Travels, trails and exploration

The Mike had an endurance ride in central Iowa the other weekend.  Part of the course was for them to ride their bikes through the Neal Smith National Wildlife Refuge .  Who even knew this existed just 25 miles south of I-80/Colfax friends of the center link here --seriously, there are NO signs along I-80 for this wonderful area!)

We toured part of the center first, complete with full size elk and bison models inside the education center (did you know the fluffy foreleg hair of the bison are called 'pantaloons'?).  They have a short video on how the prairie has changed since settlers arrived and how they are changing it back again. 

Goofing off with the bison head.

Elk in the  bison bison free range area.  We think there were a few deer in there too. However, I did not get to spy any bison bison.  The Mike, however, did while during the race.---> He thought this sign was fun. ."stay in your car and on the road". I said that staying on one's bike is the same thing as staying in one's car; however, one just isn't protected as well.  I doubt I'd ever see a bicyclist honking and hollering at a bison trying to get its attention, as we saw in South Dakota near a couple years ago.


Last weekend I went to my parents'.  While there I went on my long run for the week (13 miles) and took a "breather" in there with a shaded stretch with no wind blowing and I admit, I did consume a few berries.  I also managed to scare up a deer, which took off away from me down the former railroad trail--it ran for a good three-fourths of a mile, if not more.  Another time I rounded a curve and spied a deer up ahead crossing the slightly wooded area (read: this is why I refuse to run in the country in the dark. ..deer, opossums, badgers, and the ever favorable skunk).

When I got back home, dad had already prepared lunch for him and mom-- a fabulous sirloin steak with mushrooms and some pan fried potatoes.  That man does know how to take care of himself in the kitchen. [sorry, no photos, too hungry!] 

I got the privilege of cleaning up ;-)

Saturday evening, after church, we went to town to get some things at the grocery store.  Mom has an electric wheelchair now and she just GOES about the store. Thank goodness it was not busy at all (less for us to worry about).   When we got home, the pot roast dad had put in the crockpot was smelling so wonderful.  Redwine and some water, spices, veggies and hmmm, hmmm hmmm GREAT.  Plus, only one pan to clean. However, the leftovers became fixings for soup on Sunday, along with some peppers and tomatoes.  

Sunday morning I was to run, per the coach, "an easy three miles".   I had happened to be on the Omaha Running Club's page in fabulous Facebook-land Friday and heard about The Road To Omaha Run 5k with benefits going to help Omaha parks and schools.  What could be more fun than running along the river front area (part of which had been under water just last year from the horrendous flood) and then running the warmup track area at the TD Ameritrade Park?   I got up early and drove up to get registered and then run, agreeing to meet mom and dad at the 11Worth restaurant for breakfast afterwards, YUM!

The sculpture along the Missouri River (Bob Kerry Pedestrian Bridge in back).  The flood waters were up to the sculpture men's necks/raised arms. It's a sculpture to those who helped build/shape this great city. 

I got registered and was able to get a shirt too (SaWeet). Waiting around, I got ready --sunscreen!--did some stretching, yoga, and people watching (as well as watching the newscasters who were there, KETV link to race story here --I am in the video, just not my front side, so I won't be sharing where I was, what I was wearing!).   Then I lined up with about 500 of my closest friends on Sunday morning and we were off on the four foot wide trail/sidewalk.  One youngster almost bit the dust in front of me by tripping on her own feet (eek!) and then the powerful folks who didn't get lined up early.   It was really cool as we came into the stadium, even for this non-sports follower.  Running on the track, seeing the stands from a position few see, was great. . . We were suppose  to be able to see ourselves on the big screen, via a video camera feed set up on the ground as we were rounding third base. However about twenty of us missed that opportunity due to some young woman standing right.in.front. of the camera while setting up her cell phone camera to take a picture of herself on the big screen. I was disappointed in not being able to see myself up there, but I was more disappointed for the dad and his six or seven year old son in front of me who were trying to get in position to see themselves on the screen and the disappointing voice of the child who only got to see a pink shirted young woman on the big screen. (classy?  yeah, I said something.   I can see being oblivious in a 26.2 race, I can't see being oblivious in a 3.1 mile race!)

I was happy with my time considering a) it was hot, we didn't start until 9am; b) it was suppose to be an "easy" run; and c) there were a few small hills in there----I am considering it an eye opener for the Omaha Marathon I'm doing in September--glass medals, handed out by Marines in uniform!!! 

Trying to cool off afterwards was laughable.  I did finally stop glistening, got cleaned up and changed at the public restrooms there  and managed to pull into the restaurant parking lot at the same time as my parents--how is that for timing?

The sculpture along the Missouri River (Bob Kerry Pedestrian Bridge in back).  The flood waters were up to the sculpture men's necks/raised arms. It's a sculpture to those who helped build/shape this great city.

Ham and Cheese omelet with hash browns at 11Worth on, Leavenworth, on Omaha.   I couldn't eat all the omelet, though I was pretty close. Mom and dad shared the full size (four eggs) philly steak omelet, I got the junior size (which is two or three eggs).  

Afterward we got home and some things around the house, I packaged up some of the soup dad had made for eating along my route and got ready for my five hour car ride home.  Thankfully the drive was uneventful (something a cousin's hubby didn't have that morning. Thank goodness they are okay!).

