Hayward, Wisconsin

Was a long day on the road today. Did not getting much sleep last night, so ended up very tired this evening.

Weather was decent most of the drive. Started getting some strong winds from the South in southern Minnesota. Speed really slowed once i got off the Interstate. Picked up tourist booklets/brochures when I crossed into Minnesota and Wisconsin.

Checked in my motel - Riverside Motel - in Hayward. Previous times, i had been staying at the Super 8, but that has cnaged hands. So, figured I might as well check a local motel, specially as its less expensive! (about $20 a night cheaper). Nice, large, old motel room. Has a microwave, mini-fridge, and coffee pot! And, of course, free Wi-Fi.

Napped for a little then headed up to OO Trailhead for registration. Got that business done, visited with Hansi (IMBA region director). Too tired to ride this afternoon - would likely end ho crashing - so left the bikes at the motel. Knew I was too tired to hang around for the meet and greet this evening, so headed back to the motel.

Storm clouds were gathering over Hayward Lake. Today's photo was taken from the patio of the motel. Soone, it was raining. Time for me to get some dinner.

Was looking forward to eating at the Angry Minnow. They support the festival and has had some good food. This evening, I was disappointed. Three years ago, I had a great pork tenderloin and fries. Two years ago, they had good burgers and the tenderloin sandwich was thicker and smaller (not as good).

This evening, I saw that they have very trimmed the menu. Three fancy burger, avacado, or sunny-side egg, or some other concoction. I opted with the plain cheddar burger (1/4 #) with fries. The only offer burgers cooked medium. A order of fries is size of 2-3 normal orders - and cost $3.00! Not impressed and let the server that I was disappointed with the changes. Next time, I will pass on food at the Angry Minnow.

Bed time. I am exhausted and have a little headache.

My Grandma's Quilt

Even though it was in the high 90's last week, I slept with a quilt on top of my sheet, blanket, and bedspread.  I had some kind of stomach bug and couldn't get warm enough.
Now this particular quilt was one made by my maternal Grandma.  I loved that woman like no other; still do even though she's been gone for several years now.
I had never seen this quilt until my Mama called one day and asked Laurel if she wanted something of Grandma's.  Of course she said yes!  That something turned out to be a 1930's feedsack quilt. I was quickly filled with envy. " I loved Grandma best, so I should have it!  She practically raised me, you know. "  I think I startled Laurel by my vehemence.  I REALLY wanted that quilt.
Well, I told her I'd trade her one of my Mama's (her Mee Maw's) quilts for my Grandma's quilt.  I showed her about four different ones, and of course she picked out my favorite; a new quilt made from old feedsacks.  "Well.......I don't know about that one."  
So we're at a standoff.  But they are both still at my house, and doesn't possession count for something?  I told her she'd get them when I died anyway.  She can fight over them with her baby sister.  I'm so mean!  

Mercedes Livestock Show

Decided to head on down to the Livestock Show at the Mercedes Livestock Arena

We start out at the Chainsaw CarvingAt this point Gary guesses a dolphinI was thinking maybe a Goat or RamNow it's becoming more obvious from this angleYep - it's a horse



We wander into one of the Exhibit Halls . . . . and find BBQ'sTexans take their BBQ very seriously!



The thought of BBQ makes us hungry!How about something from a Texas Size Griddle?Texas Size Ice Cream might be good. . .But we opt for a Baked Potato stuffed with Brisket - now what for dessert?It's hard to eat without a knife!

Oh Yeah! The Livestock!











There were some interesting ridesTraveling Shows

and of course the Lumber Jacks!






Next door was the slingshot rideand last but not least the greased pig wrestling


Meanwhile we keep on Trek'n Melissa & Gary

Unsung hero

Fresh from some serious hill climbing on Saturday, there was nothing to do but go looking for more on Sunday. A quick way to get some of that action around here is to line up the old Springbrook/Numinbah/Tomewin circuit. It was, of course, always going to be an interesting exercise coming a day after the Beechmont explorer, but things went surprisingly well, and my legs had surprisingly few complaints after the first 30km.

