OK, it's still July 30, and I'm still sitting in the same coffee shop in Burton--time to catch up a little.
July 20 and 21, days 31 and 32 Madison, WI in AIR CONDITIONED dorms. Madison is a war zone, with construction everywhere. 3 of the riders and I got completely lost and a local cyclist gave us directions that ultimately worked. On the rest day I sewed in the quilt shop, Stitchers Crossing. Sharon, the owner, had invited me to spend the rest day sewing in her shop, and when I called the same invitation was extended. There were 2 other women sewing there. They are friends who used to live in the same town, but one of them moved to Illinois, so they meet in Madison once a month. They worked on beautiful quilts, and I worked on the charity quilt we started at Ft Flagler a few years ago.
July 22 day 33 Belvidere IL We stayed at a campground in Garden Prairie, a very small town a few miles east. The train went past, blowing it's whistle, as we were setting up camp, and we were envisioning another Newcastle, but we slept in silence. I went into Belvidere in the morning, looking for a McDonald's to read email. I didn't find it, but I did find The Brick, a coffee shop with wifi. When I saw the sign that said, "Hippies use Back Door--No Exceptions" I knew I was in the right place. Gary and Shari were great hosts, and we shared our stories of the 60's. The Brick is full of art, funky and other. I had the very best time. I also went to the quilt shop, which was very traditional, and 2 thrift shops, where I bought 2 more tank tops. It's so humid and hot that I pit out my shirts in one day.
July 23 day 34 Coal City, near Morris IL 106 miles! Very hot and humid. This is homeland for Dick, and 2 childhood friends and a sister-in-law took him to dinner. Camp was in a private campground with the bathrooms far away except for one portapotty.
July 24 day 35 Coal City to Valparaiso IN 84 miles Our 9th state. This is a 7 day stretch from Madison to Burton OH of 645 miles, probably the hardest part of the trip. At least it's mostly flat. The countryside continues to be beautiful, lush green, corn and beans, huge trees, dairy farms. Camp was AIR CONDITIONED dorm at Valparaiso U, a Lutheran college. Dick rode with me, and even treated me to lunch! It's very nice to have a navigator. Valparaiso has a wonderful quilt shop, Needle and Thread, in a victorian house--rooms and rooms of fabric of every type including Kaffe Fassett and other bright prints. I bought quite a lot. Website is www.quiltshopinvalparaiso.com. I also visited the drug store for a thumb brace, Solarcaine for everyone's prickly heat rash, and tincture of benzoin. Eric fell onto his crank and did an L shaped cut. He was told by a staff member that he didn't need stitches, and by the time Dr. John and I saw it, it was too late, so I steri-stripped it and covered it with Tegaderm. I'm very glad I brought Tegaderm--I've been using it on abrasions. The thumb brace--I wear it during the daytime and Margaret wears it at night--a good investment. I also stopped at Target for a box fan and some food. The fan is great! We're much more comfortable at night now.
July 25 day 36 Valpo to Kendallville IN 109 miles, our 2nd century in 3 days. I wrote Na in my notes, and now I haven't the faintest idea what it means. Camped at a Fairgrounds, with the 2nd worst showers of the trip, but otherwise a lovely place. Dinner was catered by a restaurant, very good--broasted chicken, mac and cheese, potato salad and strawberry shortcake for those who arrived earlier than I--at least I got some strawberries.
July 26 day 37 Kendallville to Napoleon OH 70 miles, the shortest day of this long stretch, and our 10th state. I took a side trip to Shipshewana in Amish country and the home of 3 quilt shops!!! I went to Yoder's Department Store which has 12,000 bolts, Lolly's, which has 14,000 bolts on 2 floors, and the Bernina store, which has little. It was fun to be in Yoder's after reading about it and seeing their ads in magazines for years. I found some Amish themed fabric there. I also went to the flea market, a huge affair, with mostly junk, but I did get a duffel bag for Bernie, whose bags are overweight and hurting people. In the auction barn I found a blue and white ocean waves quilt in excellent condition, but it didn't go on auction until the next day, and it was probably out of my price range (cheap) anyway. The town was filled with the Amish and their buggies--I think there were as many or more Amish than "English". I drove 120 miles, and was very late getting to camp, where dinner was catered by a volunteer group--barbequed pork sandwiches. We were in a park, and got electricity again--we get it almost every night, often by plugging into an outlet in the bathroom. I figured out what the Na was--Napoleon--I must use better abbreviations.
