The capitol building in Des Moines 

Class members attending the reunion held in Jefferson Iowa this past weekend. The class of 1959 

Wava and her fella Bruce sharing a secret. Class of '59 reunion- Jefferson Iowa 

Kent Smith has some 'splainin' to do. 

Bill Stidwell is getting a kiss from his lovely wife at the class reunion held in Jefferson Iowa this past weekend. 

The women of '59 are having a good time. From left to right: Wava, Janice, Pat, Ruby and Carolyn 

Myrla's dog Taz and her cat Tippy. I couldn't resist adding the comments. By the way anyone wanting to see the pictures larger can click on them and get a bigger view. 

I did not take this picture but now you know what an Indigo Bunting looks like. 

You know you have really become old when you start taking pictures of tombstones!! 

On the trail today we saw; 3 wild turkey, 2 Indigo Bunting, Mama deer and two babies. There is always something new to see. I rode 17 miles today. The north head wind coming back was not fun. On an earlier ride this week Butch and I rode over to the cemetery at Cooper. It only added about a mile to our ride. I took some pictures of Grandma and Grandpa Z.'s tombstones. Also Aunt Gar, Uncle Jack's and Uncle Ray's.

A friend sent me this poem and I thought it worthy of sharing.:-)

Retirement

I worked forty-five years for someone else
So that I could retire.
I dreamed of sleeping late
And sitting by the fire.

I dreamed of long vacations,
Enjoying stage and song.
But, let me set you straight on that concept,
It is simply wrong.

I did junk my safety glasses
And the work boots that cramped my toes.
But, the rest of it had a mind of it's own
And this is how it goes.

My wife had been thinking of retirement
And had plans of her own.
She had spent much time with the kids
But, now they are grown and gone.

We sold our cattle and horses
So we wouldn't have that chore.
I poured concrete over my alarm clock
But, I still wake up at four.

I get my eyes checked on Monday.
Ann gets hers checked the next day.
I go for a colon check on Wednesday
And pass my wife going the other way.

I have a dental appointment on Thursday.
Ann goes for a test on her heart.
Friday we go get prescriptions filled
And browse a while at Walmart.

Saturdays we just stay home
And try to get the paper work right.
We can't take any overnight trips
'Cause we can't see to drive at night.

Restroom confusion keeps us out of church on Sunday
And we really do hate that.
There's nothing wrong with the restrooms,
We just can't remember where they're at

We don't need to plan next week,
Just make sure we can drive.
And not forget where the hospitals and clinics are.
We'll need them to survive.

So, don't build your castles too high, my friend,
While strolling through the clover.
This is a typical week in retirement
And on Monday we start all over!


author unknown

Freedom*Rock (In Rural Iowa)
Lois Murphy most recently sent this site to me. We have seen the rock in the past. It is most definitely worth a stop.

Arabia Steamboat Museum
Link of the Day:

This website is about the steamboat Arabia that sunk in the Missouri
River in 1856. It was located in 1987, buried beneath a cornfield, one
half mile from the river and salvaged with many contents intact.



We are more than likely headed back to the Peculiar Missouri area in a month or so and I plan to visit this museum.

Why do I ride so far? A snappy answer is, " Because I can." and I must say that is somewhat accurate. But there is so much more to it than that. I want to still be able to do it in 10 years and if I don't do it now I won't be able to then and I am sure of that fact. Another reason and this is a big one is that there is a two mile stretch just north of Winkleman's Switch that is basically downhill and I can fly like the wind and feel like I am nine again. When is the last time you felt like you were nine again? :-) 

Yesterday Butch and I rode 21 miles on the Raccoon River Valley Bike Trail. It was cool and misting at times but a very pleasant ride. Butch spotted 4 wild turkeys about 3 miles south of Jefferson. That isn't a site you see every day. Butch is mowing for his brother Leo so I rode the trail alone today riding to Herndon and back. Just past the Raccoon River a deer and I startled each other. He did a quick u-turn on the trail and was gone before I knew it. Little did I know I would see another on my return to Jefferson and get a fantastic photo op. 

In Herndon...this was the road to Uncle Jack and Aunt Gar's place. All the "streets" in Herndon look this way. 

Chicory and Pea Partridge on the trail. I laid down on the trail to get this shot. It didn't turn out nearly as spectacular as it was in reality. 

This is in Herndon Iowa. I am standing just a few feet from where my Grandmother Zimmerle's house used to be. To Herndon and back was a 28.20 mile ride today. 

This is when I first spotted the deer on the trail. My method is to start taking pictures as soon as I can and then keep inching closer until the opportunity is lost. 

This is the final picture in a series of 13 I snapped after spotting the deer on the bike trail about 1 1/2 mile south of Jefferson IA.