Work is progressing on the interior of the room. The rain slowed the progression on the exterior. More and better pictures will be posted soon.
Saturday, August 9
This mornings deer sighting
Work is progressing on the interior of the room. The rain slowed the progression on the exterior. More and better pictures will be posted soon.
Wednesday, August 6
Mundane
Now that I have given you lots of info, posts to read and things to look at I will bring you back to everyday life for us. Russ and Tyson came back yesterday and got one day in before the rain put a stop to things today. So Butch is reading and I am posting.
Sunday I was pretty well shot after the 40 mile ride. On Sunday morning we being Keri, Sherri and I rode our bikes out a ways past the bridge and back to Jefferson meeting up with Colleen for our walk. Colleen now has a bike but she is not ready to hit the trail. Her bike is a twin to the Schwinn Butch has in Texas so she has a super duper bike. I was amazed at how well that bike rides. Very smooth. I am still partial to my Raleigh however. That being said I would not have counted the ride out and back to be one of my favorites. Same with the walk. I had a bad case of 40 mile hangover and it was Monday before I felt like my normal self.
On Monday I rode with Mickey to Minnesota to pick up the remainder of her things that would not fit in her previous load. It was a quick trip up and back and she now has all her possessions in her place in Jefferson. She gave me a tour of Alden Minnesota and it is a very clean, well kept and pretty little town.
Tuesday I spent getting caught up on the blog...mostly. Then in the late afternoon we had a gathering at one of the deja vus, Pat Limberg Rusnak, for a special meeting with one of Butch's classmates from Olympia,Washington-Diane Bryan Rae. Butch and I had not seen Diane since high school and she is much the same high energy, fun person she was then. Diane and her dog Max had traveled from Washington to Georgia and back through Iowa on her return trip home. We had a great time and visited past dark. That is pretty good considering our advanced years...ahem.
So now it is Wednesday and raining buckets...This too shall pass.
Till next time!!
Sunday I was pretty well shot after the 40 mile ride. On Sunday morning we being Keri, Sherri and I rode our bikes out a ways past the bridge and back to Jefferson meeting up with Colleen for our walk. Colleen now has a bike but she is not ready to hit the trail. Her bike is a twin to the Schwinn Butch has in Texas so she has a super duper bike. I was amazed at how well that bike rides. Very smooth. I am still partial to my Raleigh however. That being said I would not have counted the ride out and back to be one of my favorites. Same with the walk. I had a bad case of 40 mile hangover and it was Monday before I felt like my normal self.
On Monday I rode with Mickey to Minnesota to pick up the remainder of her things that would not fit in her previous load. It was a quick trip up and back and she now has all her possessions in her place in Jefferson. She gave me a tour of Alden Minnesota and it is a very clean, well kept and pretty little town.
Tuesday I spent getting caught up on the blog...mostly. Then in the late afternoon we had a gathering at one of the deja vus, Pat Limberg Rusnak, for a special meeting with one of Butch's classmates from Olympia,Washington-Diane Bryan Rae. Butch and I had not seen Diane since high school and she is much the same high energy, fun person she was then. Diane and her dog Max had traveled from Washington to Georgia and back through Iowa on her return trip home. We had a great time and visited past dark. That is pretty good considering our advanced years...ahem.
So now it is Wednesday and raining buckets...This too shall pass.
Till next time!!
Sally's Alley
Photos by Sherri Clark, Atlantic Iowa
RVP1875.com
These are Sherri Clark's photos of the woodworking shop of 1875 Located on South Wilson Street in Jefferson Iowa
These chairs, made in the woodshop happened to be located in the theatre portion where they present 3 productions a year. Tickets go on sale 30 days prior to the event and seating is first come first served.
Robby Pedersen
The Mahanay Belltower in Jefferson Iowa
Here are some quick facts about the tower
http://www.belltowerfestival.org/foundation-history.php
Sherri Clark has spent two weekends in Jefferson and still has not seen all there is to see. Last weekend included a ride to the top of the Mahanay belltower and here are the photos she took from the top.