More later
Saturday, July 30, 2011
Big Ride Across America 2011
July 30 Day 41 We've had lots of problems getting online, and many VERY long days. We are in Burton, going to New Waterford OH today, only 59 miles, but lots of hills. I will stop in the Amish area 3 miles from here, to stroll around. Yesterday was a rest day, and all I did was laundry and try to fix my email problem. After an hour of chat room with Comcast, it was determined to be an Outlook problem, and they gave me Microsoft's 800 number. Can you believe that Microsoft no longer answers this line? The voice mail directed me to an internet site, where I spent another hour, during which the library closed and I had to sit outside. None of the fixes worked, so now I get email online through Comcast. What a frustrating day.
Burton is a lovely little town, with a town square. The fairgrounds is very nice, clean bathrooms, and a covered area for Baby. The day into Burton, though, was a trial, with many detours due to construction, and getting through Cleveland was a nightmare! I gave up on the cue sheet and found Route 6, which turned out to be a very bumpy road going through a scarey part of town. When Jessica arrived at camp, her comment was that the reason Bridget thought this was such a wonderful place was that "you're just happy you're not dead." Only a few of us stayed at the fairgrounds--the others were in hotels, B&B's, and a bunch of them stayed at Brian's mother's house here.
The highlight of the day was a stop at Dick's daughter, Kate's house on the west side of Cleveland. Dick spent the night there, and they brought him her last night. We all, including Jessica, went to dinner together for all you can eat breaded or battered pollock. I had never had pollock, and it was very good.
I must tell you about Jessica. She is the star of the trip. She lost 100 pounds and started training for the ride. She started out in the back of the pack and is now one of the fastest riders. She is riding for her daughter, who has severe asthma. She makes me laugh every day, and she is generous and kind.
Burton is a lovely little town, with a town square. The fairgrounds is very nice, clean bathrooms, and a covered area for Baby. The day into Burton, though, was a trial, with many detours due to construction, and getting through Cleveland was a nightmare! I gave up on the cue sheet and found Route 6, which turned out to be a very bumpy road going through a scarey part of town. When Jessica arrived at camp, her comment was that the reason Bridget thought this was such a wonderful place was that "you're just happy you're not dead." Only a few of us stayed at the fairgrounds--the others were in hotels, B&B's, and a bunch of them stayed at Brian's mother's house here.
The highlight of the day was a stop at Dick's daughter, Kate's house on the west side of Cleveland. Dick spent the night there, and they brought him her last night. We all, including Jessica, went to dinner together for all you can eat breaded or battered pollock. I had never had pollock, and it was very good.
I must tell you about Jessica. She is the star of the trip. She lost 100 pounds and started training for the ride. She started out in the back of the pack and is now one of the fastest riders. She is riding for her daughter, who has severe asthma. She makes me laugh every day, and she is generous and kind.
Wednesday, July 20, 2011
Big Ride Across America 2011
Our grandson, Julian, riding his bike across America. This was taken at an elementary school in Seattle. He went there for art camp. He didn't make any art, but they had bike day.
July 20 Viroqua to Madison WI 99.3 miles in 99 degrees with so much humidity that the heat index is 110 - 115 degrees. I'm in Viroqua as I write this. We have had to stay in hotels the past 3 nights, but I called ahead to the dorm at UW, and THE ROOMS ARE AIR CONDITIONED!!! Glory be to God!! The scenery has been beautiful--lots of green. Corn, soybean, corn, soybean--repeat ad infinitum, interspersed with huge green trees, orange lilies, queen anne's lace, and lots of other wildflowers.
