RED ROCK

WE RECENTLY RETURNED TO RED ROCK FOR SOME HIKING. BEFORE WE HIKED UP PINE CREEK CANYON WE DID A LITTLE ROCK SCRAMBLING.

 

 

 

 

 

 

THE HIKE UP PINE CREEK CANYON IS A COUPLE OF MILES, AND WE MANAGED TO FIND THE CREEK, AND THE FOUNDATION OF THE OLE HOMESTEAD.

1976 Honda Gold Wing Limited

By Uncle Hans
After 38 years of faithful service, my old girl deserves what many other oldsters dream of........a retirement in south Texas!! She will go into storage on South Padre Island and come out to play when someone needs a ride on a sunny day while on vacation.

She is a very rare 1976 Honda Gold Wing Limited. The Gold Wing was introduced in 1975, but was so far ahead of it's time that no one knew what to use it for. Touring bike? Cruiser? Street racer? It took several years for Honda and the motorcycling public to decide that it was a touring bike. So the 1975 did not sell well. It is my opinion that they took 800 left over 1975s and dressed them up as 76 Limited, adding new unique paint, gold spooked rims (nobody has this), and a little chrome. They gave only one to some dealers. I have never seen another one on the road, they are all in collections.

But I rode mine, so it has some dents and scratches. Still stops a few knowledgeable bikers now and then. I entered it into a Gold Wing bike show in Green Bay about 1996 and won a third place, which was ridiculous. I complained to a woman judge and she said it was in nice condition, but they marked it down for not having original paint. She did not know what a Limited was! She had never seen one! I found someone in the crowd to explain to her what a Limited was, but she could not reverse and take the trophy away from someone who had won it an hour before. "Sorry", she said. Most bikers had never heard of a Limited.
Just one of those things it was fun to own and ride. So smooth and quiet, yet 1/4 mile times in the 12 second range. Lots of memories, it's been around Lake Superior 5 times. I am glad it cannot talk, or some of it's stories would have me still in jail!!

But, it's not good-bye, only see you in a few months................

HOME AGAIN

ON THE WAY HOME WE STOPPED BY WORK TO CHECK OUR SCHEDULE.  WE HAD ASKED FOR A COUPLE OF EXTRA DAYS OFF, THINKING WE’D NEED SOME TIME TO REST UP, DO LAUNDRY, ETC, BEFORE WE HEADED BACK TO WORK.

WE WERE SCHEDULLED OFF THE REST OF THE WEEK, SO WE TOOK ONE DAY AT HOME (110 DEGREES) TO FRESHEN UP, AND PACKED UP THE HONDA TO RUN TO “THE MOUNTAIN” WHERE IT’S MUCH COOLER FOR THE REST OF THE WEEK.

 

WE TOOK A LITTLE SNOW DAMAGE TO A COUPLE OF WINDOW AWNINGS ON THE SOUTH SIDE, BUT THAT’S IT.  WE ADDED THE REPAIRS TO OUR ON GOING PROJECT LIST FOR THE PARK MODEL ON “THE MOUNTAIN”.  THEN WE FILED AWAY THE PROJECT LIST AND DECIDED TO JUST RELAX THIS TRIP. WE DID LOT’S OF HIKING AND BOTH OF US HAD OVER 75,000 STEPS ON OUR PEDOMETERS FOR THE WEEK.  WE DID SOME SHOPPING, AND MARY EVEN TOOK A TWO HOUR COOKING CLASS.

MARY CLEANED OUT A FLOWER GARDEN IN FRONT, AND THEN PICKED UP ALL THE FALLEN PINE CONES AND PILED THEM IN A COUPLE OF POTS INSTEAD OF THE PLASTIC FLOWERS THAT WERE THERE LAST YEAR.

 

I’LL ZOOM IN…….

 

MARY PICKED UP THE ROCKS WHILE OUT HIKING.  SHE CAN’T GET TOO CARRIED AWAY DIGGING IN THE DIRT HERE BECAUSE IT’S THE FUTURE SITE OF MY SCOOTER PARKING PLACE.

NOW WE DEFINIATELY HAVE TO GET BACK TO SLAPP’N JACKS AND IN ABOUT 60 DAYS WE WILL RETURN TO THE MOUNTAIN FOR A 2 WEEK VACATION IN JULY.