This is the courthouse yard and where a part of the Farmers Market takes place each Tuesday night through the summer from 4:00 to 6:30 PM.
Looking east
Looking south
Looking north...
http://www.belltowerfestival.org/foundation-history.php
Sherri Clark has spent two weekends in Jefferson and still has not seen all there is to see. Last weekend included a ride to the top of the Mahanay belltower and here are the photos she took from the top.
This is the courthouse yard and where a part of the Farmers Market takes place each Tuesday night through the summer from 4:00 to 6:30 PM.Looking east Looking southRaccoon River Valley Trail History
Here is the history of the RRVT that I ride nearly every morning. I happened to look it up because I could not remember when it was completed. 1997 is when the Jefferson to Herndon section was completed. I thought perhaps there may be others who wondered about it as well. So You can read about here:
http://raccoonrivervalleytrail.org/history
http://raccoonrivervalleytrail.org/history
Tuesday, August 5
Another Viewpoint
Today I am posting Sherri Clarks photos she took while we were riding. It is always interesting to see things from another persons perspective.
Near Redfield Iowa. There is always a cathedral type atmosphere in the canopied parts of the trail on a warm summer morning with the delicate sunbeams filtering through.
Iowa countryside...
Lemonade stand in Jamaica Iowa
No, Johnny Carson isn't buried here. He was made an honorary citizen in 1981 and people from Cooper Iowa made their way to California to be guests on his show.
I dampened my kerchief and placed it under my helmet to cool me off a bit. When I say I am hot and do not care how I look you can believe me.
I love how the clouds are reflected in the river.
Taken from the north side of the Raccoon River bridge not a shot I take very often. This one is Sherri's shot.
Near Redfield Iowa. There is always a cathedral type atmosphere in the canopied parts of the trail on a warm summer morning with the delicate sunbeams filtering through.Iowa countryside...Lemonade stand in Jamaica IowaNo, Johnny Carson isn't buried here. He was made an honorary citizen in 1981 and people from Cooper Iowa made their way to California to be guests on his show.I dampened my kerchief and placed it under my helmet to cool me off a bit. When I say I am hot and do not care how I look you can believe me.I love how the clouds are reflected in the river.Taken from the north side of the Raccoon River bridge not a shot I take very often. This one is Sherri's shot.Sunday, August 3
Behinder I Am
It is a rare day when I am not at my computer keyboard but this weekend was one such time. Saturday morning bright and early Butch, myself and Colleen drove to Redfield Iowa with my bike to meet up with my friend Sherri Clark from Atlantic Iowa. Colleen drove Sherri's car back to Jefferson and Butch went on the Highway 141 garage sale excursion while Sherri and I happily rode our bikes from Redfield to Jefferson (40 miles) with a side trip to Jamaica Iowa for their famous tenderloins. That is the short of it.
The trip was perfect until it heated up and the fact we had not ridden that far for many years invaded our muscle memory. But we endured and quitting was never an option. The first half was really the best as that was the coolest time. I called Butch when we reached Herndon so he could meet up with us in Jamaica. Herndon was where my Grandma Zimmerle lived and where we and my cousins went for Sunday dinners for many of my childhood years. Her house is no longer there but the spot where it was and the memories of those times lingers on and always will.
The tenderloin was great! Sherri and I shared and I do believe we could have shared with two others besides. I know Sherri took a picture so the second edition of the trip story may include a picture of a whole one for your viewing pleasure. Make your way to ToJo's in Jamaica Iowa to enjoy one for yourself. They will happily split a meal and put the toppings each person desires on each half.
The scenery is always a pleasure on this section of trail especially when the river is close by as it is in the beginning and the end.
In Panora we happened to meet up with a friend of Sherri's that she had rode on Ragbrai with a few years back and had a pleasant rest and conversation.
Colleen and Butch joined us at Tojo's and then we were off again for the second half. We stopped more often on the second half and by the time we reached Jefferson we were very ready to be home!