We sent Dick off to a clinic in Winona, where, after multiple tests, he was proclaimed healthy as a horse. He was advised to get some real support hose, as his varicose veins weren't helping his swelling.
We stopped at the Meyers home in Dakota yesterday for a 2nd breakfast. The Meyers family has been hosting the Big Riders since 1998. None of the family has done the Ride, but they had been watching the cyclists ride by their house for several years, and decided to put on a feast for them--and what a feast! There were all kinds of home baked goodies (done at the church kitchen, which is cool), fruit, little sandwiches, and drinks, all served in Julie Meyers' garden, which is gorgeous. Since I've now mastered the picture thing, thanks to Margaret, I'll post some of the garden sometime.
We crossed the mighty Missippi today into Wisconsin, our 7th state.
Dick rode with me to Viroqua after his 5 hour ordeal at the clinic and E room. He was happy to stop at the air conditioned quilt shop in LaCrosse, where the owner told us how to get to the medical supply place where Julie Meyers told us she gets her support hose. We got the hose, then traveled through Amish country, where we followed the hand-lettered signs to an Amish farm that sold quilts, bread, cookies, jams, pickles and other quilty items. Dick bought a quilt for Mary. I bought a loaf of bread, jam and cookies for the riders. The young woman, Annie, showed us all the quilts, including a queen-sized one that she had hand quilted in a month! It was a fun day, in spite of the heat. Noel is doing well, as are most of the riders, though some of them are wondering if they can do the extra 30 miles today.
July 20 Viroqua to Madison WI 99.3 miles in 99 degrees with so much humidity that the heat index is 110 - 115 degrees. I'm in Viroqua as I write this. We have had to stay in hotels the past 3 nights, but I called ahead to the dorm at UW, and THE ROOMS ARE AIR CONDITIONED!!! Glory be to God!! The scenery has been beautiful--lots of green. Corn, soybean, corn, soybean--repeat ad infinitum, interspersed with huge green trees, orange lilies, queen anne's lace, and lots of other wildflowers.
We sent Dick off to a clinic in Winona, where, after multiple tests, he was proclaimed healthy as a horse. He was advised to get some real support hose, as his varicose veins weren't helping his swelling.
We stopped at the Meyers home in Dakota yesterday for a 2nd breakfast. The Meyers family has been hosting the Big Riders since 1998. None of the family has done the Ride, but they had been watching the cyclists ride by their house for several years, and decided to put on a feast for them--and what a feast! There were all kinds of home baked goodies (done at the church kitchen, which is cool), fruit, little sandwiches, and drinks, all served in Julie Meyers' garden, which is gorgeous. Since I've now mastered the picture thing, thanks to Margaret, I'll post some of the garden sometime.
We crossed the mighty Missippi today into Wisconsin, our 7th state.
Dick rode with me to Viroqua after his 5 hour ordeal at the clinic and E room. He was happy to stop at the air conditioned quilt shop in LaCrosse, where the owner told us how to get to the medical supply place where Julie Meyers told us she gets her support hose. We got the hose, then traveled through Amish country, where we followed the hand-lettered signs to an Amish farm that sold quilts, bread, cookies, jams, pickles and other quilty items. Dick bought a quilt for Mary. I bought a loaf of bread, jam and cookies for the riders. The young woman, Annie, showed us all the quilts, including a queen-sized one that she had hand quilted in a month! It was a fun day, in spite of the heat. Noel is doing well, as are most of the riders, though some of them are wondering if they can do the extra 30 miles today.
Sunday, July 17, 2011
Big Ride Across America 2011
July 15 Tyler to New Ulm 87 miles in severe heat and humidity so thick I could see it. Dick rode with me today. His whole body is swelling and he has been slow the last few days, so he and others decided he needed and extra rest day before the day off. Dr. John listened to his heart and lungs and nothing is awry, so it may just be the heat. We spent a lot of time in a drugstore along the way because it was air conditioned. We traveled through miles and miles of corn fields alternating with soybeans. So, the day I get a navigator is a one page cue sheet with no turns.
