tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-31379060808238335902024-02-08T06:15:48.392-08:002007 cycling to FloridaSue Yerexhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16379247902323983167noreply@blogger.comBlogger40125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3137906080823833590.post-46996802495474818622007-11-29T15:48:00.000-08:002007-11-29T15:49:46.214-08:00Florida with pictures<a href="http://ks.yerex.ca/2007_part16.pdf">The End Part 1 - Florida</a><em></em>Sue Yerexhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16379247902323983167noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3137906080823833590.post-79517602374140304662007-11-28T12:38:00.000-08:002007-11-28T12:39:27.167-08:00Georgia with Pictures<a href="http://ks.yerex.ca/2007_part15.pdf">Georgia</a><em></em>Sue Yerexhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16379247902323983167noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3137906080823833590.post-90425383410264534852007-11-28T04:10:00.000-08:002007-11-28T04:12:02.951-08:00FloridaNov 27/07<br /><br />Well we have arrived in Tallahassee to a warm welcome from our ski friends the Baldinos<br />Headed home to the cold weather and hopefully skiing.<br />See you all soon<br />SueSue Yerexhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16379247902323983167noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3137906080823833590.post-46026679436531977652007-11-21T17:37:00.000-08:002007-11-21T17:39:05.816-08:00South Carolina with Pictures<a href="http://ks.yerex.ca/2007_part14.pdf">South Carolina</a><em></em>Sue Yerexhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16379247902323983167noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3137906080823833590.post-79063556300042159622007-11-15T15:40:00.001-08:002007-11-15T15:40:46.411-08:00North Carolina with pictures<a href="http://ks.yerex.ca/2007_part13.pdf">North Carolina</a><em></em>Sue Yerexhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16379247902323983167noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3137906080823833590.post-49389823686797779912007-11-09T13:51:00.000-08:002007-11-09T13:55:43.973-08:00Virginia logIf your interested in seeing our Virginia Log look at the Oct 30 posting with 3 states on it... we were having a computer glitch but are hoping it is over<br />Okay<br />Enjoy<br />PS go to Teague Quinn and Julies site http://adventuresinbabyrearing.blogspot.com/<br /><br />It's great<br />Bye for now<br />Sue and KenSue Yerexhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16379247902323983167noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3137906080823833590.post-305315946493607732007-11-08T14:10:00.000-08:002007-11-08T14:12:48.411-08:00Alive and well on the coast of North CarolinaHi everyone<br />We haven't been able to access our emails for a few days so this might reach a few of you. We are in Avon on the outer Banks of North Carolina and it is COLD! We will go to the library maybe omorrow and get more in touch or leave a message on our home phone as we have been checking that<br />Take care<br />SueSue Yerexhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16379247902323983167noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3137906080823833590.post-29260079271094431422007-10-30T19:02:00.000-07:002007-11-15T15:39:48.842-08:00Log with Pictures<a href="http://ks.yerex.ca/2007_part10.pdf">Pennsylvania</a><em></em><br /><br /><a href="http://ks.yerex.ca/2007_part11.pdf">Maryland & Washington DC</a><em></em><br /><br /><a href="http://ks.yerex.ca/2007_part12.pdf">Virginia</a><em></em>Sue Yerexhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16379247902323983167noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3137906080823833590.post-14971223998965585032007-10-20T17:32:00.000-07:002007-10-20T17:34:54.149-07:00TornadosJust to let everyone in cyberspace know we are long past the tornado that hit in Indiana and Minnisoda. We are in Pennsylvania enjoying the warmer weather and rain! and wind! and HILLS! Very tired in need of a day off!Sue Yerexhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16379247902323983167noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3137906080823833590.post-84997320540354398742007-10-13T05:52:00.000-07:002007-10-19T20:19:09.298-07:00log With PcturesLOG With Pictures<br /><br /><a href="http://ks.yerex.ca/2007Logpart1Kelowna-to-Cardston.pdf">BC - Alberta</a><em></em><br /><br /><a href="http://ks.yerex.ca/2007_part2.pdf">Montana</a><em></em><br /><br /><a href="http://ks.yerex.ca/2007_part3.pdf">North Dakota</a><em></em><br /><br /><a href="http://ks.yerex.ca/2007_part4.pdf">Minnisota</a><em></em><br /><br /><a href="http://ks.yerex.ca/2007_part5.pdf">Iowa</a><em></em><br /><br /><a href="http://ks.yerex.ca/2007_part6.pdf">ILLINOIS</a><em></em><br /><br /><a href="http://ks.yerex.ca/2007_part7.pdf">Indiana</a><em></em><br /><br /><a href="http://ks.yerex.ca/2007_part8.pdf">Ohio</a><em></em>Sue Yerexhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16379247902323983167noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3137906080823833590.post-42244628797755395492007-10-07T05:08:00.000-07:002007-10-07T05:11:29.753-07:00last day in Iowa Oct 5 Day 58 from homeDAY FIFTY-EIGHT KEOKUK IA 24.12km (to see the Iowa pictures go to the post below and the link to Iowa log]<br />Oct6 Saturday D24.12km M 35.4 A 9.6 REST DAY total 4576.9km<br /> <br />Well what a day we have had. Started out by going by 521 Morgan street which is the address the French’s lived at in 1901 It is not the house I have a picture of that was thought to be their house, but I think this is definitely where they lived. No answer so I took pictures and spoke to a fellow across the street who said their house was built in 1890 so I’m sure this house was here in 1901. It is a neat looking house and would have been fun to go inside but we returned later in the day and still no one home.