Columbia Katy Trail Wrap-Up

 

We wrapped up our visit to Marni and Eric’s with more trail riding, a lovely dinner party on a beautiful night and a visit to Pete Anger’s newly hung art exhibit of his light paintings at Columbia College. Then lunch with the group, including Marni’s mom, Jane, who is a delightful lady who lives there too. She is full of fun and appreciative of life. Oh yeah, and a once-in-a-lifetime event: the release into the wild of Sticky, the hummingbird whom Eric had fastidiously rehabilitated in their house for about 12 days. She actually turned out to be a juvenile male but Eric said they were going to refer to her as “she.” Here she is in the house before the release.

  
And upon imminent release.

Marni hates, absolutely HATES having her picture taken. I got one anyway.

        

The trail riding was awesome, as usual and we put about 150 miles on our bikes during the time we were there. We really like them. The last evening I rode I came upon a good-sized red fox on the trail. He had his back to me and turned and ran across the trail, exhibiting his very large and lovely bushy red tail before he disappeared into the brush. It was a joy and a pleasure to see him; I didn’t even try to get a picture. I also got to meet up with my friend Anne and we had a delightful visit at Cooper’s Landing. She even made me a necklace.
  

The dinner party was amazingly delicious  with practically everything picked fresh from the garden, potato salad, kale salad, zucchini and pepper with tofu plus an outrageously sweet dessert made by Dana, one of the attendees. And wine. Of course.

During the time we were there we feasted on fresh corn, potatoes, tomatoes, peaches, beets, cucumbers, zucchini, blackberries, eggs, you name it.

    

 

Pete arranged a private viewing of his show of Light Paintings that was opening the next day and we enjoyed the very large colorful prints produced with neon and open shutter.

Jim and Eric upon our departure. We had a great time, a most excellent parking spot and so much fun with such good friends. Can’t thank them enough.

Our parking spot was well shaded and about 30 feet from the trail. Let’s ride!

On to South Dakota to establish residency and get our driver’s licenses and all that good stuff.

 

 

Breaking in the Bikes

We are parked in a lovely quiet spot right next to the trail on friends’ property. This is our view from the bus.

They garden seriously and extensively and pretty much feed themselves year round with the bounty of their very hard work. Some of the goodies we have partaken of…

Sweetest corn so fresh.

New potatoes

Zucchini grilled to perfection on our little Hibachi

Along with tomatoes, cucumbers and tonight a delicious offering of Marni’s famous hot slaw. We ate the entire container.

They feed the birds all year long and when I saw all the hummingbirds, I dug out my hummingbird feeder (yes, I brought one), filled it up and within minutes the familiar little birds were buzzing about. We hung it on the awning right in sight. Pretty sweet.

On to the biking. We are really liking the new bikes. The Katy Trail is a great place to get used to a new bike and we have put about 100 miles on them since our arrival. Yesterday we rode into Columbia and rode around town a little. It is a lot different than when I was a bike commuter there, but the routes and distances all doable. More traffic though. Also, more bike lanes. Many more.

Some scenes along the trail; Hartsburg

Toward McBaine. Everybody knows the Big Tree. It has changed over the many years I have visited it but still standing, with fewer branches. It was 150 years old when Lewis and Clark came through these parts in 1804.

Providence


Helping a fellow traveler

Near Easley

In Wilton


The day before we arrived, Eric rescued a hummingbird who had gotten caught up in Tanglefoot and damaged a wing. They have nursed her back to health and both she and Eric have succeeded in cleaning her wing. She lets Eric take her out of her box. After six days, she has progressed enough that she is flying around their house. We went up and hung out while she was out flying around and feeding inside the house. He is very excited, with good reason, since a couple of days ago, she was starting to fail and not feeding. He moved her box over by the window so she was stimulated to feed and now she is queen of the kitchen. So very cool.

On the Road Again…

We are going somewhere! After being comfortably ensconced at Mark & Marilyn’s for six weeks, it is time to hit the road. The FCA Convention is over; I have successfully retired and we are ready for some downtime.