Big Ride Across America 2011
July 17 Owatonna MN
OK, I'm back. We're at the Microtel, which has both air conditioning and WiFi. I recommend to you Daria Kurkjy's blog www.bigride2011.com. She even has pictures!
So, continuing on about DeSmet. Daria met a Laura Ingalls Wilder historian from Georgia, who comes to DeSmet every summer. I took another "alternate route" and ended up in Fedora, Noel's father's hometown. Most towns list their population after the name, but Fedora didn't bother. All 2 or 3 of the commercial buildings and several homes were vacant, and the town has a sad look, but is situated in beautiful surroundings on a lake. When we arrived in DeSmet we learned that Charlton had been interviewed by a reporter whose father was from Fedora! I got her phone number from the newspaper office the next day and will give it to Noel when I find it. We think her grandfather may have known some Gilbroughs or Gulbraas.
OK, I'm back. We're at the Microtel, which has both air conditioning and WiFi. I recommend to you Daria Kurkjy's blog www.bigride2011.com. She even has pictures!
So, continuing on about DeSmet. Daria met a Laura Ingalls Wilder historian from Georgia, who comes to DeSmet every summer. I took another "alternate route" and ended up in Fedora, Noel's father's hometown. Most towns list their population after the name, but Fedora didn't bother. All 2 or 3 of the commercial buildings and several homes were vacant, and the town has a sad look, but is situated in beautiful surroundings on a lake. When we arrived in DeSmet we learned that Charlton had been interviewed by a reporter whose father was from Fedora! I got her phone number from the newspaper office the next day and will give it to Noel when I find it. We think her grandfather may have known some Gilbroughs or Gulbraas.
Big Ride Across America 2011
Sun, July 17 New Ulm MN
Very, very hot! And Humid! We spent 2 nights in the non air conditioned dorm at Martin Luther College. We had 3 fans going in our basement room, which made it possible to sleep. Tonight, we are staying in an air conditioned room at the Microtel in Owatonna--72miles for the riders. The temperature will be in the 90's with close to 100% humidity. The city (13,000) is very beautiful, and the town seems prosperous, with 2 quilt shops only a block apart--Spinning Spools http://www.spinningspoolsquiltshop.com/ has lots of batiks, MN fabrics, and other country-is fabrics--The Thimble Box http://www.thethimblebox.com/ has more MN fabrics, including the 2 state birds, the loon and the mosquito. It also boasts the Sven and Ole bookstore. Before we got here, everyone wanted to go to the Wurst Blast at the fairgrounds (this is a very German town), but we soon realized that the fairgrounds probably wasn't air conditioned, so Noel and Dick drove to a wurst house downtown, which was. I bought sandals to cool my feet.
Now to catch up:
July 9 Rapid City We had dinner with Noel's cousins, Diane and Dave at Diane and Ron's house. Daughter Katie and her husban Darren and baby boy were also there. Their home is beautiful, sitting on a hilltop with a view of the countryside and city, and the food was much better than dorm food! Cousin Mark couldn't come, as he was in Pierre, trying to clean up after the flood.
July 10 Rapid to Kadoka, 102 miles through a section of the Badlands. I'm not sure how to describe the Badlands, except to say that it is beautiful in an eerie sort of way. I recommend looking at Charlie Shuttleworth's pictures, which you can see via the American Lung Associaton Big Ride Across America website. Anothe website of note is Daria Kurkjy's, also accessable from the website. We had dinner and breakfast at the H&H Cafe, and eatery with a definite 50's theme--it even had a picture of a 55 Buick, my car during college.
July 11 Kadoka to Pierre 96 miles. Wow, averaging nearly 100miles per day for 2 days in a row! Pierre was badly flooded, so badly that the quilt shop was empty and closed. We were supposed to stay at the city park, but since it was under 4 feet of water, Charlton, the group leader, arranged with the principal of the high school, to stay there. Well, the principle didn't know that the boiler was broken, so no hot water for showers, very necessary after 96 miles. The maintenance man arranged for us to stay at the middle school, along with the Red Cross and the National Guard. We had electricity, so the fan kept us cool at night. The town was a mess, with sandbags everywhere. Noel was warned not to wear his belt with the Corps of Engineers buckle. I took an "alternate route" today, ending up on dirt roads to get back to the highway What the map did not tell me was that the road was washed out. I'm getting pretty good at backing and turning Baby. On the plus side of my adventure: a golden eagle flew up off the ground right in front of the truck, and I saw a meadow lark.
