2015 Summer Vacation Road Trip Wednesday June 17 Sunday June 21

JUNE 17th

We made it to Davenport and wander downtown. Dinner took us to a restaurant named Woodfire

And after a nice dinner we wandReed down the street and up a catwalk to see the city below.

JUNE18th THURSDAY

Up early and a drive downtown we took a ride down the bike path that parallels the Mississippi.

Here Jim is riding through an area called Credit Island. Pyle can see in the back ground much of the

Park was flooded as well.

Riding over the bridge we soon found out we would have to turn around. The path was under water.

Headed back on to the main path we passed this tank parked in the park.

 

Headed pass where we were parked we passed this sculpture garden.

Crossing over the Mississippi to the Illinois side we were on this old steel double decker bridge. Overhead the railroad ran and cars underneath. We rode on the outside beside the cars.

Not fond of Canadian Geese but I couldn't pass up a photo of this flotilla of adults with their 

babies in formation

We passed this plant and thought it was an army depot. What it really was is a John Deer Plant.

These were harvesters.

The path we were on changed from wide open spaces to lovely covered lanes.

We rode and came up on a forest reserve with camping called Illiwinik.it was so cool we went back to the trailer to move to the reserve. But first lunch at a lovely riverside cafe.

Settled in for the evening. I got this photo of a mushroom with the sun setting in the background.

JUNE 18th FRIDAY

We are up early for a ride up the trail. We found out it would take you all the way to a town called 

Savana, 40 miles away. The town or Port Byron had this guy built commerating the bike trail that runs through their town. BIG GUY!

Haven't had a barn fix for a while. This one was definitely worthy of a photo moment.

This little town's library closes off the street once a year for a street fair. Kids get to paint a square 

On the street and the paintings remain.

This is Jacob. Jim and I rode passed him and we both said " Did you see that?" We had to go back.

He had fashioned the rack on the back to hold his fishing rods. We asked him how long he had been out. He had been fishing since 5:00am. He said his buddies like to shoot BB guns. He prefers fishing.

He had a northern pike, a small mouth bass, and another one I could not recall.

Passing trains remind me of our ride across the states in '13. This one blew his horn for us like all the ones we have passed before.

All settled in at the reunion. Picked Legacee and Payton up at the airport. They are staying with Us 

In the trailer.wearehappy with that they are. 

Carl Jr. Took us out one one of their boats. They have a Marina on the Mississippi. Lots of cool things to ride. Above is a nuclear plant. It is heavily gaurded. Below weapons this  dear tree 

Filled with Pelicans.

The end of the day a volleyball game was halted because the ball escaped into the Mississippi.

Eventually it was fished out and the game continued.

JUNE 19th SATURDAY

Found us shopping in LeClaire there is a shop that has this lop eared bunnies that is soo friendly

Legacee was content to pet it while we looked around.

The dogs are here today. We took them out on a boat ride. Doogie took great interest in trying to get out of the boat to swim so we kept a hold on him. Diggity retreated to under the chairs and wanted no

Part of it.

Payton, Avery, Legacee and Tiff had a great game of volleyball going on. I think Payton and Avery won.

SUNDAY JUNE 21st 

Back at the trailer. Doogie is trying to persuade Legacee into sharing? 

Talk about in your face.

Caught  up with some family at the hotel. That's Shari, Mike, Diana, and Pat

Jim on a hot rod jet ski. We all about to go out on a pontoon ride.

Mike is on the jet ski with his little brother.

Happy Father's Day, love Doogie.

Everyone is on their way to their homes. We are off to Indiana.

What a great time to spend with family.

2015 Summer Vacation Road Trip Monday June 15 Tuesday June 16

At the Mingo RV park where we stayed this tree became a huge sculpture. 

We left and spent way to much time in a hard downpour of rain. We drove in and out of it all day. 

Tired and fussy we decided not to try and make it to Davenport. We were near Hannible Missouri.

We took a leap of faith and I called an RV park called Mark Twain's Landing.

The park was so cool we decided to stay a couple of days.

Dinner outside with a nice cool breeze.

We decided Tuesday morning to go and see Mark Twain's birth place and Hannible where he grew up.

Believe it or not the house that he was born in is inside this building.

A lot of his stories came from his memories growing up in this small town. I find it interesting

That this fence and Becky Thatcher's  house are here. They are fictional characters in Mark Twain's books.

This is the view fro Lover's Leap. The mighty Mississippi and Hannible off to the left.

This is Lover's Leap!

At the end of the day Doogie and I took one last walk around the park. What a lovely way to end the day

2015 Summer Vacation Road Trip Thursday June 11thru Sunday June 14

Sunday was the last day of Crits. When you are headed to the Tulsa Tough the one place you will here about is "Cry Baby Hill" the picture above is the road on the way up to the hill.

