A Package from Addie and Lucie!

I'm still recuperating, so you can imagine my surprise and delight to smell such a yummalicious package that arrived yesterday from Addie and Lucie! These two amazing doggies picked some doggies at random to send some goodies to after celebrating their 200th post! I am so lucky to have been one recipient. Here I am scenting out the delectable nose of this pressie.
And here I am, practically diving into the package!
Ooooooh, yummers - food and squeakie toys! Yowzer - my faves - makes me soooooo happy!
I am overwhelmed with appreciation from pals Addie and Lucie for this magnanimous gift!
Here I am - totally appreciating the squeakiness of this fabu toy - I love it and can't thank you enough for giving me something I adore so much! Muuuuooaaawwww!!!!
And as if that weren't enough, check out my adoration of this jerky stick! Do I love this or what??????!!!!! Yummmers! (I was just allowed to have three of these - mmmmmmm)
Please Ma and Pa, may I have some more???? Thank you Addie and Lucie - sooooo much. I am so impressed by your generous natures and by what you do for other doggies - your 200th post celebration was unique and extraordinary - I am so glad to know you! One more note - a new and good friend is Hailey at http://haileyrugolden.blogspot.com - check out her new blog! Hugs and Love xo,Sammie

Going to hell

One of these days I promise to actually get a post uploaded right away. It won't be today however. In this case, I'm around nine days late in documenting what was one of the best rides of the year -- to a place called Hell's Hole, hidden in Mt Jerusalem National park. This day was made special because of what came before I got anywhere near the destination, and started with a climb over Tomewin right on sunrise. What followed was quite spectactular and totally unexpected.


I descended into the Tweed Valley, into almost freezing temperatures (4 degrees C on the valley floor), and into a thick mist and a southerly wind blast that came out of absolutely nowhere. This route passes the bottom of Mt Warning, but the mountain might as well have spent a morning at the beach for all I knew, as visibility was only around 200 metres or so. I was actually pondering whether or not the condensation in the air might clean some of the dirt off the bike, so thick was it. Yet by the time I started the next climb to the national park, it was all but gone.



There are some really stunning patches of rainforest in Mt Jerusalem National Park, but Spring is also the wildflower season. The flowers seen in this area don't seem to make it to the nearby Lamington or Nightcap national parks, but here they find a home. Today I was meeting some friends at the top of the final climb for the final walk to Hell's Hole itself, and the waterfalls that surround it. This is a truly beautiful area, and one that I only discovered, believe it or not, last year.


Today a few members of the group got even more ambitious, and tried to descend to the big rock pool at the bottom. Nobody made it of course, as I understand it has to be approached from a track on the other side, followed by a scramble along the creek. I've since looked at a topographic map of the area, which suggests that it may even be a different creek, but that's an adventure for another day. While this effort didn't make it to the rock pool, it did yield a slightly different view of the waterfall at the end that drops right into the Hole itself.


After all this it was time to retire to the cafe in Uki for (in my case) a double-serving of lunch before the ride home. If there was one sad thing to come from the day, it's looking at what the Tweed Shire Council have done to Urliup Road, as they appear to be preparing to seal what may be my favourite dirt road in the world at present. This would, of course, be a tragedy for all of mankind, but I guess it was inevitable sooner or later. Still, this would be an opportune time to remind the Tweed Shire Council of what happened last time they upset me. They have been warned!

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.