<br /> <br /><br />We also did a ride along Grand Avenue which has a lot of history of houses built when they would have lived here. One [4 Park Place] is the house of Thomas R Ayers a jewelry and music merchant who the city listing for 1901 states that Eunice [grandma’s mother] was the secretary for… it doesn’t say that Frank worked as a jeweler there or if he had his own shop. It is only a few blocks from the French home on a tree lined street with other large homes. <br /> <br /><br />We went to the library for a map of the grave yard and the info on the internet says they are buried in section E Well we walked for almost 3 hours and we found the other 3 French’s which I don’t know if they are relations, in a section we are sure is R but in all the areas we think are E we found no French’s. It is a very hilly graveyard, very large and not well marked out. Also there are a lot of stones in disrepair so the stones may have been removed if damaged. We were exhausted by the time we walked and walked.<br /> <br /><br /> <br />Picture of one part of E section of Oakwood Cemetary Keokuk Iowa<br /> <br />Church around the corner from Morgan St Court house that might have been the University in 1900<br /> <br />This was a very busy port town in 1901. Today the population is 11,427 I will have to research if it is more or less than 1901. It is full of brick buildings, homes and businesses. I did find out that Mom’s Aunt Ada graduated 1900 from the University of Iowa as a physician. Keokuk was the first site of this university, but it is now in Iowa City. There is a medical museum there but we are not able to go there at this time. I have emailed them to see if they have any information on her. I do know she was not able to work as a Dr when she was in Canada as she would have had to write her exams again<br /> <br />Chief Keokuk [town named after] View from Grand Ave houses of the Mississippi River<br /><br /> <br />View from the Chief Keokuk statue site.Sue Yerexhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16379247902323983167noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3137906080823833590.post-26278169880215696842007-10-05T22:49:00.000-07:002007-10-05T22:50:27.288-07:00day57 KEOKUK IOWADAY FIFTY-SEVEN Snively Access CG to KEOKUK IA 118km<br />Oct5 Friday D126.81 km M 42 A 15.2 PT7 h45 RT 11h total 4544.1km<br /><br />Wind Oh I think I will remove this comment as it is head wind day after day! A lady in the tourist info said canoeist going down the Mississippi River complain about the south winds too<br />Temp Oh I need a big Sun ikon! Not a cloud all day and 30C<br />Road Condition Well was great until we had to go on the divided hiway with very minimal shoulder [maybe12”] and parts with no paved shoulder at all. All had a drop down gravel piece.<br />Food: Breakfast Well we had to flee from the mosquitos at Snively before we could have breakfast<br /> Lunch We pressed on and on today to make it to Keokuk so lunch was on the bench at Burlington tourist info<br /> Supper We pigged out on baked potatoes with beans, spinach filled nuggest, CINAMON BUNS! All home cooked as we are in a hotel by choice so we can tour around the city tomorrow<br />Overall: Well to all those decendants of Florence French [Tomlinson] if your reading this you know we are in KEOKUK IOWA the birth place of that same Grandma! We were 180 km north of here 2 days ago and I talked Ken [well didn’t take too much persuasion] him into diverting to down here. He thought we could come back in our old age, but I don’t think I will be coming this way again for a long time…. It is a long long way from home! By any type of transportation. Anyways what is a trip without looking up some geniology. We went racing to the cemetery where Great Grandfather and grandmother French are buried to find 7000 gravestones! Where to start? Well we road around until dark and headed back to the hotel to regroup and eat supper after a very long day in the saddle.<br />We spent the evening on the internet and low and behold I found a sight with the listing of the people buried in Oakland Cemetary Keokuk Iowa and found 4 : Frank and his wife Eunice, their son Fred and daughter Helen [Ada and Lillian are buried in Pella, Iowa so that will be another trip maybe] I must ask Thalia if she knows why they are over there. I do know they returned from Canada to Pella Iowa and lived there for a time, but I think as Fred was here in Keokuk that is why the parents are also.