My luck ran out today

The last 2 nights spent in Grand Island, NE were absolutely delightful!!  Pulled in on Saturday afternoon to the cousin's house.  Was very glad to be off the windy, windy road. 

They are lovely people and have 3 great daughters all with families of their own.  I had met 2 of the 3 at a family reunion a few years ago, so I was so very excited to meet the 3rd daughter, husband and 3 kids.  That makes it official - have met the ENTIRE extended family now.  Wow!

Thanks to the entire Rasmussen/Bussell clans for entertaining me!!! 

Before leaving Grand Island, I stopped to get gas but soon after I was on my way down the road.  It was a balmy 28 degrees at the time.  ;-/.  Well, didn't get very far and I noticed that one of the rails that sits under my awning was flapping in the breeze. Pulled over at the next convenient exit only to find my entire awning had comepletly BLOWN OFF the side of my trailer.  WHAT???????  I hadn't even noticed and with the size of that thing, it shouldn't have been that hard to miss.  So I sat on the side of the road wondering, should I go back and see if I can find it and pick it up or just let it go and forget about it?  After about 10 minutes, I decided to go back and look.  I got within 1/2 mile of my on ramp and there it was - IN THE CENTER DIVIDE! How did it get there?  As I am traveling down the road the awning is on the shoulder side of the road, not the center divide.  There must have been a huge gust of wind that hooked that thing and ripped and flipped it OVER the top of the trailer.  Not sure how else it could have happened.  So I pull over and SPRINT over to the center and then started to bring back pieces to my truck.  Finally wrestled the thing to the shoulder - now what do I do with it.  Way too long for the bed of my truck.  Hmmmmm.  I finally duct taped it around the metal base then put it inside my trailer.  Just barely fit, but I had it.  I WAS MORTIFIED!  And sooooo lucky it didn't hit another car or cause an accident.  I have secured the awning kind of across the rail of my truck, but at an angle and strapped it down very tightly. Should be okay for the ride home. I wanted to just click my heels together and say 'There's no place like home, there's no place like home'. 

Well I am now sitting in a very small place called Sterling, CO.  Windy, very cold, and snow flurries.  Glad I didn't wander further north! 

Going to try to get to Fruita, CO tomorrow.  Almost 400 miles, but doable if the weather cooperates. 

Days like today, I do not want to repeat. Last night we were discussing how great it was how nothing had happened to me as of yet on my journey.  Well, there ya go.....

Well, off to fix something to eat for dinner.  Going to bed early for tomorrow's big day.  Hopefully, a wheel doesn't fall off....oh wait.

Thanks for reading......

And another.....

Sad to report that I have had to make a major diversion on my journey.  Was in Madison, WI last night moving to Jackson, MN today.  Unfortunatley, the weather is not being cooperative.  I called an RV park and the guy basically talked me out of going.  Said it was raining, freezing, icy, then snowing.  So going to Mt. Rushmore will have to wait until another trip.  Bummer. That was leading me into Yellowstone National Park - snowing and I don't even think the park is open in most parts yet.  Again, another time. 

Soooooo, here I sit in exciting Altoona, Iowa.  Not as sexy as someplace in Minnesota, but at least it is a bit warmer.  In fact, I have actually been here before.  In 2011, I rode my bike across Iowa for something called RAGBRAI. The real name is 'Registers Annual Great Bike Ride Across Iowa'. Happens every year and my year it stopped here.  Exciting, right? 

Tomorrow I will be stopping in Grand Island, Nebraska.  My partner's entire extended family is in the Cornhusker state, so will be slowing down to say hello!  Will be fun, as usual, to see them. 

Then I am not certain where I will be next.  But as you can tell, I am inching ever closer to home and to the end of my journey.  Will blog all about that later.

So with that, I will sign off. 

Thanks for reading.......

Bombs

I have been writing this over the last several days and I think I am finally ready to let it fly. 

I write this post as I watch the news regarding the bombings at the Boston Marathon finish line area. It has captivated me much like the horrific day of Sept. 11, 2001. I cannot fathom the motivation of someone to do this. Simply unbelievable and sad.

Which brings me to the real reason for this particular blog, and believe it or not, it was going to be about bombs before this even happened. More whispers...let me explain. 

While staying in Charleston I received a message from a woman I met while cycling in Italy with friends. She wanted me to know since I was pretty close to where she lived with her family, did I want to come for a visit. I thought about it for a bit and decided I would, since I was soooo close. Have to say it was an excellent decision. 

