Wright's Visit! Fontenelle Forest~

 Butch hadn't been home for a month.  Tuesday the 11th, he was on his way back from a drop in CO.  It never fails, when he's heading home, there's always something that slows him down.  This time, a trailer he was supposed to pick up, hadn't been loaded.  He had a four-hour wait.  After hooking the trailer, his next dispatch took him to an unload in Madison, NE.  From Madison, on to Air Lite Plastics in Omaha to pick up a load.  From there - Home!  He made it before dark! 

Butch arrives home!  7-11-23 - 8:32 p.m. 

His welcoming committee was waiting!  Daughter Jentry & Granddaughter's Skyla & Josie had arrived about 2 in the afternoon!  After flying from Seattle to Minneapolis, Jentry rented a car & had driven to WI where they visited relatives.  With one overnight stop & a tour of the Crystal Caves - they continued on to Glenwood!

Skyla, Josie & Jentry~

We checked them into their Air B&B on the square, then came home for a game of cards.  We drove up to Council Bluffs for dinner, in the hope Butch would be able to meet us there, but he was still waiting for his load in Omaha.  Even so, considering the miles he & Jentry had driven, the timing wasn't bad!  We were all finally in the same spot - at the same time - together!

Josie with her first Cheese Frenchee!

On Wed. lunch at Don & Millies was on our agenda.  The girls have done a lot of traveling with their mother, but Cheese Frenchee's were a new food experience!  The crispy sandwich passed the granddaughter approval process.

Papa with Skyla & Josie~

Next on the itinerary - Fontenelle Forest!  Another of Butch & my favorite places, we don't visit often enough.  The deciduous forest is such a change from the forests of the pacific northwest.  Today, Skyla & Jentry planned to try the new zip line course.

Tree Rush Adventures operates from within Fontenelle Forest.  They have eight different courses, with increasing levels of difficulty.  Josie wisely decided to watch with us, while her mother & sister geared up to do the courses.  

Just a small part of the courses~

Jentry & Skyla put on climbing harness, were instructed as to how to clip/unclip & use the trolly to zip.  They also watched a safety video.

Skyla is ready~

The courses are color coded;  yellow, green & blue.  The most advanced is the black course, which includes elements 55 feet above the ground!  The girls settled on the most difficult of the three yellow courses.  

Skyla starts up from the platform as Jentry waits her turn~

All the courses began at a centralized platform.  Each plainly marked by a color & most had cute animal names too.  Skyla was soon on her way, making the course look positively easy!  Jentry followed along & said at one point, it wasn't as easy as Skyla made it look!

Skyla~

These courses weren't so much zipping as they were a test of strength, balance & coordination!  Both finished the course in good time.  Skyla was ready to move on to a green course!  

Skyla navigating the green course~

She completed this course, had her gear checked again & next did the blue!  She finished the blue & still wanted to do the black course!  

Climbing!

Just to start the course, she had to climb a free hanging ladder for about 25 ft. up to the highest platform. Talk about some upper body strength!

Skyla on the black course~

I knew she had to be getting tired by now - but away she went!  I'd been following along on the ground - both to try to spot her & take photos!  The forest floor was uneven & I was getting a bit of a workout too.  

On the highest, black course, 55 ft. up!

Skyla worked her way through the first half of the course, then enjoyed the longest zip - of the courses she'd done - to the far side.  At that point - she reached a platform with a line going down to the ground.  She took it!

As she turned in her gear, several of the employees, congratulated her for completing so many courses & finishing up - by completing half of the most difficult!  

We finished the day with a trip to Doozies for ice cream & a drive around Lake Manawa.  Skyla was one sore & tired girl!  :-)

Wild Turkey's ~

 Warm, Hot, Lots of sunshine!  I did want to ride.  Thursday,  we received a very welcome 2" of rain.  Then early Friday morning - another 1.14"  Saturday we'd had light rain most of the day adding another .50 to our total.  I loved the cool, gray, wet day's after weeks of heat.  With a total of 3.5 inches, I was pretty sure the trail would be sticky at the least.  I decided on Lake Manawa again.  There were quite a few cars at the trail head in Council Bluffs.

Looking north~

I rode in from the east & turned north onto the sidewalk/trail.  There was a breeze, which did help, but the humidity was high & it wasn't plesant.  I just decided to keep moving, making my own breeze - all the way to the old campground.  When I stopped there for a drink, I could see Doozie's through the trees at the far end of the open area!

Doozies from the old campground~

As tempting as it was, I didn't ride over.  I learned my lesson a couple years ago.  Riding after a cold ice cream on a hot day, is not something I want to try again...

The water lilies starting to bloom!

I took the above photo from the north end of the lake, looking due south.  You could almost see the humidity in the air.  Riding up the west side, along Indian Creek, I even passed a couple people.  The heat was intense - especially out in the wide open, with no shade.

New campground~

The new campground is getting lots of business, but it's right out in the full sun.  I'm sure most of these RV's are equipped with with AC.  At the least - a big fan to move the air.

As I crossed the road at the south end of the lake - taking the route to the picnic area - I saw something cross the road!  Just as I got to that side, the three turkey's below had crossed the trail & were headed for the shade of the nearby tree!

Enjoying the shade~

I don't blame them!  I wish I'd been faster with my phone.  Their feathers looked so pretty in the sunshine.

Wildflowers in bloom~

I still haven't identified these flowers - but they're sure a beautiful hue of purple!  I was on the last section of trail by the little power plant, when a super sweet smell filled the air!

Milkweed in bloom~

Making milkweed balls with seed & tossing them everywere is a "thing" here in the midwest.  Milkweed can be seen along the sides & in the ditches of almost every road.  Monarch butterfly larva need milkweed as food, so hopefully proliferating this plant will help the Monarch's. 

Blooms~

I was amazed at how wonderfully sweet they smell!  Good enough to eat - for sure!  Similiar to the scent of a Lilac bloom, but sweeter.  I didn't see any Monarch's, but hope I do before the season is over.

I didn't waste any time getting back to the Explorer!  It was 89 when I checked & I don't even want to know how high the humidity was!  It felt great to get in a ride, but I'll hope for a cooler day soon.