July 12 Pierre to Miller SD 73 miles with rain and a headwind. Again the countryside is all shades of green, plus it was a 3 pheasant day.
July 12 Miller to DeSmet 77 miles. DeSmet was named after Fr. DeSmet, and it was the home of Laura Ingalls Wilder from age 12 to her death in 1956. The Little House books were published from 1932 until 1943, and then postumhously from 1957 to the present. The town is all about Laura, and Hwy 14 is subtitled LIW Highway. We stayed in a park, it rained, all the tents got wet. Bernie and Daria stayed in a hotel
.
Very, very hot! And Humid! We spent 2 nights in the non air conditioned dorm at Martin Luther College. We had 3 fans going in our basement room, which made it possible to sleep. Tonight, we are staying in an air conditioned room at the Microtel in Owatonna--72miles for the riders. The temperature will be in the 90's with close to 100% humidity. The city (13,000) is very beautiful, and the town seems prosperous, with 2 quilt shops only a block apart--Spinning Spools http://www.spinningspoolsquiltshop.com/ has lots of batiks, MN fabrics, and other country-is fabrics--The Thimble Box http://www.thethimblebox.com/ has more MN fabrics, including the 2 state birds, the loon and the mosquito. It also boasts the Sven and Ole bookstore. Before we got here, everyone wanted to go to the Wurst Blast at the fairgrounds (this is a very German town), but we soon realized that the fairgrounds probably wasn't air conditioned, so Noel and Dick drove to a wurst house downtown, which was. I bought sandals to cool my feet.
Now to catch up:
July 9 Rapid City We had dinner with Noel's cousins, Diane and Dave at Diane and Ron's house. Daughter Katie and her husban Darren and baby boy were also there. Their home is beautiful, sitting on a hilltop with a view of the countryside and city, and the food was much better than dorm food! Cousin Mark couldn't come, as he was in Pierre, trying to clean up after the flood.
July 10 Rapid to Kadoka, 102 miles through a section of the Badlands. I'm not sure how to describe the Badlands, except to say that it is beautiful in an eerie sort of way. I recommend looking at Charlie Shuttleworth's pictures, which you can see via the American Lung Associaton Big Ride Across America website. Anothe website of note is Daria Kurkjy's, also accessable from the website. We had dinner and breakfast at the H&H Cafe, and eatery with a definite 50's theme--it even had a picture of a 55 Buick, my car during college.
July 11 Kadoka to Pierre 96 miles. Wow, averaging nearly 100miles per day for 2 days in a row! Pierre was badly flooded, so badly that the quilt shop was empty and closed. We were supposed to stay at the city park, but since it was under 4 feet of water, Charlton, the group leader, arranged with the principal of the high school, to stay there. Well, the principle didn't know that the boiler was broken, so no hot water for showers, very necessary after 96 miles. The maintenance man arranged for us to stay at the middle school, along with the Red Cross and the National Guard. We had electricity, so the fan kept us cool at night. The town was a mess, with sandbags everywhere. Noel was warned not to wear his belt with the Corps of Engineers buckle. I took an "alternate route" today, ending up on dirt roads to get back to the highway What the map did not tell me was that the road was washed out. I'm getting pretty good at backing and turning Baby. On the plus side of my adventure: a golden eagle flew up off the ground right in front of the truck, and I saw a meadow lark.
July 12 Pierre to Miller SD 73 miles with rain and a headwind. Again the countryside is all shades of green, plus it was a 3 pheasant day.