Her name is Yvonne and we met in 2006 in the city of Vicenza, Italy. At the time, she was stationed in Italy as a surgical nurse.  She was a friend of my riding mates but all of the Americans there were more like a little family. 

Yvonne loves being in the Army and more importantly, loves being a nurse.  When you meet her you can tell, she is someone you would absolutely LOVE to be your nurse - caring, compassionate, and she knows her shit.  In 2005 she was named Army Nurse of the Year. Yes, the WHOLE Army.  Not bad, eh?!

We have kept in touch through our friends and Facebook over the years. Sometimes we didn't know where she was, as her unit was almost always in a highly sensitive area of the particular conflict. She has been in Operation Iraqi Freedom, Desert Storm, Desert Shield, Kosovo, more Iraq and lastly, Afghanistan.  Deployed a total of 3 of her 18 years to be in harms way to save the lives of our soldiers, and anyone else who needed it. If you have ever seen the documentary "Baghdad ER' you should know it was her unit that set up that hospital but wasn't the one featured in the film.  Too bad, it would have been a great testament to such hard work.   

On her last deployment in Afghanistan, her unit had been receiving small gun fire and heard larger explosions around the compound.  It was a little bit too close for comfort.  In January of 2010, she was in her tent changing clothes when she heard the familiar whistle of a mortar round falling. It was uncomfortably too close, she could tell, and stood up to run to get to shelter when it exploded 6 ft from her cot.  She was hit - her right arm and her left leg were hit badly, but she tried desperately to get away to safety.  Two others in her tent were injured but they were much further away from the blast.  It took 2 days for her to be evacuated because it was so dangerous for the helicopters to try to come and get her.  She said that they kept taking her out to the tarmac, then back, then out, then back for two days. She was finally evacuated but by the time she arrived in Landstuhl, Germany infection had set in to her wounds and she could have easily lost her limbs.  She eventually made it back to the States to continue her recovery.  That is when she realized something was very wrong with her head. Turns out a piece of shrapnel had entered her skull and lodged there - unbeknownst to everyone, the piece of metal was so hot when it entered, it cauterized the surrounding vessels so she didn't bleed and no one noticed the wound. 

Yvonne has had numerous surgeries to repair her broken bones and nerve damage over the last 3 years.  I had been following her progress, but hadn't talked to her.  So visiting her at her home with her husband and two sons, was something I really couldn't pass up.  She continues to struggle with lots of things including short term memory loss, PTSD, and depression.  Just as an example, she was driving me to a small park with a lake nearby that has walking trails around it. As we were going along, there was a piece of cardboard in the center of the road.  But Yvonne didn't see it that way - she told me she saw an IED. 

Luckily for her she now has a new ally to help with these issues.  Her name is Genny and she is a 15 month old black Standard Poodle - a service dog. 

She is absolutely adorable and I believe she is helping in those ways that we, as humans, cannot see on the surface. While visiting, Yvonne took me to the Airborne Museum in Fayetteville to see how Airborne units have contributed and assisted in all of the conflicts the US has been involved. Genny accompanied us, as expected. In the museum displays, several included recorded gunfire or explosions for affect.  Soon Genny had her front paws on Yvonne and was looking her straight in the eyes.  She sensed the stress Yvonne didn't consciously feel, and wanted her to know she was there for her.  It was an awesome moment to witness.  Genny will do wonders for her.  She already has.

I write this because I have, and have ALWAYS had, the utmost respect for anyone who signs up to possibly put themselves in harms way to protect us and our freedoms.  For Yvonne, I think it was her calling.  Especially with her desire to be a nurse - to be one of those 'helpers' that everyone is talking about with the Boston bombing.  She was one of those people who ran TOWARDS the wounded, not away. And while she was laying in the hospital that she helped set up in Afghanistan hurting from her wounds, I know she was comforting all of the people who were trying to comfort her.  That is just how she is. 

Her Army career is now over.  Her wounds so severe she cannot return to active duty.  She received a Purple Heart, a combat service medal, and a Bronze star.  But I can tell that she would much rather be with her unit putting injured soldiers back together wherever they needed her than being stateside.    

Stopping to visit her has to be the best decision I have made so far on this trip.  I am humbled by her service and dedication to her craft and to this country.  Without selfless individuals like Yvonne, I would worry what our country would be like.   

So, please take a minute when you see a veteran or active duty soldier and thank them for their service. 

 

Thanks for reading.....