We started off a bit past 8:00 AM and arrived back in Jefferson at 3:00PM.
Here are the biking pictures:
Believe it or not we only had 2.5 miles left to go when this was taken and we could both smile!
This is when we started out and the section from Redfield north has always been a particularly pretty part of the trail.
This part runs alongside the Raccoon River.
The water tower at Linden Iowa. This town has memories for the Brooker side of the family.
An interesting old log along the trail
After we returned to Jefferson Sherri wanted to look over more of Jefferson that she had missed the last time she and Randy were here two weeks ago. So our first stop was the Mahany tower. We rode to the top to get a whole different view. It had been many years since I had been to the top. and here are the pictures I took from up there.
Okay, the picture of Lincoln was taken before we went to the top.
This is the new Jefferson Garden feature in Jefferson. Many of the seeds were from the original home of Thomas Jefferson. He is a bit hard to see but there is a bronze figure of Jefferson seated on the bench.
This is a northward looking shot and the new overpass is visible if you know where to look. The white patch in upper center is where the new Hy Vee grocery store will be located. Our house is out of picture on the right but it will be a mere 3 blocks from the new store.
An east side view.
The Jefferson Water tower.
Looking out the window and up to the top. 168 foot tall.
This kitty is a year old and they picked him up at the threshing bee in July of 2013. Sorry I do not remember his name but it was also the name of the saw he is sitting on. He is a big boy!
They also have the History Boy Theatre and put on 3 productions a year. We DO plan to make it next June.
Robby demonstrated how all the machines worked. They all work by man power of course.
And there you have it for this blog entry. When Sherri sends me her photo's I will share her version with you.
The trip was perfect until it heated up and the fact we had not ridden that far for many years invaded our muscle memory. But we endured and quitting was never an option. The first half was really the best as that was the coolest time. I called Butch when we reached Herndon so he could meet up with us in Jamaica. Herndon was where my Grandma Zimmerle lived and where we and my cousins went for Sunday dinners for many of my childhood years. Her house is no longer there but the spot where it was and the memories of those times lingers on and always will.
The tenderloin was great! Sherri and I shared and I do believe we could have shared with two others besides. I know Sherri took a picture so the second edition of the trip story may include a picture of a whole one for your viewing pleasure. Make your way to ToJo's in Jamaica Iowa to enjoy one for yourself. They will happily split a meal and put the toppings each person desires on each half.
The scenery is always a pleasure on this section of trail especially when the river is close by as it is in the beginning and the end.
In Panora we happened to meet up with a friend of Sherri's that she had rode on Ragbrai with a few years back and had a pleasant rest and conversation.
Colleen and Butch joined us at Tojo's and then we were off again for the second half. We stopped more often on the second half and by the time we reached Jefferson we were very ready to be home!
We started off a bit past 8:00 AM and arrived back in Jefferson at 3:00PM.
Here are the biking pictures:
Believe it or not we only had 2.5 miles left to go when this was taken and we could both smile!This is when we started out and the section from Redfield north has always been a particularly pretty part of the trail.Okay, the picture of Lincoln was taken before we went to the top.This is the new Jefferson Garden feature in Jefferson. Many of the seeds were from the original home of Thomas Jefferson. He is a bit hard to see but there is a bronze figure of Jefferson seated on the bench.This is a northward looking shot and the new overpass is visible if you know where to look. The white patch in upper center is where the new Hy Vee grocery store will be located. Our house is out of picture on the right but it will be a mere 3 blocks from the new store.An east side view.The Jefferson Water tower.Looking out the window and up to the top. 168 foot tall.
Our next stop was the RVP1875 woodshop. http://rvp1875.com/ Robby Pedersen and his wife make furniture with the tools of 1875. Robby explains why it is 1875 and not earlier but you need to stop by and ask him for yourself. It is a fantastic place and has recently had state wide recognition for their tourism facilitation.
My words cannot do it justice so please put it on your bucket list of things to see.
Sherri will have to return again because she once again did not see it all by a long shot.
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