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 ~

Return to the Trail!

 Today, after five days of gray weather & fog, the sun broke through!  I'd been watching the forecast hoping to get in at least one ride in the month of December!  My last ride was November 24th.  We found the Bronco & traded in the Explorer on the 30th.  I had to wait until the 10th to get a hitch installed on the Bronco.  The rest of December only had a couple days that weren't either cold, windy or both.

Butch had been researching electric bike racks & found the Lift Caddy.  He ordered one from Bike World in Ames.  The staff was a little surprised when the semi pulled up in front of the store.  Home for the holiday, Butch had time to get both the lift & rack installed.  

The Bronco & Shadow~

Today, was the first trip with the Bronco carrying my bike to the trail. The electric lift made loading & unloading the bike super easy!  Much easier than manhandling it onto the rack, even with the ramp.  Driving has become fun for me again, too.  I'm still getting used to the Bronco's smaller size & quicker response. 

The Bronco waits~

I parked at my usual spot.  It felt so good to be back on the bike, the air was so fresh!  Lake Manawa, surrounded by city, is a gem of nature.  I'm so lucky to live as close as we do & be able to enjoy the trails during the months the Wabash is in its freeze/thaw cycle.  I've given up even trying to ride the limestone once the weather changes.

On the trail~

A truly glorious afternoon, very quiet.  The sun was so warm, even with the breeze the bike makes, I took off my jacket more than once.  We've had so much fog, the trail was wet.  We haven't had any measurable precipitation in weeks & weeks.

Indian Creek Bridge~

As usual there was a headwind going up the west side of the park on the Indian creek trail.  When I stopped for the photo, one other rider passed.  The shadows are so long this time of year, Shadow lives up to her name.

Me & Shadow~

Can you recognize us?  The sun was getting lower in the sky & as it dropped, the temperature did too.  Still - we reached 50 mid-afternoon.

South end of the lake trails~

The smell of Juniper was thick in the air!  The conifers here, considered to be weed trees by many, are Eastern Red Cedar.  The name is a misnomer, since they belong to the genus of Juniperus. They are about the only native conifer in our area.  (Several years ago, we dug up four along the side of a country road & transplanted them to the marsh.  They've done well & I enjoy seeing anything green during the winter months.)  Why the smell was so pungent I don't know.  Maybe the moisture in the morning fog has something to do with it.  I absolutely love the smell.  The wood is used in the manufacturing of cedar chests.

My favorite view~

The stumps in the foreground are what's left of the huge old cottonwoods I used to admire.  Many cottonwoods were cut down in the park last year & I miss them.  I sat out in the sun for quite a while, it was just too nice a day.  There's hardly any ice on the lake so far this season, but that will probably change in the coming month.

The way back~

It was after 3:30 p.m. by the time I left to return to the Bronco.  My usual ride at the park is just under twelve miles. This year, my first ride on my new e-bike was March 28th.  Since then, I've ridden 565-miles.  I'd ridden my analog bike 100-miles earlier in the year, giving me a total of 665-miles for 2024.  More than last year, but less than the 800-miles I in rode in 2022.  My all-time biking total since 4/1/20 is 3,303 miles.  Not much compared to dedicated riders, but enough to keep me happy!