Moving North

Left Swannanoa, NC to Georgetown, Kentuckyand am currently sitting in Champaign, IL.  A few things I have noticed on my journey:

1.  It has been a much hillier trip than I imagined.
2.  Noticed that in KY most of the barns and outbuildings are painted black and not red.
3.  Haven't seen many CA license plates - in fact, I have counted about 8 since leaving the state of New Mexico. 
4.  Road kill in South Carolina consisted of mostly armadillos.
5.  RV folks are very, very nice people - everywhere!
6.  Have met many, many dogs which I am very excited about.
7.  Anybody know what these little numbers along the side of the road mean?

8.  Many, many new species of bird I haven't seen before.
9.  I am usually the slowest one on the road. Most trucks pass me, too. 
10. I have traveled 5478 miles so far, burned 540 gallons of gas and been in 12 states. Not counting CA.
11. Have met 11 twitter friends in person, so far.

There are a couple of other things but I don't want to jinx my journey.
More to come soon......

Thanks for reading....

Charleston

Ahhhhh Charleston, NC. 

Just a few facts about this town -
It sits below sea level much like New Orleans.  Flooding is a concern.

Has been hit by earthquakes AND hurricanes. Horrific damage from both events, but has rebuilt nicely.

Historically, was very prominent in the Revolutionary war and was the birth place to the Civil War.

There was so much to take in here, I stayed 3 nights.  Has a pretty cool downtown and an historic ocean front with old mansions built by rice plantation owners.  I took a Gray Line tour that included a city tour and a ride out to Fort Sumter on the ferry.

 

 

Fort Sumter was very interesting, especially because of all of the cannons that are left and the ammunition that was propelled from James Island.  Funny how things go, but I went out to the fort on April 12, 2013. Just happened to be the 152nd anniversary of the first shot fired. Special day!!

 

Dodged thunder, lightning and rain to be able to see the city and its' sights.  Was fun!! 

 

 

PS:  the biting bugs loved me!!  :-(

 

Thanks for reading.......

Mom's

Over the last week two of the people I follow on twitter have lost their mothers.  If you didn't know it already, I lost my Mom to lung and brain cancer 8 years ago on July 22, her fathers birthday.  For me, it was a devastating life event of which I thought I would never recover.  She meant so much to me as she was my only parent from 18 on up.  

It was 3 days before my 19th birthday when my father, age 55, passed away from pneumonia brought on by chemo and his battle with lymphoma. I was off at college, way before cell phones and the internet, when I got the call from my sister.  Wow.  I was pretty young and had already experienced death with my dad's parent, but this was different.  So confused and heartbroken watching my Mom try to grasp what had happened. I contemplated long and hard about staying in college or moving home to help. I stayed in school, graduated and then moved home for a few years.  I moved when love took me to the other side of the country.  Like a sport, my Mom drove across the country with me to my new home.  Over the years, we ended up doing this 3 times.  Mom was always up for traveling anywhere, really.  The US, Europe, Brazil, Hawaii, just to name a few. And she was a great traveling partner - pretty easy, except when I had to sit in the smoking section of an airplane to Europe. Again, that was eons ago, but she was taking me for my college graduation, so I had to go along.  Was a great trip I will never forget.  
Yep, she smoked for at least 50 years off and on so her diagnosis was not a complete surprise. What was shocking was that it was already in her brain. She was diagnosed the same day my father died 27 years later. Again 3 days before my birthday. What the hell. I was the queen of denial in my own head. I had hope beyond hope that she would live a few more years. Wasn't to be.  It was the shortest 9 months of my entire life. Trying to hang on to every shred of life that we had left together.  Devastated. 
Part of this trip I am on is to truly deal with her not being here and to actually finish grieving. But what I think is that if I do finally come to terms with her death, I will lose her forever. Not true, but that is what it feels like. Something I must keep working on.
In closing, Mom's are just different to lose. She brought me into this world, even though I wasn't on the agenda. She loved me unconditionally - we didn't always agree, but she loved me unconditionally.  I still want to pick up the phone and call her. I want to share my joys and frustrations with her.  I want to just talk to her one more time. But that would hurt too much, I think.
Something that has stuck with me is that Oprah has said that life talks to us in whispers. I believe it is talking to me now, with the two who are grieving, and that it is okay to let go now.  As difficult as that will be, I must let her go.  Not the memories, the pictures, the cookbooks, the life experiences, but the grief. I will always have her with me - I had her ashes tattooed into my skin in a tattoo that says simply "MOM". :-)
Many of you that are reading this have lost your mother. I am sorry - I feel for you.  For those of you that have your Mom, and you have a relationship, do me a big favor - tell her you love her, because you never know when it might be the last. 