<br /><br />Anyways we are also going to the address of the family home which I got off a postcard to Grandma when she lived here. Also I was able to get off the internet a city listing of names and addresses [they had no phones] for 1901 and it lists: Frank [father] Eunice[mother] Ada[Physician-dtr] Florence[dtr] Helen [dtr] as living at 521 Morgan Street so we will go and see what is on that sight today! Well tomorrow! I didn’t realize they had listings other than cencus so it’s kind of neat they did. Well off to bed.Sue Yerexhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16379247902323983167noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3137906080823833590.post-57432979256678086032007-10-05T22:48:00.000-07:002007-10-05T22:49:35.172-07:00day56 Snively AccessDAY FIFTY-SIX Bennet IA to Snively Access CG on lake<br />Oct 4 Thursday D 77km M 44.5 A 15.4 PT 5h RT9h total 4425.9km<br /><br />Wind from the south again! Although the road didn’t go straight all the time<br />Temp Really warm 30C in afternoon Went Swimming Oct 4 and the water wasn’t cold<br />Road Condition No shoulder other than gravel all day on cement roads<br />Food: Breakfast usual<br /> Lunch in Muscatine at 1430 at Taco Bell and we actually liked it! Seven layer veggie burrittos<br /> Supper Tomato/Avocado/cheese salad and bread with a lot of mosquitos!<br />Overall: One of the most fun days. We waited for the tent to dry which took until 0930, then road back into Bennett and phoned Aunt Thalia for an address in Keokuk off one of Grandma’s postcards The address is 521 Morgan St. We checked it out on the map and it is right down town so the house may be gone now but we plan to go check it out tomorrow if and when we ever get there. We will be looking for a graveyard also as Grandma’s brother Fredrich died in Keokuk as did her sister Helen. Both of here parents are buried in Keokuk too so we hope to find that info. Should be an interesting day as we think we are at least 117km away… might try for a hotel downtown.<br />One of the things that made today so interesting was<br />a. the terrain is so much like southern central Alberta it is amazing and if they were harvesting wheat you couldn’t tell it apart<br />b. I stopped to take a picture of a person harvesting corn and she offered to take me on a round of the field so I went…. She thought one circuit would be 30minutes, but closer to an hour later Ken was still standing at the side of the road. … interesting things I learned<br />· Karen The combine Queen, who is about my age with 4 children and 5 grandchildren, related that this corn is for domestic use for things like corn syrup, etc.<br />· 1sq mile of field which is 640 acres Right now $3.25 a bushel for corn or ~$1000 for one bin as pictured<br />· cost of farming is getting very high…. Combine ~$100thousand and the head for corn ~$60thousand and same for a head for soya beans<br />· she updated my thinking about the wood burners or corn burners… they burn the kernels not the plant and you cann’t burn either or so when corn is too costly you cann’t burn wood<br />· they alternate beans and corn each year in different fields<br />· land is ~$6000/acre here which is very good land<br />· it was really neat sitting in air conditioned comfort watching the corn be mutilated and see it go up into the back of the combine and then she dumped it into a wagon pulled by a tractor. A lot to watch that the tractor isn’t going too fast or slow so the kernels are onto the ground! Their dog who is 11 years old runs along side and makes sure she is in the right rows…. The corn is planted in rows specifically the right width for the combine to fit down… maybe the pictures show it as it is really hard to explain<br />· Anyways she said it would take weeks to finish this one field and they have 5 just as big! They are hopping the weather will remain warm now for the rest of October as so are we!<br />We are sitting in the tent hiding from the mosquitos… and trying to kill the ones that are in the tent! The fish are jumping and making such big splashes Ken went to check they weren’t something else ie alligators or something!<br />This is truly a lovely spot with no other campers on a Thursday night. We are right at the shore of this lake which isn’t often any longer in Canada. Most campsites are away from the water and the picnic sites are on the shore. Well Mom often said be careful what you wish for and we were really wishing the warm weather would return and with it came mossies!<br />I must mention what a neat city Muscatine is. The down town is very old buildings and seems to have lots of businesses going. The grocery store had duel language signs everywhere…. Spanish and English! Lots of Mexican type foods in the grocery also… Ken spoke to a fellow outside the grocery that said he isn’t taking his 3 weeks holidays as they will pay him out instead and it’s $1000. in his pocket…. Wages cann’t be much making plastic buckets. He agreed that there are a lot of Mexicans here.<br />Ken is finding the daylight hours way to short for his liking. We got into camp about 6:30pm and the sun is down by 7pm with about ½ hour of twilight. Diner in the dark once again. The new addition of a night light in the tent is marvelous! I am very excited to go to Keokuk tomorrow!Sue Yerexhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16379247902323983167noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3137906080823833590.post-82880291420444762502007-10-05T22:47:00.000-07:002007-10-05T22:48:40.157-07:00day 55 Bennet IADAY FIFTY-FIVE Dyersville IA to Bennet IA<br />Oct 3/07 Wednesday D110.58 km M 46.8 A 16.3 PT6h52 RT8.5h total 4348.9km<br /><br />Wind minimal from the southwest in am…. More from the south in pm<br />Temp Beautiful sunny day with no clouds! Up to 25C in afternoon…. Tank top day!