaded, we were on the road by mid-morning & stopped in Red Oak for lunch.
The day became overcast the further toward Creston we drove. We signed into our motel room & were determined to get in a ride at
Green Valley State Park. It drizzled on the drive but had stopped by the time we parked.
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| May 24th, 2025 - Bronco with the new bike rack & ramp~ |
Our
Lift Caddy was broken when someone backed into the bike rack, so the ramp came in handy. It seemed almost surreal to be together riding our bikes & enjoying such a beautiful spring evening. It always seems to take such timing & dispatch coordination, to get Butch home on a specific date.
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| Butch enjoying the ride~ |
Needless to say, Butch hadn't forgotten how to ride & quickly outdistanced me! The big hills are so much fun; it feels like flying! I was so happy to see my husband enjoying himself, away from the constant state of alertness it takes to drive.
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| Butch & his Cannondale Adventure~ |
Once we were back on the trail around the lake, the guy above slowed enough I could keep up :-) It was one of my favorite weather evenings with the high clouds, fresh air, green trees & very little wind.
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| In Creston~ |
After Butch's years spent on the
Red Hook Brewery construction in Woodinville, WA, we've always enjoyed visiting microbreweries when we find them. An ad on Facebook for
Hot Air Brewing in Creston, had caught my attention. We stopped by after our ride. Sadly, the little business is for sale & closing. After four years, the owner's partnership failed & the customer base wasn't enough to support the expense of brewing beer. We enjoyed sitting by the window & sipping really good beer.
Sunday, we woke to blowing winds & cloudy skies. After breakfast at the restaurant next to our motel, we drove past
Kelly's Flowers & Greenhouse to see an
open sign! This has been one of our favorite little places to visit when we're in town. The greenhouse is always full of colorful blooming bedding plants, hanging baskets, unique containers & for its size, carries a wonderful variety. The gift shop is the perfect place to find an unusual gift item, book, or antique planter.
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| May 25th, Kelly's Greenhouse~ |
As we pulled into the Greenfield Cemetary, the poles for the full-size memorial flags were in place, but my cousin told me the weather was too unreliable for the flags to fly this Memorial Day. Finding a place to dry so many flags is impossible if it should rain & rain was in the forecast.
We replaced the flowers in the vases of my mother, father & brother, then walked the short distance to do the same for my paternal Grandparents & Great Grandmother Vanatta. My father's entire family are buried here; I walk down memory lane as I visit their monuments.
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| My Mother, Father & youngest Brother~ |
We toured town, seeing the new homes already occupied since the tornado of last year is a testament to the resilience of the town's residents. In some cases, a new home occupied a lot right next to a more historic residence. We always drive by the home where I lived when I was little & those of my grandparents & school friends.
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| Rose Hill~ |
We planted the white peony in 2019. It was amazing how fast it's grown! The four
emerald green trees my mother had planted on the plot corners died during last summer's drought & were cut down. We've planted many at the
Home Place & now that they're getting large, the hot dry summers are stressing them, too. I worry they might not be as able to handle the dry weather here as they mature & require more water.
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| The old Church~ |
Every time we visit the Church above, there are changes. This time, the brush had been cleared away from the building. I spoke to a person who lives in the area & asked about the possibility of restoration. The rumor is - someone nearby had taken some of the dimensional lumber to use in the construction of a garage. It's such a shame to see these relics of our past history disintegrate.
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| The Farm~ |
We drove past my grandparents' farm where I spent the carefree summers of my youth. Grandma would be so happy to see the ditches mowed & the farm looking neat & tidy. I abhor the wind turbines on adjacent properties that have changed the view forever...
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| May 25th, McKinley Lake, Creston, IA |
We ended the day at
McKinley Lake. I'd read that the lake was to be drained & dredged. It was still a shock to see such a huge area devoid of water! It was obvious dredging is badly needed since the lake had filled with so much silt over the years. Increasing the depth & recreational amenities will be a huge improvement for an already well loved & managed park.
Memorial Day, we drove home disappointed that the weather didn't corporate & allow the flags to fly in Greenfield. Even so, a visit to so many places, that hold so many memories, always gives me a sense of peace.
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