Thanks for reading.........

Georgia was my grandmothers name

Have had a tremendous last 4 days. Stopped in Greenville, SC - was 39* and pouring rain when I arrived but when I left it was about 70*.  Wild weather here in the south. 

Had a great lunch and ride with Neil and Pamela of Tour Chats fame.  If you don't watch this great show, you should.  A must for even the casual cycling fan. Fun, informative and you never know what might happen. Here is the info - http://www.tourchats.com/

From there I made my way to Atlanta, Georgia on Saturday.  Staying at the Stone Mountain RV park.  It is the closest I have come to actually 'camping'. Still have all the hookups, but it is hilly with lots of trees on a small lake with a view of Stone Mountain.  Very nice. If you live within 3 hrs of this area, you must come for a visit.  It is really beautiful - tons of wildlife, cycling, hiking and fishing if you want.  On Sunday I met with another twitter pal, watched some bike racing, had Krispy Kreme from one of the original stores (yum) then had a tour of the city.  Thanks to Valerie for that!!  Then on to some other friends to bike part of the Atlanta beltline and more, have a fruit smoothie, and watch many dogs romp at a local dog park. Even saw a greyhound, Sal - my trip is complete. :-)

Then I got to take a real BATH!! That was a treat!  Ahhhhhhhhh! Then a couple of cocktails and a delicious dinner with friends at their home.  Nothing better. 

Today, I rode my bike around to the Walk Up entrance to Stone Mountain.  You can actually walk to the top or take a tram. It is approx. 1.2 miles up and pretty steep. You gain 786 ft of elevation to get to the 1686 ft. mark.  That was a workout. Beautiful views from all around. I could actually see where my trailer was parked. 
I passed a woman who told me she had climbed it 427 times and wanted to get to 1000 before she turned 80. She has 7 years to go. And, oh btw, she was carrying 1 lb dumbbells in her hands.  What an example!!!  

From there I went to the largest bas relief in the world.  It is located on the side of Stone Mountain. The carving depicts three figures of the Stonewall Jackson, Robert E. Lee, and Jefferson Davis. Pretty impressive. 

 

Hard to see in the photo but it is 90 ft tall and 190 ft wide and the carved area is 3 acres.

I like it here so I have decided to spend one more night before moving on. Have been inquiring about where to go next and have heard lots of enthusiasm for Charleston, SC.  So, I think that will be my next and most eastern stop.  Then I am starting to weave my way home.  Bummer.

Off to another fabulous dinner!!  

Thanks for reading....... 

-Ville and -On, plus other ramblings

While in Nashville, I drove to the area of town called Centennial Park. Really nice area kind of across from Vanderbilt University. In the park they constructed an exact replica of the Parthenon in Greece for the Centennial of Tennessee.  Having seen the original, I was amazed at how it should look. Lots of artifacts, original paintings of American artists and a 40+ ft tall replica of Athena inside.  BTW, that is Nike in her right hand and she stands at over 6 ft. Very impressive. 

From there I hopped on my bike to
do some exploring. Mapped out a route and took off. Only took me about 100 yards to be turned around and lost. Didn't care - I was on my bike. Weaved my way around the city. It actually has nice bike lanes and routes throughout. 
Found the Antique Archeology store, you know the show on TV. Wanted to go in but the line was ridiculous so I skipped.  Back to downtown and Broadway - the avenue of dreams for country western wanna be's.  Honky Tonks galore!  Cool architecture and a very pretty city.

 

My trusty steed

From there I went on to Crossville, TN.  As I was driving across the state I just happen to notice just about ALL of the cities either end in ON or VILLE. Look at a map and I think you will agree. Apparently not much of an imagination.  :-)
In Crossville I was very fortunate to meet and stay with twitter friends. Had a fabulous time with ALL of them - that southern hospitality is not a joke. I really believe they are genetically disposed to be friendly and feed you well.  I win.

Now I am sitting in Piedmont, SC, just a few miles from Greenville, SC. The home of TOUR CHATS!  Excited to do a little exploring today and maybe a little riding as well.  From here I leave for Atlanta on Saturday to visit MORE friends. I have a lot of friends all over these United States. So glad I can get away and visit some of them. 

So off to watch some bike racing on the interwebs and get ready for my day. 

Thanks for reading, y'all.......