These photos are some of the interesting things happening on Cry Baby Hill. Being the short person that I amthese crowds can make a person a little claustrophobic. Most of the photos I took holding my camera over my head.

Believe it or not this is one of the what they call "Referees". They actually do an incredible job 

Keeping the crowds off the road and safe for the racers when they pass though.

Here they are creasting the hill. With Matrix rider Tyler leading the peloton.

Glad to see White Rock Lake is represented here

OMG, another Referee.

Jim watching the guys come through at the start of the climb.

The race will end with Tyler coming in third. After 50 laps of climbing. I cannot imagine having to

Ride this course in a hurry.

Race is over. Bad weather is coming in. Henry is starting to tear down the team tents. We had to take down the neighboring tents as well. The winds were going to tear everything up. Everyone got back and headed out. I think all the electricity of the racing for 3 days was amazing. Enjoy bike racing then, Definitely put the Tulsa Tough on your list of bikes races to experience. 

2015 Summer Vacation Road Trip Thursday June 11thru Sunday June 14

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Thursday morning the trailer is loaded and ready to roll. 

Sam helps put the finishing touches on the trailer.

We are headed up to the Tulsa Tough in Tulsa Oklahoma. It is a huge weekend of racing and riding.

After all these years we are going to go and see it for ourselves.

We got into camp without a hitch. A good nights sleep and the next day finds us headed to the 

Registration for the Grand Fondo and to watch the races for the evening. Our riding friend Pam has

Come up to stay with us and ride.

If you ask anyone in Tulsa where the Blue Dome is they can tell you however why it came to be 

The few I asked didn't know the answer. Below is the story of the Blue Dome it now represents the entertainment district of Tulsa. Tonight it has some of the coolest bike racing out there.

The Blue Dome was built in 1924 and served as the White Star Gulf Oil Station. Someone suggest to C.J.Chastian the owner to paint it blue and call it the Blue Domehe did and it stuck.This was the first station in Oklahoma to have hot water, pressurized air and a car wash. It was also open 24 hours, seven days a week. The station attendant lived upstairs in the dome itself. It is now the icon for a downtown Tulsa neighborhood. 

Here is Tyler at the front of the peloton. This field for the category 2/3s had 111 riders in it.

At the end of the race the Matrix guys finished with Chris Carlson finishing 4th. Above in the photo the rider third from the right is Chris.

Friday night it started raining and continued into the early morning. Pam, Jim and I paced around 

Trying to decide should we stay or should we go. Finally putting on our kits off we go. We parked in

A near empty parking lot and rode over to the start. The ride took off at 7:30 we left about 8:10. 

The great thing was it wasn't raining, it was overcast and a great temperature. We caught up with riders as we went riding along.

Route 66 passes through about 8 states. In it's heyday it was called "Main Street of America"or "the mother road" it was decommissioned as a highway in 1985. It has been called the most famous highway in the world 2,000 of it's 2,448 miles are still in use. A section of the road was taken from Oklahoma to the Smithsonian's National Museum of American History. I hope you enjoyed this little bit of info about Route 66.

Riding out on the 40 mile loop it goes along the Arkansas River. Tulsa has developed a long trail system along it. Along the way there are many bronze sculptures. This eagle caught our eye as well a the Bears in the fountain below.

We cross over the Arkansas River and we are headed to the country.

There was quite a bit of climbing on this ride. After a particularly long climb we got to the top and saw Tulsa in the distance.

As we crossed the finish line we were handed these medals. Let me tell you these we're some medals.

In fact they we heavy medals plus an added feature it was also a bottle opener.

After the ride we had some lunch and went back to the trailer. Doogie and I walked the park. There is a

Trail that almost goes all the way around. He enjoys it. Lots a great smells.

 At the finish line the officials have quite a set up to keep track of the races. 

The boys are staying cool while warming up. Wait a minute that doesn't make a lot of sense.

The guys are warming up on Cyclops trainers supplied by the Saris Company.

Here Jim is catching up with Ron and his brother Jim. Ron words for Saris.

This is a great location on the course to watch the race go by. The fans are quite the hecklers.

Reminds me of cyclocross races.

Here they come! The climbs are a great place to shake up the peloton.

A good friend once said "Don't waste shade!" Finding shade here in tough.

Here is Tyler with Mr.Jimmy. The team didn't podium but they raced really well. 

After the race we went down to a resturant and sat outside for dinner. Mike Pluto has joined us and will be riding tomorrow as well. But right now we have to eat and run the rains are coming.

Fortunately it does and leaves just as quickly.

Rest up, get up and ride tomorrow . Good Night.