Memorial Day Weekend 2025 ~

 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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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. 

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.  

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...

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.

2021 ~

2020 ~

2019 ~

2018 ~ 

2017 ~

Green Valley State Park~

It was a gorgeous Sunday in Creston.  The horses I could see from the window in my room were snoozing in the shade.  I took Smokey downstairs in the elevator & loaded the bike.  I drove to Green Valley State Park, just a few miles outside of town.

On our way~

Spending a couple nights in town, gave me time to do some shopping yesterday in Greenfield & decorate my parents & paternal Grandparents graves at the Greenfieild Cemetary.  Today, I'd get in a ride, then go to Nevin & visit the family plot of my maternal Grandparents & Great-Grandparents.  Monday, I planned to attend the services in Greenfield, before making the drive back home.

Gorgeous Trail~

The day was warming quickly, so the spots of shade were welcome!  My right knee is still far from healed - after my fall a week ago.  Riding on the smooth concrete seemed so easy after our usual limestone on the Wabash.

Smokey~

The lake is beautiful whatever the time of day.  I did see many small, dead fish at this end.  I don't know if it was the intentional kill of an invasive species, or something else.  I never did see a Ranger to ask.  I rode all the way around to where the trail stops, at the campground.  

From here, you can access the road & ride back to where I started, but I'm not fond of road riding.  There are two sections where you have to be on the road anyway.  They're well posted with "Share the Road" signage, but on one section, a car stayed behind me, until I turned off on the next section of trail.  There was no traffic, so I've no idea why the driver thought staying behind me was the thing to do.  I kept an eye on my rear view mirror.

Shore by the campground~

The campground was full!  No surprise with the three day holiday.  Lots of people out enjoying such a beautiful weekend.  Only one family riding bikes though.  Otherwise I had the trail to myself.  I turned back at the campground.

Smokey on the spillway~

Going across the spillway - there always seems to be a little breeze, which I took full advantage of!  I'm far from acclimitized to the upcoming heat & humidity of the summer months.  Of course as dry as it's been, the humidty has been low!

Cattails~

The cattails are thriving in several places along the shoreline of the lake.  The water looked so clear & clean in these areas.  The swimming area by the campground was open, though only a few people were in the water.

View from the shore of the wind turbine's~

As I made my way back along the east side - the views have changed over the years, to include the wind turbines that now dot the landscape in this area.  I don't like them, don't like the look & think they're a blight on our otherwise rolling, lush green fields.   

A section of shade~

Back to the trees! I'm so used to the shade of the Wabash, being out in the bright sun was a change!  The temperature was climbing & the breeze had died down.  After seven miles, I was ready to be done. 

The Explorer waits~

There are only a couple short hills & the last brought me back to the Explorer.  I returned to the motel & had my usual lunch - an apple with cheese - before driving over to Nevin.

The little cemetary~

I feel at home in this part of the country.  Grandma used to bring me every summer to pull weeds & clean up around Grandpa's grave.  It was here - she told me I would be "the one" to return to Iowa.  Since our move, I come here at least once a year.  There's a guest book at the gate & the few of us who visit always stop to sign.  An almost forgotten, quiet spot on Iowa's landscape.  

I did miss having Butch & Nika with me ~

Memorial Day - Greenfield ~

 This was the fifth year we've made the drive east to Greenfield for Memorial Day.  (Nika again stayed with Doris.)  We decided to stay in Creston this year, closer to Green Valley State Park, where we'd planned to ride our bikes.

We left home early Sunday.  I wanted plenty of time to tidy things up at both cemeteries where my family are buried & change out flowers in the vases.  When we drove to Greenfield, the flag poles were up!  A sure sign the flags would be added early in the morning. 

Memorial Day, driving in from Creston, the view of  all the flags flying again, was amazing to see.  

Greenfield Cemetery~

Greenfield American Legion Head-Endres Post No. 265 and V.F.W. Post No. 5357 - hadn't flown the flags for the last two-years.  It's a large, labor intensive job & can't be done in bad weather.  The day was cool & with high overcast.  Just a light breeze from time to time caught the flags & put them in motion.  

Veteran Sunken Garden

Again, as part of the ceremony, a roll call of the name of each Veteran was spoken, followed by a 21-gun salute.  It took just over twenty-minutes.  676 Crosses are in the garden.  Among them, my Dad's, brother Russ & several Uncles.