July 12 Miller to DeSmet 77 miles. DeSmet was named after Fr. DeSmet, and it was the home of Laura Ingalls Wilder from age 12 to her death in 1956. The Little House books were published from 1932 until 1943, and then postumhously from 1957 to the present. The town is all about Laura, and Hwy 14 is subtitled LIW Highway. We stayed in a park, it rained, all the tents got wet. Bernie and Daria stayed in a hotel
.
Friday, July 8, 2011
2011 BIG RIDE ACROSS AMERICA
July 7 Gillette to Newcastle 76 miles. Newcastle, as in coals to Newcastle. Hot day. A herd of 7 antelope crossed the road in front of me. One of them couldn't decide which side of the road he wanted to be on, so I had to stop and wait for him to make up his mind. We stayed at the Newcastle Senior Center, which used to be an elementary school. It's huge, and includes 10 apartments. I took a nap in one of the many recliners in the "family" room. They fed us dinner and then breakfast, including sticky buns as good as the ones I make. Oh, I finally remembered what BF stood for--Ben Franklin!. The night was noisy with the coal train whistle--every 45 minutes, lasting for at least a minute. At breakfast our leader, Charlton, thanked Dick Cheney for the coal trains. On my walk this morning I counted 70 empty coal cars heading for the mines. Did you know that WY is the leading producer of coal? It's such a windy state that wind farms have been suggested, but the feeling here is that windmills would be a blight on the countryside. ?
Happy Birthday MaryBeth!!
July 8 Newcastle to Rapid City 80 miles. Our 5th state, where helmets for motorcyclists and cyclists are optional, but recommended. I'm beginning to think I live in the best place possible. On my walk this morning I met 2 boxers, my favorite dogs; one of them jumped up and put her paws on my shoulders, just like our summer dog, Luna, does to Noel every morning. Very sweet. We drove through the Black Hills and Custer State Park, which included a very long downhill, much loved by the riders. Some saw buffalo, but I just saw more antelope. We are staying in a dorm at South Dakota School of Mines and Tech, and wonder of wonders, IT'S AIR CONDITIONED!!! This is the first time I've felt a chill since Seattle. My walking distance has been increasing steadily, and today I walked 10,000 steps--I'll try for it again tomorrow. We will have dinner with Noel's cousin, Diane, tomorrow--we haven't seen her since Michael was about 13. I picked up about 30 mail home boxes for the riders today. Charlton is thrilled to be dropping some weight off the truck.
Happy Birthday MaryBeth!!
July 8 Newcastle to Rapid City 80 miles. Our 5th state, where helmets for motorcyclists and cyclists are optional, but recommended. I'm beginning to think I live in the best place possible. On my walk this morning I met 2 boxers, my favorite dogs; one of them jumped up and put her paws on my shoulders, just like our summer dog, Luna, does to Noel every morning. Very sweet. We drove through the Black Hills and Custer State Park, which included a very long downhill, much loved by the riders. Some saw buffalo, but I just saw more antelope. We are staying in a dorm at South Dakota School of Mines and Tech, and wonder of wonders, IT'S AIR CONDITIONED!!! This is the first time I've felt a chill since Seattle. My walking distance has been increasing steadily, and today I walked 10,000 steps--I'll try for it again tomorrow. We will have dinner with Noel's cousin, Diane, tomorrow--we haven't seen her since Michael was about 13. I picked up about 30 mail home boxes for the riders today. Charlton is thrilled to be dropping some weight off the truck.
Thursday, July 7, 2011
Big Ride Across America 2011
Thurs, July 7--Happy birthday MaryBeth!!!
I don't know what happened to my last post, but I'll try to catch up.
July 4 was Hardin, a smallish town with no quilt shop, but there was a quilt show in the library--nice quilts, but nothing spectacular. I did stop at the Ben Franklin for elastic, since some of the riders are shrinking, and I managed to buy a few pieces for my trip quilt, and some batiks. We stayed at the KOA, which had a pool. We passed winter wheat, sugar beet, and behind the KOA was Coors and Budweiser barley. Lots of goldenrod. Tried to identify birds, but there are few places to pull off the road with Baby, so I was frustrated. Many of the riders went to the rodeo, a first for those from the East. We were again catered by Beyond Basil--another fantastic meal!