SPOONER

I DON’T THINK YOU COULD PACK ANYMORE STOPS OR ANY MORE FAMILY INTO OUR SHORT SIX DAYS IN WISCONSIN.

IF WE STARTED LISTING ALL THE “THANK-YOUS” FOR THE HOSPITALITY AND FAVORS RENDERED WE WOULD SURELY FORGET SOMETHING OR SOMEBODY, SO THANKS EVERYONE FOR EVERYTHING !!!

I DIDN’T GET ANY PICTURES IN SPOONER, BUT UNCLE HANS AND I DID MANAGE ONE PONTOON TRIP AROUND THE LAKE, EVEN IF WE DID HAVE TO DIG OUT WINTER JACKETS, AND JAKE DID A FISH FRY IN THE GARAGE OF CRAPPIES HE CAUGHT THRU THE ICE THIS WINTER.

AFTER WINTER JACKETS IN THE AFTERNOON, THE TEMPERATURE IN VEGAS WAS OVER 100 DEGREES WHEN WE LANDED IN THE EVENING.

GREEN BAY

THE CADILLAC ROAD TOUR CONTINUES.  DID I MENTION WE’RE USING THE O.D.’S 1991 CADILLAC FOR THIS TOUR?  THIS YEAR IT HAS 35,000 MILES ON IT. IT’S LIKE DRIVING A BOAT, IT JUST SORT OF FLOATS DOWN THE HIWAY.

WE SET UP CAMP AT THE NEW HOLIDAY INN, AND WHAT WAS A NICE POOL AREA……

 

ENDED UP LOOKING LIKE THIS……

 

THE WEATHER WAS A LITTLE COLD AND CRAPPY SO BOTH LAURA AND SARA JOINED US FROM UP NORTH. JAKE AND HANNAH TAGGED ALONG FROM SPOONER SO THE WHOLE FAMILY WAS THERE EXCEPT AMY AND PAUL. A GREAT TREAT TO SEE EVERYBODY IN WISCONSIN!!

HERE ARE THE CROWD SHOTS AND I HOPE YOUR FACE IS INCLUDED.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

NEXT STOP SPOONER…..

La Crosse

From Mt. Hope we went to La Crosse, where all of my children and 6 of my 7 grandchildren live. I have not seen any of them, except for my daughter Heather, for over a year.  Heather came to Mohave Valley to visit us last September.

I confess…I am the type of Grandmother that says things like “your shorts are TOO short, you have too much makeup on, etc, etc.”  Because of this I really wanted to do something that they would all enjoy and something that would give them a favorable memory of “grouchy” Grandma.  So I asked that they would all be available on Friday night for pizza at Heather’s house.  I would order pizza’s from Edwardo’s Pizza Wagon and get  sodas for everyone.  Fortunately no one said they couldn’t make it.

 

This is one of the 5 pizzas I ordered.

I also ordered cheese curds….and these are the BEST damn cheese curds I have ever had.  I will definitely be ordering these every time I am in La Crosse.

These are my lovely daughters, Heather and Nikki.  In addition to pizza I wanted to do something special for everyone, remember I have not seen any of these people for over 1.5 years.  So I got the bright idea for balloons.

I got 20 balloons for 10 people so everyone got 2 balloons.  Inside the balloons was MONEY.  Two balloons had $50, 2 had $20, 6 had $10, and 10 had $5.

 

This is my youngest grandchild, RJ, opening up his rolled up bill…this one was a $5.

The whole beautiful group with me after popping their balloons. 

Nobody complained…..a successful visit!!

Next is Green Bay……

PRAIRE DU CHEIN

MARY’S NEPHEW TODD, WHO IS ALSO OUR FINANCIAL GUY, INVITED US TO STOP AND DO BUSINESS AND COOK OUT ON THE DECK.

ON THE WAY INTO PRAIRE WE GAVE MIKEY A CALL, AND HE HAD JUST GOTTEN HOME FROM A ST PAUL  RUN. MIKE IS AN ENGINEER ON THE RAILROAD. HE INVITED US OVER FOR “JUST ONE DRINK” AND TO CHECK OUT HIS MAN CAVE.

