Door opens on left
Thursday, July 2, 2015
Corny Quiz 2....... 2 years later
As we are driving through the breadbasket of the U.S., here are some insights from the first few days:
While the Western part of the U.S. is in a drought, the Midwest is flush with ample water. The crops in Iowa are in Gr8 shape, in Illinois they are in better shape......everything is lush green, and interestingly enough, in Central Iowa and Illinois they don't even have irrigation systems in the fields (this year they would not be used) which implies year in and year out we get ample rainfall for the crops we do grow.......unlike Colorado, Kansas, and Nebraska
Changes are everywhere: the barns do not hold animals anymore, unless they are huge milking or feedlot operations. Windmills dot the landscape, taking advantage of the predominant winds from the Southwest in Summer, and Northwest in Winter
Now for the quiz:
See the enclosed pictures of horse drawn equipment. Can you name the implement that the four pieces of machinery are??
Second question: Can you name the various seed companies that we have seen on this trip?? Do not Google this.....You watch TV and see the ads all winter, you drive in the country and they are everywhere.....and you try to forget.....well if you are riding/driving in the countryside in summer they dominate every stand of corn and soybeans.....so you former farmers, country kids, and uninterested passengers, try and write down what you think we saw....the list will be available in a couple days.....I have included a picture to help, Good Luck
While the Western part of the U.S. is in a drought, the Midwest is flush with ample water. The crops in Iowa are in Gr8 shape, in Illinois they are in better shape......everything is lush green, and interestingly enough, in Central Iowa and Illinois they don't even have irrigation systems in the fields (this year they would not be used) which implies year in and year out we get ample rainfall for the crops we do grow.......unlike Colorado, Kansas, and Nebraska
Changes are everywhere: the barns do not hold animals anymore, unless they are huge milking or feedlot operations. Windmills dot the landscape, taking advantage of the predominant winds from the Southwest in Summer, and Northwest in Winter
Now for the quiz:
See the enclosed pictures of horse drawn equipment. Can you name the implement that the four pieces of machinery are??
Second question: Can you name the various seed companies that we have seen on this trip?? Do not Google this.....You watch TV and see the ads all winter, you drive in the country and they are everywhere.....and you try to forget.....well if you are riding/driving in the countryside in summer they dominate every stand of corn and soybeans.....so you former farmers, country kids, and uninterested passengers, try and write down what you think we saw....the list will be available in a couple days.....I have included a picture to help, Good Luck
Day 4. Kewanee to Wenona ILL. 60 miles
Nice short day - left at 5, got here at 11:30.
Had hills and some headwinds today. I think I still like hills better - at least they have two sides. I crossed the Illinois River today. I actually walked across the bridge. It was very busy and not a lot of extra room. On both sides, there was major flooding. Some street signs just barely peeked out of the water.
A tractor passed me today. Either they are fast or I am slow. I'll go with they are fast.
I found another quarter. How they get out in the middle of nowhere beats me.
Time to rest and get ready for tomorrow. :)
Early morning moon
Had hills and some headwinds today. I think I still like hills better - at least they have two sides. I crossed the Illinois River today. I actually walked across the bridge. It was very busy and not a lot of extra room. On both sides, there was major flooding. Some street signs just barely peeked out of the water.
A tractor passed me today. Either they are fast or I am slow. I'll go with they are fast.
I found another quarter. How they get out in the middle of nowhere beats me.
Time to rest and get ready for tomorrow. :)
Wednesday, July 1, 2015
Day 3. Muscatine to Kewanee, Ill. 80 miles
Another good day of riding. I exchanged hills for headwind though. I think I like hills better! The scenery remains the same. Lots of corn and soybean fields. Added to the mix were a couple of wind farms. They made a neat picture surrounded by the corn, which is well past the knee high by 4th of July mark.
The only excitement today was finding a quarter along the way and breakfast with Larry. My 3 hour nap was pretty good too! Looking forward to a little shorter day tomorrow.
The only excitement today was finding a quarter along the way and breakfast with Larry. My 3 hour nap was pretty good too! Looking forward to a little shorter day tomorrow.
Tuesday, June 30, 2015
Day 2. Montezuma to Muscatine IA. 93 miles
Yea! I think I finished my longest day.
Nathan and I slept in a little - left at 4:33 today.
Weather and roads were perfect again. We got to watch a beautiful bright red sunrise. If you get a chance check it out.
The funniest thing today was when we stopped for breakfast. Nathan asked for scrambled eggs and then asked if they were real. The young girl could hardly keep from laughing and let him know he wasn't at McDonald's. I told her he was a city boy and she said she was getting that vibe. :]
I lost my partner when we got to Riverside. Nate is headed fishing in MN.
Day finished well at 3:10. Great day and mostly considerate drivers. Crossing the Mighty Mississippi tomorrow into Illinois.
Nathan and I slept in a little - left at 4:33 today.
Weather and roads were perfect again. We got to watch a beautiful bright red sunrise. If you get a chance check it out.
The funniest thing today was when we stopped for breakfast. Nathan asked for scrambled eggs and then asked if they were real. The young girl could hardly keep from laughing and let him know he wasn't at McDonald's. I told her he was a city boy and she said she was getting that vibe. :]
I lost my partner when we got to Riverside. Nate is headed fishing in MN.
Day finished well at 3:10. Great day and mostly considerate drivers. Crossing the Mighty Mississippi tomorrow into Illinois.
Monday, June 29, 2015
Day 1. West Des Moines to Montezuma. 69 Miles
Our start at 4:13 allowed us to get through Des Moines ahead of rush hour and gave us a beautiful early morning view of downtown. Our route consisted of smooth roads and an abundance of rolling hills.
People along the way were very friendly. Many wondered if we were training for RAGBRAI. When one guy early in the morning found out our destination was N.Y., he told us we probably wouldn't make it today. Later at our breakfast stop, Nathan had to make a call so I decided to nap in the park. When we went in, the table next to ours wanted to know how my nap was - only in a small town. The restaurant was on the top 10 of USA Today for pie and another list of 100 restaurants to try before you die. Glad I've got that checked off!
Fabulous day. Looking forward to tomorrow.
Pictures will be added tomorrow.
Wednesday, June 24, 2015
Here we go again!!!!
June 29th is the day......destination is the Brooklyn Bridge in New York City......the goal.....to complete our cross country journey......two years after you last heard from us...lots to do, places to go things to see......stay tuned
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