What was different about this, however, was the light rain falling on most of the passes, that made the views difficult to see and virtually impossible to photograph. Of course, rain is nothing new to me, and so it didn't present any difficulty. Instead, it presented an opportunity to appreciate some of the sights in the valleys that I might normally overlook. Things like the fresh streams flowing down from the mist shrouded mountains, and the seemingly eternal greenery surrounding them. Maybe I should try to find a day like this for such a ride in the springtime, when there might be a few flowers around, but for today I was happy to just appreciate what I had.

Petroglyph National Monument

After the ride i had yesterday, I needed a day off the bike. After breakfast (Denny's on San Antonio and I-25 - food was cool, particularly the sausage), and a couple tasks in the room, I headed for Petroglyph National Monument. Sounded like a good day to walk some trails.
Stopped at the Visitor's Center for info. From the Visitor's Center it was a mile drive down to Rinconada Canyon. The hike up the canyon is 1 1/4 miles one way. Take your time and look around, The pamphlet about the canyon highlights some of the petroglyphs. There are many more. If you just look for the highlighted one, you will miss a lot.
There is a easier way back - down almost the center of the canyon. Not as much climbing on that trail.
Still have some time and hiking legs left - so decided to drive up to Piedras Marcadas Canyon. This is the northern most section of the Park. The hiking trail is a little over 1/2 mile.
This canyon has many more petroglyphs. But, they are a bit further away from the trail. Many of the photos I took on this trail were taken using the telephoto zoom. That introduced in some movement while shooting the 3 HDR exposures. It looks that came out pretty good, but I would like to hike that trail again with my tripod.
Anticipating that I may come back to that trail, I turned around, heading back to the car, before I reached the last numbered (highlighted) petroglyph.
Back at the motel - soon to plan this evening's activities. Today's photo is a petroglyph in Rinconada Canyon.

Frustration

Tomorrow it will be two weeks since I was able to get out in the dirt. Last week, it was rainy most of the week. Trails were just about drying out when I headed to Wisconsin.
Here, it was been raining every day. Thursday I was able to get on the County North Shore Trail - Kenosha & Racine. Rode from my Mom's apartment to Racine (about 7 miles). The trail is crushed limestone. Trail surface was soft and standing water in spots. It is still a pretty good trail - once you get out of the cities.
Wanted to ride some singletrack - Petrifying Springs Park was closed for flooding, and threatening weather before I could drive to Bong State Park.
So, I headed on to Belgium Wisc. This morning I made a short rode ride with my hosts - 5.3 miles. That ride just made me want some DIRT!
Planned to ride in the Kettle Moriane State Park - about 30 miles away. Checked the web site. That said the trails are open - but the last update of trail conditions was on May 13th - 3 weeks old! The web site DID say trails in the area should dry out in 4-6 hours after rain.
Called the state park inquiring as to trail conditions at the Greenbush Trail area. When I called at 8:55, they had no idea, nor could they tell me when they could report on the conditions. They said they should be ridable, but was not sure.
When I got to the Long Lake entrance, they had no idea if the trails are open. She did call, and advised me that the trails were not ridable from the rains. Back 30 miles.
What was the problem with the Office at Mauthe Lake (which I had called). They should have been able to call the Ranger (or tell me to wait until after 9am when the Ranger comes on duty), saving the the gas and time to driver over, just to find the trails are closed. I will be sending in a Guest Comment Card to Wisconsin DNR.

Book Challenges

I'm thinking of taking this challenge beginning in January. The reason I'm hesitating is because I tend not to finish challenges of this sort. I'm a 'have-to-be-in-the-right-mood' type of reader, and just because a book is on a TBR list doesn't mean I'll read it. I'm a little rebellious that way. Makes no sense, I know, especially since I'm the one taking the challenge. No one has a gun to my head making me read.
Here's a challenge I began last January. I made a list of books to read for it and then deviated wildly from it. Oh well, at least I read more Irish books than I would have if I hadn't taken the challenge.

So I think I'll take the classics challenge. You only have to list seven books. I'll think about it and get back to you. The challenge may be in only picking seven!
What challenges are you taking right now; book or otherwise?