July 5 was Hardin to Sheridan, 87 miles. Another green day. When we crossed into Wyoming the roads changed from gray to red! I got an adapter for our fan so that we can run it on 12 volt. We've really needed it the last few days. Spectacular lightning storm at night, but no rain. Got to swim again at the KOA, and when I asked someone in the pool where they were from, they said, "Marysville WA". It was a whole family on their way to the grandpa's family reunion in Nebraska. I have seen so many greens on this trip that I have decided to do a small Trip Around the World quilt titled "Trip Around Montana". The greens continue to amaze me. I wrote "BF" in my notes, but I can't remember what it means. I guess I'd better use better abbreviations in the future.
July 6 Sheridan to Gillette WY, 112 miles! I left Sheridan so early that I didn't get to either of the quilt shops, but I did go to the Salvation Army and bought a tank top. I'm still looking for a lightweight skirt to replace the one I forgot, and for commemorative dish towels for my broken dishes quilt. The countryside is changing from lots of green to desert and green, still very beautiful with mountains in the background. The advantage of driving the back roads instead of I 90: In the teeny tiny town of Clearmont, pop 142, was The Best Kept Secret Quilt Shop, the only business in town. My first Kaffe Fassett since Odessa, lots of batiks, lots of half price remnants, $4 a yard fabrics, including Kaffe, $1 fat quarters, 3for$1 fat eighths, and a perfect RV fabric for the border of my journey quilt. She also had lots of felted wool, hand-dyed and others. I asked her why she wasn't in the quilters' travel book, and she said she was for about 5 or 6 years, and only one customer had found out about her from the book, so she saves $800 a year. She has a website: www.thebestkeptsecret.com, but she says she gets more in-store customers. Her prices are quite low. Everyone stopped at the Spotted Horse Cafe at mile 51, a tiny place with one woman running it. As we were leaving, I congratulated her on completing her marathon--it was the first time she smiled since we arrived. Passed our first coal strip mine--what a blight on the otherwise lovely countryside. We stayed at the high school, where we could have electricity. Ate at a restaurant. On restaurant nights each rider is given $12 for food. Noel, Dick and I have been buying our own dinners, which allows the group to buy beer--everybody loves us!
I don't know what happened to my last post, but I'll try to catch up.
July 4 was Hardin, a smallish town with no quilt shop, but there was a quilt show in the library--nice quilts, but nothing spectacular. I did stop at the Ben Franklin for elastic, since some of the riders are shrinking, and I managed to buy a few pieces for my trip quilt, and some batiks. We stayed at the KOA, which had a pool. We passed winter wheat, sugar beet, and behind the KOA was Coors and Budweiser barley. Lots of goldenrod. Tried to identify birds, but there are few places to pull off the road with Baby, so I was frustrated. Many of the riders went to the rodeo, a first for those from the East. We were again catered by Beyond Basil--another fantastic meal!
July 5 was Hardin to Sheridan, 87 miles. Another green day. When we crossed into Wyoming the roads changed from gray to red! I got an adapter for our fan so that we can run it on 12 volt. We've really needed it the last few days. Spectacular lightning storm at night, but no rain. Got to swim again at the KOA, and when I asked someone in the pool where they were from, they said, "Marysville WA". It was a whole family on their way to the grandpa's family reunion in Nebraska. I have seen so many greens on this trip that I have decided to do a small Trip Around the World quilt titled "Trip Around Montana". The greens continue to amaze me. I wrote "BF" in my notes, but I can't remember what it means. I guess I'd better use better abbreviations in the future.