My Dad's cross~

The poppies are in a bundle at the head of each row.  When the time comes, the people attending are asked to walk the rows & add a poppy to each cross.  This year I took my turn.

Dad's flag, my brother's next~

It gives me comfort to see Dad & my brother Russ's flags next to each other.  Two of the 456 displayed on this Memorial Day.

My Mother, Brother & Dad~

Artificial flowers were hard to come by this year.  Hobby Lobby's shelves were stripped almost bare.  Butch's sharp eyes found the beautiful green hydrangea.   We bring flags for the flag holders each year, but this year, they were already placed.

Overhead as we were driving out~

We visited other family graves before leaving.  I'm always melancholy after the service.  We drove back to Creston & had lunch before stopping at the True Value.  It's one of the places we enjoy browsing through, when we visit.  I found a really nice sized Aronia Berry bush.  I'm going to try to keep this one alive & go from there!

Green Valley State Park~

 Saturday, Butch drove an activity, so we loaded our bikes & left for Creston, Sunday morning.  The drive over is always so pretty.  Rain was predicted, it was overcast & cool.  Once in town, we stopped for lunch, before driving to the family plot north of town.  From there, on to Greenfield, to put fresh artificial flowers on my parents, brother & paternal Grandparents headstones.  Always a sad time for me.

Back in Creston, we signed into our room before driving out to Green Valley State Park.  I'd looked online & discovered there was a bike trail at least part way around the lake.  It was just before 6 p.m. when we found a parking area.  

Ready to ride~

Signage wasn't explicit, as to just where the trail was.  Butch saw a concrete trail just across the road from where we'd parked.  It looked to me, like it was heading the wrong direction, but away we went!

The top of the first hill!

Well...  I need to amend that statement!  Away Butch went, gears clicking!  My poor leg - was cold out of the gate...  I also haven't had any practice on BIG hills!  I was all the way into my highest gear, flying downhill.  Then - when Breezy hit the steepest part of the climb...  Well, too late to shift...

Butch at the crest~

When I was done walking my bike up to the top, the view that greeted me, was not the one I wanted to see!  I'm used to gradual inclines, not monster hills!  I continued on though - the downhills were a blast!  I did my best, but ended by walking at least a third of the way up.

Thankfully, the trail ended at a gravel road.  There were two ladies walking & I asked if there was another trail around the lake?

Well, yes!  There was one, the other direction from where we'd left the Explorer.  Oh No...  Now I had to do the same thing all over again!  My poor knee & ankle, were just not up to the multiple rotations of the lower gears.

Butch waits as I catch up~

It was a stunning evening!  Cool, no wind & the park freshly mowed.  We rode by a stand of young Walnut trees, my favorites.

Breezy at the lake~

I had to stop for a photo...  The sky, with clouds moving in, reflecting on the water was amazing...

The trail dropped us off at a road, with a share the roads, bike sign.  We took the road & came to the sign below, where the trail continued.

Entrance~

My Garmin hadn't recorder the earlier part of the ride on the hills & I hadn't noticed until we were on the lake trail.  From when I'd turned it on, we'd gone just over three-miles.

Such a beautiful park~

We whizzed right along & found the campground, where the trail again disappeared?  We stopped to talk to the Ranger & ask where the trail continued.  It didn't, except for a grassy way not mowed.  He  asked how far we'd ridden?  When I told him about 4-miles, he knew we'd started from the spillway parking area.  Our only option, was to ride back the way we'd come.

Tree Swallow~

It was such a nice evening, the ride back would be beautiful too.  The campground was full!  A couple young boys came up on their bikes & I asked if I could get a tow?  Oh - for the energy of youth!

Connie on the Causeway~

There were a few fishermen out on the lake, but the park was overall, very quiet.  As we rounded a corner, Butch had stopped to see the family of Geese below.  

Canadian Geese ~

We finished the ride at just under 8-miles, not counting the Big hills!  

The very bottom is where we'd parked~

The road you can just see at the bottom of the image, goes to Creston.  It's gravel from the parking lot we'd found - at the end of the concrete.  As you can see, it's a big lake!  Really a fun ride too!