My Summer Schedule

I've been reading Godliness through Discipline by Jay Adams during my morning worship time. I'd highly recommend it.  It's a short read at only 25 pages.  Here are some gleanings from it.
1. Discipline is the secret of godliness-I Timothy 4:7.
2. Godliness is the goal of the Christian life; we must please God      by being, thinking, doing, saying and feeling in the ways that        He wants us to.
3.  If you are going to learn discipline, you must first learn                  patience.
4.  Discipline means work; it means sustained daily effort.
5.  Continued daily effort is an essential element of Christian              discipline; just like an athlete.
6.  Jesus insisted that Christians must deny the self within them.  By the self, He meant the old       desires, the old ways, the old practices, the old habit patterns.
7.  Taking up the cross means going to the place of death.  It means putting to death the old life      patterns of the old man.
8.  God gave man a marvelous capacity that we call habit.  We can't avoid habitual living.
9.   You must become aware of your life patterns and evaluate them by the Word of God.  The           Christian life is a life of continual change.
10.  Discipline first requires self-examination, then it means crucifixion of the old sinful ways            (saying "no" daily), and lastly, practice in following Jesus Christ in new ways by the                      guidance and strength that the Holy Spirit provides through His Word.
11.  Living according to feeling is the greatest hindrance to godliness that we face.  Godly,                    commandment-oriented living comes only from biblical structure and discipline.
12.  All of the stress that the Bible puts upon human effort must not be  misunderstood; we are          talking about grace-motivated effort, not the work of the flesh.
13. If we want to discipline ourselves toward godliness, a most essential factor is the regular            study of God's Word in order to make application of its principles to our problems.
14. It is by willing, prayerful and persistent obedience to the requirements of the Scriptures             that godly patterns are developed and come to be a part of us.
15.  Structure alone brings freedom.  Discipline brings liberty.  Liberty  comes through law, not        apart from it. 
I am a great one for making lists and schedules.  For the most part I stick to them and am productive.  But there usually comes a time when I rebel and do what I want.  I am very feeling driven which I'm learning more and more is just plan selfishness. 
I have also learned that when I get this attitude that the only thing I get done is reading.  I know there's a time and place for relaxation.  I'm not saying that.  I'm the Queen of relaxation!  But when I need and want to get things done, I need to stick to a schedule.                                       So this summer my schedule looks like this:
6:00 Worship7:00 Exercise8:00 Breakfast, cleanup, and get dressed9:00 Housework10:00 Writing11:00 Photography12:00 Lunch and cleanup1:00 Housework-Clothes Repair-Ironing2:00 Rest and Reading3:00 Project-House, Art, Sewing, or misc.4:00 "                                           "5:00 "                               "6:00 Cook supper7:00 Supper and cleanup8:00 Gardening and puttering outside9:00 Family worship and reading to Darcie10:00 Bath and reading11:00 Bed        

Wanna go potty?

I was going to say "only in Queensland", but this one was in New South Wales.

Notice the restaurant advertised at the bottom? I'm not sure I want to eat there anytime soon. There are so many things to say about that sign it's not funny.
As far as the rest of today's ride goes, let's see. Coastal vistas:

Mountains:

And the bubbling Tweed River for a big section.

The Mt Jerusalem century is always a great one. The cruise down the Tweed Coast, once you get south of Cabarita is pleasant, the scenery across through North Arm and up to Mt Jerusalem is stunning, and after the beautiful lunch in Uki, the trip back to Murwillumbah alongside the Tweed River is always pleasant. The rainforest in Urliup was stunning once again, and today I managed to finish pretty strongly through suburbia (it's always good to get that one over with).
About the only thing I need to be concerned about, is this propensity of mine to always pick the flat sections to ride against the wind, and the hills when I have the tailwind. I think I need to fix that.

A Busy Week Ahead

Miss Thing will be gone all week to a church camp in the North Carolina mountains. I'm going to work like a fiend to get her room painted, her school books ordered, and her school year planned.
So....looks like my week off will be all about her anyway. So what else is new?
And do I need to say that she did NOT want to have her picture taken?

Rutland Round 5 - Normanton to Clipsham

With Marta. Fine, sunny, but cold to start with. Some mud underfoot. Luckily I remembered the way through Clipsham Quarry. Only other small problem was on the way to Tickencote where we missed a turn to the right, but were able to correct easily. Lunch at The Plough in Great Casterton. 14 miles including walk to Yew Tree Avenue.

An early morning shot before leaving one car here

The first two miles from Normanton Car Park on Rutland Water were very simple - follow the yellow brick road, well, the tarmac path, past the café, past Normanton church and the back entrance to the Normanton Park Hotel, and carry on across the dam. Blue sky, blue water, and a chilly north wind. A few cyclists, loads of sheep and the guys inflating those see-through balloons you can be strapped in to roll down the grassy slope behind the dam.