WHAT DO YOU  THINK WOULD BE THE FOCAL POINT OF THE ROOM? A TV THAT COVERS THE ENTIRE NORTH WALL OF THE BASEMENT  OR THE FIRE PLACE?  NOPE, IT’S THE BAR. AND WHAT A BAR IT IS!

 

HERE IS A CLOSER SHOT OF THAT WISCONSIN LOGO.

 

THE TOP IS A 4 INCH SLAB OF BLACK WALNUT.

 

THE RAW TOP OF THE WALNUT LOG HANGS ON THE WALL AS A BACK BAR.

A TRUE PIECE OF ART.

 

OVER AT TODDS WE SAT ON THE BACK DECK, DID A STEAK FRY, AND DRANK BEER “TILL THE COWS CAME HOME”. THAT’S WISCONSIN TALK FOR DRINKING TILL YOU CAN’T FIND YOUR ASS WITH BOTH HANDS.

BIRTHDAY NUMER 92

FIRST OF ALL  I’D LIKE TO APOLIGIZE FOR NOT BLOGGING.  IT’S A COMBINATION OF EXCUSES INCLUDING ‘PUTER PROBLEMS, NOTHING GOING ON, AND THEN VACATION WHEN WE LEFT THE COMPUTER HOME. THANKS TO THOSE OF YOU THAT E-MAILED AND CALLED TO CHECK ON US. WE’RE BOTH FINE.

WE FLEW HOME TO WISCONSIN ON MAY 7TH FOR MARY’S MOTHERS 92AND BIRTHDAY. UNCLE HANS AND HEATHER HAD BEEN SENDING US WEATHER REPORTS AND SNOWY BLOG PICTURES PRIOR TO OUR TRIP. JUST NORTH OF ROCHESTER, MN ON A PIT STOP, I SNAPPED THIS PICTURE OF THE LATE SPRING IN THE MIDWEST.

 

WE ARRIVED ON THE BIRTHDAY AND HERE IS MARY AND HER MOM AT 92 YEARS YOUNG.

 

WE SPENT A COUPLE OF DAYS IN MT. HOPE AND HAD OUR FILL OF HOME-A-GINS FRIED FOOD. MARY ENJOYED MOWING THE LAWN, SOMETHING YOU NEVER DO ON THE LOWER MOHAVE DESERT. MARY GOT TO VISIT WITH A LOT OF OLD FRIENDS INCLUDING  HER BROTHER BILLY, AND LIFE LONG GIRLFRIEND LINDA.

NEXT ON THE SIX DAY WHISTLE STOP ROADTRIP IS PRAIRE DU CHEIN.

 

Snow Again?

By Uncle Hans

   .....Yup, another 6 inches of the heavy wet white stuff.  I could not lift the hot tub cover, I had to shovel it off first!  But don't worry Rex and Mary, we I'll have the mess cleaned up by the time you arrive.  And it will be warm and sunny!!.......



Not another blog on late spring from Spooner?!?.  Well, we made the national news, apparently.  Neil texted me about the 12 inches of snow we got.  My realtor from Texas asked about it, too........

  ........this was my trip to work yesterday.












    A late spring snow is actually a thing of wonder.  It lasts but a day or two.  It shortens the "spring fire season", a big problem up here.  It raises the lake level (yea!).  It makes the farmers happy (we are still in the 54% of America officially in a drought). and, as you can see, it is beautiful.  Remember, without the nice white frosting, our landscape is a dreary, dirty brown and will be for two more weeks until the green finally appears.

     Oh, by the way, it is snowing again this morning.............

By Uncle Hans

Ice

By Uncle Hans

Talk about your late spring!!   I am too lazy to pull the dock and boat lift each fall, so each spring I have to worry that the receding ice will smash the equipment.  I have to cut the ice around the area so that it the ice sheet drifts away from the shore in the wind it does not take the stuff with...........



    ......this year is no exception, except that it is about 3 weeks late.   On this day, I cut the ice, then went on a nice long motorcycle ride in shirt sleeves.............



...      this is a few days later.  You can see the ice went out safely.  You can also see that the snow just WON'T GIVE UP!!......



By Uncle Hans