<br />Road Condition Well so far we cann’t say much nice about Iowa roads… cement hiways [blump, blump] rough and gravel drop down shoulders… not nice, but all drivers seem to wait or move over for us<br />Food: Breakfast Outside the grocery…. Apples and high fiber bars!<br /> Lunch Well we didn’t have a sticky bun stop… Ken will be in withdrawal! We had a picnic in Onslow I had a tomato, avocado with cheese pieces and carrots salad… the salad spritzer is a great invention… doesn’t need refrigeration… although I have my freezer pack frozen today. Many “pop” stops as warmer day Ken is a peanut butter boy!<br /> Supper We repeated lunch with English muffins… the selection of breads is pretty poor… no bakery’s in these small towns. <br />Accommodation: Well we got back on track and made it to Bennet Park CG Although it is 5km out of Bennet, it is a really nice grassy spot and very reasonable at $5 [$7.50 with electricity] We splurged and bought an extention cord and a night light which is really nice in the tent! Mossies are out at sunset….. gone by dark…. Millions of stars!<br />Overall: Really a nice day with the warm sun… lots of hills….Had to play catch up and do 24km to Cascade from yesterdays plan…after that the day was long, but nice riding. The farms seem larger, more prosperous from the look of the farm yards. They are very busy harvesting today as it is one of the first dry days in a while. Corn and more corn today. Some more mixed farms… heard roosters crowing, saw really big pigs. They have small little “dog-houses” one for each sow… they are loving the wet weather… just laying in the mud!<br /><br />The small towns seem to be more viable than say in southern Saskatchewan… everyone seems busy and they seem to be keeping their post offices and gas stations. ++flies… I think this is usual for the fall, but you cann’t even go in a restaurant without there being lots.<br /><br />Flags….. every home has one… are they more patriotic? Lots of Pumpkins and Halloween ghosts and decorations.<br /><br />Lots of the wood heaters seen…. We also saw them advertised as “corn burners” too. <br /><br />Ken commented that we are still seeing lots of dead raccoons on the road, but we have yet to see one in a campsite… or have it come visit our stuff in the night.<br /><br />Looking at going to Keokuk 184km out of the way so will take up the 2 extra days we are ahead and 2 more days to get back on track…. Worth it or not?Sue Yerexhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16379247902323983167noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3137906080823833590.post-70892727425220554422007-10-02T19:37:00.000-07:002007-10-02T19:38:20.218-07:00Day 54 McGregor to Dyersville IADAY FIFTY-FOUR McGregor IA to Dyersville IA<br />Oct 2 Tuesday D 75.82km M 39.3 A 13.6 PT5h32 RT9h total 4238.4km<br /><br />Wind Oh I’m fed up with talking about the south winds Head winds all day once again!<br />Temp 18C with 100% humidity first thing this morning to 22C and a thunderstorm by 3:30pm<br />Road Condition great with some 8% grades up and down; Hwy 52 terrible with 2” drop to gravel shoulder/ traffic++<br />Food: Breakfast Boring as usual until we stopped for a coffee break and had cinnamon buns in Gutteberg<br /> Lunch Luxenburg picnic<br /> Supper Pizza out while the clothes washed themselves<br />Accommodation: No trouble at the campsite. Up and off by 0700 as foggy and a long day ahead.<br />Overall: Really strenuous day up up and down down into the wind. Neat views of large Mississippi River. Threat of rain all day finally hit at 1430 in New Vienna. We raced into a auto mechanics shop and stayed there for an hour until the lightening and thunder moved off. Really rained hard. We made a reservation with a hotel and set off in a drizzle to arrive a little wet. It poured on and off all evening. We did our laundry while we went out for pizza and it poured and blew a gail once more. There were tornado warnings for south of us, but I don’t think they hit Iowa. Very turbulent weather. We have headed away from the Mississippi River as we go straight south. Didn’t make it to Cascade today but hope to make up the lost time in the next few days. My grandmother [Florence French/Tomlinson] was from Keokuk Iowa in the extreme south. We are hoping to go there if the weather systems start to settle down in the next few days.Sue Yerexhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16379247902323983167noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3137906080823833590.post-85495390483363318552007-10-02T19:36:00.000-07:002007-10-02T19:37:18.996-07:00Day 53 Brownsville to McGregor IADAY FIFTY-Three Brownsville, MN to McGregor IA<br />Oct 1 Monday D93.51 km M 49.1A 16.7 PT 5h35 RT9h total 4162.5 km<br /><br />Wind I love to say it….. NO WIND!!!<br />Temp warm…. We got up to 18C and muggy and it was overcast all day with threat of rain which never came<br />Road Condition great rolling ride along the rambling Mississippi River <br />Food: Breakfast fruit<br /> Lunch Well we have to mention the CHOCOLATE PIE for coffee in New Albin MN It was scrumcious <br /> Supper Had a late lunch of Pizza in Lansing and we pedaled on.<br />ACCOMODATION: Red Blood Municipal CG: Well we were headed to Sleepy Hollow CG which we went to but it had no showers so we came back down out of the hills to go to Spook Cave CG and came across the entrance for this one…. 