Monday, August 3, 2015

#5 Sweden Goodbyes, to pickles, to Sturgis

Abby, Becca, & Bunny in a selfie.
Our goodbyes are never easy! Us living in the USA, Becca, Jesper, Scout, & Bunny living in Europe! Having to get up early to leave on the morning flight is real hard! Becca and Bunny are up but not Scout. Becca tells us later when she wakes, she's puzzled as to wear Gump and Grabby are. This will never get easier, but we cherish the time we do get.
Scout and Bunny in the morning!

Sisters.
We fly home on a Friday to Minneapolis, drive home, getting in Watertown around 9PM.

2015 Pickles
Saturday brings unpacking and hopefully a chance at a little rest. Matthew from Mayfield Colony calls and tells Abby he has some pickles available. Well, you have to make hay when the sun shines, the same goes for pickles. So off to the colony for some pickles and dill. Back home get the jars and canning supplies out and here we go. Now just to set the record straight, Abby did probably 95% of the work, but I did pitch in to help. 55 quarts later and the job is done. Looks like a great batch!



My bike loaded, waiting for Donny
and Kevin to show up.
Donny and Kevin in Sturgis!
Marlene & Ken French meet up with
me in the Black Hills.
No rest for John, four work days, then taking off on Friday to the 75th Sturgis Bike Rally. Riding out this year is Donny Meyer, Kevin Dunn and myself. Destination is Hot Springs, SD to our friend Joe Cronen's lake Cabin. Our route is Watertown to Highmore, South to Winner, SD, West to Hot Springs. This takes us over roads never seen by our bikes. It also takes us through the heart of one of the largest Indian Reservations in South Dakota, Rose Bud! 458 miles later we arrive in Hot Springs. The roads were great! The traffic was light! The weather was hot and dry! Just a perfect day for riding.

I had received a message a while back that Marlene & Ken French, friends from Marlette telling me they're heading out to the Rally. So we meet up with them on Sunday, have a little breakfast, take a nice ride through the hills to Sturgis. We show them some of the sights and enjoy each others company. It's sure nice to have friends like Marlene & Ken!

Pictures..
Main Street in Sturgis

Joe's Cabin















and some more
Just one of the nice bikes in Sturgis!

Sights at One Eyed Jacks, my
favorite bar in Sturgis!















and more
Abby on the same Horse

John riding Beth's Horse.
Abby and I during pickling take a break to take a ride on Beth's horses. Beth is Diane Chenoweth's sister up for the summer from Virginia. We did this so Scout could see that she is not the only horse rider in the family, lol.




The busy month of July ends for us, spilling over slightly into August. Abby takes off this Sunday for LasVegas. She won a trip for two to play on the Millionaire Game show. Lucky her, cross your fingers, maybe she'll win a Million.

Until my next blog, thanks for reading...