Monday night we had left over GF pizza (chicken, tomatoes, mushrooms and black olives) which I picked up Sunday on my way back into town,  along with a "deconstructed" spinach salad: spinach, sliced apple, cherry tomatoes, carrots and some cheese curds (not a lot, since we had cheese on the pizza). 

Race recap and travel log

As I said in my previous post, we were in Kansas for a cycling event for The Mike.  We arrived in Emporia, Kansas. This year we stayed at the Candlewood Suites. In the past we have always had to hope for a microwave and small dorm fridge in a room. The suite had a pretty regular kitchen. Full fridge, dishwasher, plates, pots, pans, two burner stove, microwave. It was SWEET!

Next stop was registration for The Mike, then Walmart for groceries (it was across from the hotel).  Course map for his race.  Emporia is at right center.  His race would take him to the southern side, then to the middle left and up to Council Grove at the center top with its history on the trail. (which is a very nice town on the Sante Fe trail). Emporia west to Strong City  and north to Council Grove would be a great road trip in American History and the Flint Hills of Kansas.

Between packet pickup and waiting for the racer's meeting, we had an hour or so to kill and we walked along the business district. There were multiple pianos painted and decorated in various themes and designs. This one was outside the Brown Shoe Store and sheltered from the elements.  Very attractive.  I sampled tickling the ivories at each one. . . though I don't recall how to actually play piano from my lessons.  

Mike had his race meeting and I started on dinner at hotel (ah, home sweet home!).  We didn't think it out too carefully though, so we had two orange veggies (sweet potatoes and carrots), pork chops with some Alfredo sauce (which seemed to be gluten free via the label, but I'm not putting the brand here just in case it's really not. I had a little sauce, Mike had more of it. Really good though and no problems for me). Served with a salad greens and tomato.  Cherries on the side and a nice glass of milk. Then to try to wind down to get to bed by 9. .. uh, yeah, that didn't happen.  I think I finally fell asleep about ten!

One of the fabulous large homes in Emporia along 12th (I believe) which turned into "Grand" ha, how awesome is that. This house is actually for sale, It had a small gardner's shed or garage behind the left side of it as well.  There were a few others long the street that weren't brick, some with pillars, some without, some with Greek letters on for Emporia University which is fairly closeby.

A couple of years ago we took Mike's nephews on vacation with us.  I found this board in a book store (It's a Melissa & Doug) and while the sound of hair band elastic snapping wooden pieces on a board isn't the best sound--oh the joys--- it is fun to visually see where the cars full of folks have been.  We were lucky enough to find Maine on the interstate and Alaska in town (cyclists come from all over!).  Amazingly, apparently people only travel I-35 and I-70 for Kansas if they live in the north/south corridor there, lol. 

My before race picture has the Flat Ethan who I took on the road trip with us. Flat Ethan lives in Massachusetts and he wanted to visit the Midwest. He got more than he bargained for, as he ran the Hospital Hill half marathon with me!  

My face is always bright red after I run, no matter if it's fast or slow, long or short. 

The very nice fountain near the finish line.  (photo taken after I spent time at the Crown Plaza, so the finish area had been taken down already).  

I headed out in search of gluten free food for lunch. I decided on pizza again, though I was debating the breakfast place owned by the same folks.  The pizza was sooo great last year I just had to have it again. Um, it turned out to be one of those things where memory of the item was so much better than the food was this time around, or maybe my body was craving protein more than it was carbs. 

In Olathe, Kansas at the Mahaffie Stagecoach Stop.  I stopped due to some spare time, some need to walk for a bit before driving back to Emporia, and the curiosity of following a historical marker sign. This place is a living history farm area. Small admission fee, an indoor museum and an outdoor working farm. 

For whatever reason, the drive back to Emporia seemed to go much faster than the trip there before. Maybe it was knowing I didn't have to drive this stretch again, or knowing the visuals along the way and that I was almost "home". 

After refreshing, I went to downtown for the the showing of THE GOONIES (read: best movie ever) on the big screen at the Granada Theater. Then I went back to the hotel (and now I can't even recall why I did that).  Then back downtown about 8:15. Mike was wanting to beat his previous finish time of around 10pm (last year) and around midnight (2 years ago) 

Imagine my surprise when the announcer said, "we have five cyclists coming in and we'll announce their names shortly" to everyone immediately cheering for someone, my looking up and recognizing Mike's cycling kit. EEK --quick grab the camera! . . .

Mike signing a trading card for a young race fan.

The theater lit up at night. Beautiful, isn't it?

Sunday we headed out to and decided to head up to my parents'.  We skipped the family reunion this year, as  going to that and then my parents' would have been a lot of extra time on the road, but there was a 'shortcut' to my parents via the navigation system in the car  so we headed there.  Along the way we saw ONE, just one, historical marker.  . .. I knew of John Brown via Harpers Ferry and via the John Brown Caves in Nebraska City (which were part of elementary school field trips), but I forget that he was in Kansas too. . .so many battles are in Kansas.  This one we thought was interesting. The folklore that Brown managed to get those chasing him to disband by his bravery (or stupidity) of charging through a swollen stream in December.

Just 1,142 miles and we were back home after leaving for our three day weekend. Yes. All this managed to happen in three days.  

 What was on our doorstep when we arrived home?  A fabulous box of Chobani packed in a well insulated ice packed container.  YUM!