1m off the road to find it was closed yesterday too…. Well we debated… I went to ask at 2 different houses… got cornered by 2 dogs… “nice dog… nice dog” as I backed away anyways I was exhausted so we put up tent to learn that there was open camping a little farther down the road… this spot apparently was closed due to flooding…. No signs so we are staying put… hopefully no one troubles us. <br />Overall: Hot and humid. Left once more at 8am! The days are shorter now with only 12 hours of sunlight… that is if it is sunny. It was a good ride. Lots of mobiles and float houses all along the river which seemed to be braided. Lots of sign of flooding into fields and areas you could see the trees were large and under water. Hard to know if the housing is summer homes or permanent houses. Incredible number of old old…[50’s] mobiles.Sue Yerexhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16379247902323983167noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3137906080823833590.post-22907084766293122702007-10-02T19:35:00.000-07:002007-10-02T19:36:26.648-07:00Winona to Brownsville MN Day 52DAY FIFTY-TWO Winona MN to Brownsville, MN [should have made IOWA]<br />Sept 30 Sunday D76.93 km M 41.1 A 15.1 PT 5h RT h total km<br /><br />Wind pedaled pedaled pedaled into the wind all day… very exhauting<br />Temp Got up after it rained and thundered all night. Hot overnight [south wind]and very HUMID! Everything feels sticky<br />Road Condition We went off Hwy 61 onto CR 7 which went over hill and dail up up to a bluff with apple orchards much like Kelowna. The roads were all good. Day just seemed to go on and on and threat of rain all day.<br />Accommodation We arrived at Wildcat landing CG to find it had closed that day. There were showers but closed. No one around to talk to so we set up in a shelter and stayed the night. The outhouses were open. We had another thunderstorm which started right after a great supper and went on and off all night. We were right on the Mississippi river and watched the barges go by all night. The train was across the river and the whistles sounded very musical across the water.<br />Food: Breakfast usual<br /> Lunch I had a subway veggie sand and Ken ordered veggie omlet [took 45min to come as the cook had quit] Interesting Truck Stop…. They were so busy that people were ordering meals and leaving before they were delivered because it was so long with 1 cook. I felt sorry for the waitress, but it didn’t seem to bother her.<br /> Supper beans on toast and burgers… were really good as I made the fire! In the raised barbeque Lots of drift wood on the beach to make fire with. We were entertained by the fishermen going by and the barges of maybe coal.<br />Overall: Up and off by 8am… not usual but tent is dry. Had to make up 21km from yesterday as we stopped earlier than we anticipated and had not realized it was still 20km to go to the expected campsite. Oh well. Lots of spots where we could see that they had had “land-slides” down hill sides… one spot where a house was taken out between 2 others… lots of huge trees down… just uprooted.Sue Yerexhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16379247902323983167noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3137906080823833590.post-51822070712497050732007-09-29T14:15:00.000-07:002007-09-29T14:20:03.519-07:00Minnisota Entire Log<a href="http://ks.yerex.ca/2007_part4.pdf">View Entire Minnisota Log with Pictures</a>Sue Yerexhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16379247902323983167noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3137906080823833590.post-62366727731539777432007-09-29T13:32:00.000-07:002007-09-29T13:33:24.594-07:00FIFTY DAYS FROM HOME!!! Sept 28DAY FIFTY Lake City to Winona 89 km <br />Sept 28 Friday D 93.16km M 36.6 A 16.7 PT 5h33 RT 6.5h total 3980.4km<br /><br />Wind No wind in my ears finally….but slightly from the south… meaning into the wind for another day!<br />Temp Lovely warm morning with the sun on the tent 12C warmed up to 25C so yes Bruce we are in shirt sleeves!<br />Road Condition good wide shoulder…. Became a divided hiway with 0 traffic so really nice rolling Could be Kelowna when you look across the Mississippi River and see the hills. Still really LAKE country like homes.<br />Accommodation Well we didn’t go to the KOA as the Prairie Island Park and CG looked way to good. They are having a Boats and bluegrass festival this weekend. The camp is separated into mostly tents[unserviced] and then caravans [services]so we don’t have to listen to generators, heaters etc turning on and off all night. This is the most people we have seen in a campsite for about 3 weeks… mostly the festival I quess. Food: Breakfast Great new apples HARRISONS<br /> Lunch Stopped in Wabasha for a picnic. The fire hall had some really loud emergency siren go off at 1130 and again at 1200…go figure doesn’t anyone have a watch?<br /> Supper Well every time we get into a bigger city [Winona is 16,000pop] we get better food in the grocery at least…. Good “chicken-like” burgers [Morning Star]. We approached John and Beth [he must be a boy scout] who had a ragging bon fire and cooked our burgers there as it is getting dark early [6:15pm] so no time to make our own fire. Anyways Salad and burgers hit the spot! [22million pounds of beef burgers are being recalled for ecoli!]