We are pulling out today for Columbia to stay with friends on the river and ride the Katy Trail. Finally time to make use of our new bikes! I only have 30 miles on mine, but that will be changing soon.

 
We sold the truck, now we are down to bus and bikes. Yikes!

This place has been a great soft landing for us and the kitties, providing a most excellent transition between the house and being on the road regularly. We have been so fortunate to be able to help with the mowing, garden and pool. Mark and Marilyn are exceptional people, friendly, happy, laughing and so caring and sweet. How to thank someone who has made such a difference in our lives at this crucial juncture? We are eternally grateful and will extend to others the kindness and hospitality we have been showered with. Not to mention that we have been treated to a parade of Mark’s cool cars. Every time he pulls out, we are anxious to see which beautiful classic he is driving this time. Marilyn too!

  

Some friendly Falcon club folk welcomed us with this sign… Hmmm… Names blurred to protect the innocent.

The view across the road is very nice and Kansasy.

The zinnias are going crazy. So are the hibiscus.

The lilies are having a banner year due to so much rain.

The pool has been very inviting.

Our parking spot. They even said we can come back.

 

Tikita got another lion cut; only lasted three months! Before and after.

We put some stuff in the trailer we are storing. Except for what we have in the bus, this is the total of our material possessions! The horses are very friendly.

We visited Jim’s mom and dad for the last time in a while. Then we met friends for dinner. So many goodbyes! We are concentrating on the hellos!

This is my garden now…flowers and plants along the bike paths.

See you on the river!

 

 

Finally…Some R&R

June went by fast! We moved the bus from the house on the morning of June 2 when the estate sale people came to set up. We landed in a lovely spot at friends’ where we are work camping while they travel intermittently during our month+ here. They have five acres, lovely grounds, garden and pool. So we are mowing, watering the plants and taking care of the pool while they are gone. Work camping for friends. Win/win.

The house closed on June 10. On the 12th we met with Amber, our wizard financial advisor and she laid out the very good news that we have plenty of money to live to be 100. GAH! So more than enough to make it to 85 or so. Then we went out to celebrate, which was the first time we had come up for air in many months. It felt good and we ate and drank to our hearts’ ycontent.

Since I knew I needed to be here through mid-July for the FCA Convention, we thought we had a place for this month-long sojourn set up with another friend at his landscape business. When I went to make the final check and arrangements, he nixed it, saying he just wanted to “keep his head down” after bankruptcy and forced sale of the land. He is leasing it back now from the new owner, so understandable.

The universe knows best, however, since this place we landed is really a gem and worked out so much better. Quiet, private, even 20 amps of power. Not only that, we are totally saving on the black tank since we have our very own outhouse! Seriously! We swim in the pool and shower up there too, so we have only had to take on water and dump once in over a month. That was when we went to Carthage to replace the busted awning.

During that month, I had to make a whirlwind eight day trip to Minden, Nevada for the NAOC National Meet. Got picked up here in KC by some friends and hauled ass every day till we got there. Then four nights at the hotel and then back. I thought I had started to recover somewhat from moving, but that trip wore me out. The convention was good though, and the country interesting. It was a good transition trip between the house and the bus, and when I arrived “home” I was ready to be back, believe me.

This Fourth of July weekend was the first time in months that we actually got to relax and do nothing. Kind of disconcerting since I don’t really know what to do with all this free time. I think we will adjust though. We swam, sunned a bit, watered and mowed, rode our new bikes, drank beer and relaxed. For our Fourth of July entertainment, there were three separate fireworks displays, all within view, that went on for hours. What a great deal! Jim barbecued steaks and we had baked potatoes and avocados for dinner. Yay Freedom!

I have really enjoyed taking care of the garden and plants, since I got no garden this year.

After the Falcon Convention, where I am retiring and introducing the new Editor, we will head for Columbia, Missouri to ride the Katy Trail for a week or so. We have a great parking spot at friends on the river but if it is too wet, we have a backup plan. As Jim says, it’s always good to have a plan.

Then off to South Dakota to establish our residence, get licenses, insurance, all that fun stuff. Plus update our wills. Are YOU getting cut out? Kidding! You were never in it anyway…

Besides, we are going to spend all the money.