July 6 Sheridan to Gillette WY, 112 miles! I left Sheridan so early that I didn't get to either of the quilt shops, but I did go to the Salvation Army and bought a tank top. I'm still looking for a lightweight skirt to replace the one I forgot, and for commemorative dish towels for my broken dishes quilt. The countryside is changing from lots of green to desert and green, still very beautiful with mountains in the background. The advantage of driving the back roads instead of I 90: In the teeny tiny town of Clearmont, pop 142, was The Best Kept Secret Quilt Shop, the only business in town. My first Kaffe Fassett since Odessa, lots of batiks, lots of half price remnants, $4 a yard fabrics, including Kaffe, $1 fat quarters, 3for$1 fat eighths, and a perfect RV fabric for the border of my journey quilt. She also had lots of felted wool, hand-dyed and others. I asked her why she wasn't in the quilters' travel book, and she said she was for about 5 or 6 years, and only one customer had found out about her from the book, so she saves $800 a year. She has a website: www.thebestkeptsecret.com, but she says she gets more in-store customers. Her prices are quite low. Everyone stopped at the Spotted Horse Cafe at mile 51, a tiny place with one woman running it. As we were leaving, I congratulated her on completing her marathon--it was the first time she smiled since we arrived. Passed our first coal strip mine--what a blight on the otherwise lovely countryside. We stayed at the high school, where we could have electricity. Ate at a restaurant. On restaurant nights each rider is given $12 for food. Noel, Dick and I have been buying our own dinners, which allows the group to buy beer--everybody loves us!
Sunday, July 3, 2011
Big Ride Across America 2011
Sunday, July 3,2011
We're in Billings, where it was 98 degrees today. We just had a little squall that cooled it down a bit. Today was a rest day, so Noel, Dick and I went to Mass where we heard the best sermon ever, and we sang a song to the tune of the Finnish national anthem instead of our own unsingable one. We went out to brunch at a wonderful place called Stella's, then I went to the Art Museum while the guys went to the bike shop. The best exhibit was the Hungarian early 20th century retrospective--I bought the catalogue. I also found out that I had missed the Archie Bray foundation in Helena, so I didn't get to see the pottery. It would have been much better than the quilt shop.
I did find a good quilt shop in Haverton on the 1st. I spent a lot of time in there talking to the owner--I think she's lonely. I managed to find some fabric my friend, Linda Shea was looking for, so it was a successful visit. I also got some 4th of July and some barbed wire fabric for my journey quilt. I had lunch at the cafe in Ryegate, home of the testicle festival (really!) They had Rocky Mountain Oysters on the menu, but I had eggs. Dinner last night was catered by Beyond Basil, and it was fantastic! They will follow us the 55 miles to Hardin tomorrow, because in the caterers words, "Hardin doesn't have shit."
We've seen lots of wildflowers in Montana, and the scenery is still very green, with lots of rolling hills. One of the other Northwesterners and I commented that everyone in Montana has a view, while we are blocked in by trees. I'm really enjoying the open spaces, but I'm not ready for 9 months of winter.
We're in Billings, where it was 98 degrees today. We just had a little squall that cooled it down a bit. Today was a rest day, so Noel, Dick and I went to Mass where we heard the best sermon ever, and we sang a song to the tune of the Finnish national anthem instead of our own unsingable one. We went out to brunch at a wonderful place called Stella's, then I went to the Art Museum while the guys went to the bike shop. The best exhibit was the Hungarian early 20th century retrospective--I bought the catalogue. I also found out that I had missed the Archie Bray foundation in Helena, so I didn't get to see the pottery. It would have been much better than the quilt shop.
I did find a good quilt shop in Haverton on the 1st. I spent a lot of time in there talking to the owner--I think she's lonely. I managed to find some fabric my friend, Linda Shea was looking for, so it was a successful visit. I also got some 4th of July and some barbed wire fabric for my journey quilt. I had lunch at the cafe in Ryegate, home of the testicle festival (really!) They had Rocky Mountain Oysters on the menu, but I had eggs. Dinner last night was catered by Beyond Basil, and it was fantastic! They will follow us the 55 miles to Hardin tomorrow, because in the caterers words, "Hardin doesn't have shit."
We've seen lots of wildflowers in Montana, and the scenery is still very green, with lots of rolling hills. One of the other Northwesterners and I commented that everyone in Montana has a view, while we are blocked in by trees. I'm really enjoying the open spaces, but I'm not ready for 9 months of winter.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)