<br /><br />Overall: I think this is one of the nicest days for a while… Lots of sun, rolling hills not as big as in Kelowna, good road surface and minimal traffic with really pretty views.[They don’t make cereal in Kellogg] Lots of geese and Pelicans. The train line runs across on the other side of the River and I think there is one every ½ hour! Everyone is really friendly. There is a fellow here in camp who is hitch-hiking and walking all over… he is from the deep south and has more stuff than Ken and I put together… plus a Marmadook Dog….needs a special person to pick him up. He is one of the only dark black skin colored persons we have seen so far in our travels…. <br /><br />There has been a flooding here [area declared a disaster]Federal Emergency Measures Association Relief inacted for Goodview City. Reminders of the fire and the relief in Kelowna a few years ago. They said the creeks flooded and mud slides…. Some areas along the hiway are evacuatied. Sad.<br />Some music heard this evening, but not too loud… a bongo player in the middle of the night met with yelling from another tent! Not Woodstock by far!Sue Yerexhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16379247902323983167noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3137906080823833590.post-10370959221495426752007-09-29T13:31:00.000-07:002007-09-29T13:32:08.877-07:00Sept 27 Minisoda with a touch of WisconsinDAY Fourty-Nine Afton State Pk thru Wisconsin to Lake City MN 85 km<br />Sept 27 Thursday D86.09 km M 44.0 A16.1 PT519 RT total 3887.2 km<br /><br />Wind slight from the REAR!<br />Temp Hot…. Awoke to foggy morning over the river….. cleared off and was hot all day.<br />Road Condition Rolling great ride! Guy at the nursery called it “Coulie” Rd and he is right<br />Accommodation: Hok-Si-La Municipal Pk and CG Tent camping on the Mississippi.. Lake Pepin Very nice park like setting with no cars allowed in the campsite. They have carts to bring stuff from the parking lot. We are the only campers so very quiet. They stay open until end of October if the weather holds out. +++squirrels<br />Food: Breakfast usual<br /> Lunch Nesbitts Nursery along the way Great Apple Cider! With our spinach salad!<br /> Supper We went out for a pig out of Nachos and Quesideas <br />Overall: Great day with nice weather until we started to set up camp and it tried to rain, but went off to a clear sky with a bright moon. I don’t know why we saw more dead deer today than other days… more population, more traffic… they don’t have any deer lights …reflectors or fences along the hiways. We stopped for a break at a apple orchard and picked up apples for breakfast tomorrow. We have been very disappointed to be buying in the stores apples from New Zealand and they are last years so really punky. These ones will be really yummy as she gave us a taste and they were only $1 for 2 huge ones! We also stopped in Prescott at the Strawberry Fields Café which has great veggie choices… to bad it was only 1030 so we didn’t take the bait and eat early. We spent most of the day on the Wisconsin side of the Mississippi River, but are back in Minnisoda tonight.Sue Yerexhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16379247902323983167noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3137906080823833590.post-72840424342944611732007-09-26T06:15:00.000-07:002007-09-26T06:16:52.014-07:00Lindstrom MN Day 47 Sept 25 2 days ahead of scheduleDAY Fourty-Seven Springvale CG to Lindstrom 65 km <br />Sept 25 Tuesday D73.79 km M 41.2A18 PT 4h RT5.5h total3713.5 km<br /><br />Wind behind us for the most part, then into it for the south portion<br />Temp cooler 65F<br />Road Condition good minimal traffic<br />Accommodation: Well the CG we headed for was gone so we went to the visitors info and found Whispering Bay CG ok… $20 plus for showers which are in need of upgrade. It is a summer resort for permanent summer stays<br />Food: Breakfast usual<br /> Lunch Another “Beef Lovers Café” Yukky…. I didn’t think there was so much bad food to be had… Ken tried to best the worst grilled cheese sand he has ever had and he did it! White bread with cheese slices…. Yek! I went for the split pea soup… small taste of bacon and a white dinner bun! Not bad for a meat and potatoes restaurant! The banana cream pie was excellent Ken says with real banana slices<br /> Supper Boring sandwiches<br />Overall: Pretty good day after the events of yesterday. Looked like rain all day. <br />More PEDAL PEDAL……<br />Hills – what are these doing here?<br />Trees- all colors, green, yellow, red, deep red, orange leaves and those falling like rain in the wind<br />Dead life- lots of skunks, what we think are possums…. No hair on the long tail and the size of a skunk, raccoons<br />Cows<br />High clouds-looking like rain all day<br />Signs for BAIT- fishing bait- live minnows in shops to buy for bait<br />Turtle- was in the middle of the road- maybe hit- over 1 foot diameter shell and very vicious when we tried to save him<br />Lots of acreages and lakes… acreage or farm…. Farms have untied dogs!