Instead of going through the gate at the end of the dam path, we followed the field edge round, almost turning back on ourselves. We walked along the edge of the wooded area, and shortly after a couple of trig points, or similar objects, there was a stile on our left which led into a field. We spotted the Rutland Way signs for the first time today - and on the stile.

Ten out of ten for clarity!

The signs were easy to follow from this point, leading over fields and through some woodland, until the path emerged into Nook Lane in Empingham. Nook Lane leads to the main A 606. We crossed over to walk past the White Horse pub and along the road through the village. The church was down a small road to the right as we walked straight on.



Just after the end of the village, very soon after Mill Lane, the footpath goes away from the road, up through a short stretch of woodland - Chapel Spinney. A little further along the road after the turn there's a convenient bench for our first stop of the day - a little chilly in the shade, so we didn't linger longer than the few minutes needed to top up the caffeine level.



The path came out of the trees into sunshine and continued along the top edge of several fields. Empingham was now a cluster of houses and the church behind us. We passed a spinney on the right, and continued to follow the path. There may be a waymarker that we missed, but we fought our way thorugh an overgrown section and came out on the concrete path leading towards Tickencote Lodge Farm. We had just walked round the two sides of a triangle instead of the hypotenuse - give or take the accuracy of the right angles.

Tickencote Lodge Farm

We turned right and walked down the track until we met the Rutland Round waymarker pointing back to where we should have walked. Close by was a stile into the next field of recently cut hay, which we crossed diagonally (just south of east) to the next yellow post just before another farm house.



We followed the signs round the house and on to a small road north east for a short distance, before entering a couple of fields and walking in the same direction, the turning slightly to the right.

Tractor tedding hay near Tickencote

We crossed another small road towards Tickencote Hall, and had to brave this signposted danger:




He seemed to be dozing in the shade and showed no interest in us.

Looking towards Tickencote Hall

The path goes past the church of St Peter, which is small but impressive. It was restored at the end of the eighteenth century, but is considered a fine example of a Norman church.

The vaulting

The chancel arch

The East End of the church

We walked through the village to a sign and short section of path which crosses a field, then emerges on to a road near the OK Diner, then goes under the A1 and into Great Casterton. The Plough Inn is right on the route and provided an adequate, though not perfect lunch, with exceptionally friendly service from its new landlord.



Chatter, imperfect map-reading and inattention to the book's instructions almost set us off on the wrong road after lunch - and all on fruit juice at that.



You need to walk along to the junction with the Pickworth road, and turn left past the primary school - or take the narrow lane between houses just before the school sign on the main road. In any case take the road out of Great Casterton past the school and walk along this for a good mile until you reach Mounts Lodge Farm. Opposite here a bridleway leads to the left - almost due west. The path was pretty muddy - puddle-dodging skills honed while you walk.



After a few hundred yards, at the end of the first very big field, we turned right along a grassy track. We continued along this, ignoring any tracks to the right or left, and made our way more or less north towards Pickworth. The signing around here is pretty poor. Just opposite the point where the path meets the road is this medieval arch.

Photograph from 24.11.

The arch, on private land is all that remains of a church from the 12th, 13th or 14th century.

The remains of a lime-kiln, where John Clare worked for a while as a lime-burner. - 18.11.

The lime-kiln is also on private land, and almost invisible in the summer.

We turned left along the road, and walked past the first footpath sign near Manor Farm, and past the limekiln, to find the path we needed, which goes off to the right at a bend in the road. Time for another coffee-break, before tackling the remaining three or four miles.



The path is wide and clear, and we had no trouble finding the point where we turned right across a field towards a strip of woodland marked as Little Sutie on the map. Through this was where I had wandered last time i walked here. The map shows the path diverging slightly from the wood on the right hand side. This time we followed the edge more closely and we found the path through the quarry with no difficulty. Once at the quarry the bridle way is clearly posted.

Clipsham Quarry 24 Nov

The path from the quarry towards Clipsham provided a few earlyish blackberries today. No problems following the route from here as for most of the way it runs between hedges, and the village is clearly visible.



We walked along the Castle Bytham road for about a mile to get back to the Yew Tree Avenue. Fourteen miles on the clock today.