<br />“Detour signs” - we went anyways as said 2miles and we only needed 2km- reached a piece of new pavement!Sue Yerexhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16379247902323983167noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3137906080823833590.post-23249192627360402762007-09-26T06:14:00.000-07:002007-09-26T06:15:49.746-07:00Monday Sept 24 Day 46DAY Fourty-Six Malmo to Springvale MN 100km<br />Sept 24 Monday D 100.01 km M 36.9 A 16.1 PT6h10 RT8.5h total 3639.7km<br /><br />Wind All day none stop headwind as we were going straight south and it was a south wind until last few km<br />Temp warm when we got up 15C and up to 25 with threat of hail or tornado in pm<br />Road Condition good<br />Accommodation: Fabulous… we were getting worried there wouldn’t be a campsite as no signs for same until we saw campers thru the trees. Woman running it is so so nice. It started to absolutely pour once we were under their deck and it continued for about an hour. She said we could sleep in the games room so don’t need to put up the tent! Wonderful and the price is ridiculous for the amenities… $2 per person and usually you get to swim in the pool too! Definitely a spot to tell other cyclists about! They are closing for the season on this weekend so we are a bit concerned that other sites we have planned might be also. She said we are the latest cyclists she has ever had.<br />Food: Breakfast fruit/bread/cheese for Ken and fruit for me<br /> Lunch We stopped in Isle and Ken had the hugest plate of pancakes…. Stomach ached after those. I was more conservative and had a wrap. Nice Diner…Pat and Kariis Diner with old stuff like “Elvis” memorabilia. Good choice!<br /> Supper used our little “cup-boiler” to make soup and had sands as it still is very wet outside and raining on and off. The boiler is a small weight to carry and we have used it fairly often for hot chocolate etc.<br />Overall Well it was another….. pedal pedal …. Skunk<br />Pedal, Pedal…. Look there is a quad road parallel to the road with little road signs just for them!<br />Pedal, Pedal…. wind<br />Pedal, pedal….. SNAKE!! Oh gees don’t run over it!<br />Pedal pedal….. more wind and hills!<br />Pedal, Pedal… “She’ll be coming round the Mtn” singing to keep myself Pedalling!<br />Pedal, Pedal….glimpses of Mille Lacs Lake… lots of better camping choices<br />Pedal, Pedal….Resort, Mobiles, oh oh here comes a yapping DOG….pedal, pedal, pedal faster!<br />Pedal, Pedal…..Stop for lunch in Isle Yum…. They named some burgers “Popeye spinach burger, but it’s not veggie!<br />Hard to get the legs Pedal Pedaling after lunch as we only went 28km and have 100 to make the campsite!<br />Pedal, Pedal….smell……deer… well remains<br />Pedal, Pedal…. Clouds are forming<br />Pedal, Pedal…. Trees [wind breaks] thankyou for the planting of the same by someones grandfather<br />Pedal, Pedal…. More pedaling more pedaling<br />Pedal, Pedal…. Clouds are getting darker and the wind is stronger!<br />Pedal, Pedal….. corn fields again<br />Pedal, Pedal…. 63km Ogilvie finally…2pm…4hr on the road…. thought the school up ahead was an auto reckers….. oops student cars. Stopped to buy some provisions and it started to sprinkle…. Ah pedal on<br />Pedal, Pedal…. It’s pouring now… who said not to put on the rain gear!<br />Pedal, Pedal…. Is that thunder?<br />Pedal, Pedal… oh don’t worry there are telephone poles to protect us….. Lightening……one thousand one, two, three CRACK…… yikes keep pedaling…. More rain is bouncing off the pavement!<br />Pedal, Pedal…. Should we seek shelter at a farm…. Oh no we are almost out of it and turning right soon<br />Pedal, Pedal….. still into a feerce head wind<br />Pedal, Pedal…. Why is there no rainbow….. oh because it’s going to pour again<br />Pedal, Pedal….oh 85km at last we get to turn left and have a side wind Oh I think the wind would just like to change south west to south east! Wouldn’t you know it!…. Occasional homes with really nice yards, lots of trees uprooted from the storms of the last few days. People out using chain saws and cleaning up the debris, Lots of wood piles and wood for sale<br />Pedal, Pedal…Km 98 …. We should be at the campsite and no sign of it or a town of Springvale!!<br />Pedal, Pedal….. its starting to sprinkle again!!! Oh look in the trees are some caravans! Where is the gate it’s going to pour once more!…. Ah no more pedaling km 100…6h of pedaling… just a wonderful hot shower and good food and new friends!<br />Another day done!Sue Yerexhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16379247902323983167noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3137906080823833590.post-72925291648342437692007-09-26T06:13:00.000-07:002007-09-26T06:14:07.559-07:00Sept 23 Day 45DAY Fourty-Five Crosslake to Maimo 86 km<br />Sept 23 Sunday D 89.09 km M 30.5 A 15.3 PT 5h48 RT8h total 3539.7 km<br /><br />Wind Terrible wind all day from the south and that’s the way we went! George and Maxine road with us out of town<br />Temp great back up to 25C most of the day which was shirt sleeve weather once again!<br />Road Condition mostly good roads with new pavement except for frost heaves on CR30 &32<br />Accommodation: Interesting spot… it is no longer the Why-Not-Café… it is a games room now… have permanent trailers and lots of grass for tenters. [$15.] Laundry, nice showers which are $2 but include a towel, shampoo and creams. Nice touch. Lots of other camping so could have gone on farther. A few too many dogs in the park… barking ++.<br />Food: Breakfast Maxine spoiled us with lots of variety of fruit and toast<br /> Lunch bought groceries at Aitkins and had another picnic…. Oh oh Ken got a flat tire so lunch was extended<br /> Supper Mashed potatoes and veggie burgers cooked over Kelly Kettle… worked well Then beer at the games room…. Then she told us she has no liquor license! We sat inside and used the computer and had 3 drinks for $5.<br />Overall Both very tired due to the windy day… George and Maxine road out with us a ways and then were going to ride around the lake to home. They are both looking fit. George had 3stints installed this summer , so has purposely lost 14lbs…. We won’t be able to keep up to him on the ski hill this winter. Nice to see their “real” home.Sue Yerexhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16379247902323983167noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3137906080823833590.post-27246547319251545372007-09-26T06:11:00.000-07:002007-09-26T06:13:09.796-07:00Day 42-43-44DAY Fourty-Two Park Rapids 0km REST DAY<br />Sept 20 Thursday D11.82 km M 25.3 A 15.3 PT46min RT 3h total 3347.7 km<br /><br /> <br />Overall: Well it poured rain all night and into the day. We spent until noon in the tent…. Reading and sleeping! [Ken] Now that’s a true day off! <br /><br />We cycled back into town and spend the afternoon at a internet café. The best lunch we have had so far! Great paninis @ the Bella caffe’ in Park Rapids! For sure a spot if you come here! They had to shut the place down with us still in it at 6pm!<br /><br /> DAY Fourty-Three Park Rapids to Pine River 75 km <br />Sept 21 Friday D 75km M 40.5 A 20.0 PT3.5h RT5 h total 3422.2km<br /><br />Wind started off from the south, so we were into a head wind and side wind and by end of the day more west so it pushed us the final bit to Pine River<br />Temp nice and warm overnight [after a horrific thunder and lightening and hail storm =dime size]15C to 22C<br />Road Condition all good except SR 64 little shoulder, 87 new pavement no shoulder, no traffic. Hwy 2 ok shoulder<br />Accommodation: well after carrying a soaking wet tent all day we thought a motel would be in order but the information fellow said it was not to rain tonight and city park is free to cyclists. So here we are all by ourselves in a nice park with running water/flush toilets, small shelter, raised fire barbeques… with lake view!<br />Food: Breakfast ate in a ray of sunshine avoiding the new black flies that hatched due to the storm<br /> Lunch Stopped at Betty’s Bloomers Greenhouse corner of SR64 and CR2 They were batting down the hatches before the storm hits today. Wind very strong at the moment. Had our picnic in their yard… they supplied Ken coffee! And we left with a home made jam….. nice people. Betty and her husband will take cyclists in as campers too!<br /> Supper Kelly Kettle soup and sands in the park.<br />Overall What can I say it was a really easy ride compared to other days. <br />Pedal Pedal….lizard<br />Pedal Pedal…. Skunk parts<br />Pedal Pedal…. Car<br />Pedal Pedal….. pine trees, gorgeous fall colors [leaves changing with this cool weather]<br /><br />UPDATE: We did see a strange site in North Dakota… even stopped to look at why a farmer had tall lights like a baseball field made in his pasture!…. we thought later that is where the movie Field of Dreams was shot!<br /><br />We checked to see if our friend Don made it back to Quebec… saw his bike there but his email comes back not home..where oh where are you Don Forbes<br /><br />Walked all over the town of Pine River… just under 1000 in pop. Not near the town that Park Rapids is, but does have an internet café…. Closes at 4pm on Friday night! Nothing open later than 5<br />DAY Fourty-Four Pine River to Crosslake 28 km<br />Sept 22 Saturday D 28.2 km M 35.7 A 18.8 PT1h3 h RT2 h total 3450.6km<br /><br />Wind out of the south…. So side wind most of the day<br />Temp warm overnight and all day blue sky no clouds<br />Road Condition good shoulder no traffic<br />Accommodation: Fabulous visiting with ski friends<br />Food: Breakfast usual<br /> Lunch Boat picnic as they took us on a long boat ride thru at least 3 lakes… there are channels connecting the lakes.<br /> Supper Scrumcious veggie lasengna …home made!<br />Overall Very shot cycle day along lakes and resort areas. Had one DOG chase, but otherwise uneventful ride. I really must get one of those Dog Taser Whistles. <br /><br />George and Maxine were home when we arrived so had a great visit, washed our really smelly clothes, got in a boat ride and then a tour of the “town”. Some really large homes around the lakes… summer cottages! Lots of pontoon boats and fishing boats. Must have been a fishing competition as they were all going in to the marina at the same time. Couldn’t ask for a better relaxing day…. Like a day off! And indoor night! The leaves seem to be changing and then just falling off… maybe because it was so dry. Definitely a little piece of Paradise… they planned their own home and it is really gorgeous with a stream thru the yard and all natural with no lawn to mow! They have a electric fence to keep the deer out as they eat everything!Sue Yerexhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16379247902323983167noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3137906080823833590.post-37239296950563654232007-09-20T15:51:00.000-07:002007-09-20T15:53:42.548-07:00Log North Dakota<a href="http://ks.yerex.ca/2007_part3.pdf">View Log With Pictures</a>Sue Yerexhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16379247902323983167noreply@blogger.com0