Experience the fascination of a tourist; Feel the comfort of the local
I went to the doctor for what I thought would be a routine checkup. Not that I would recognize a routine checkup if I saw one. I hadn’t been to a doctor (except for two emergency room visits, one after being mugged and one after falling off a racing camel. Now that’s a story for …
Diary of a Cockeyed Optimist: I’m not fine. But I will be.Read More
There is no excerpt because this is a protected post.
What it’s like to get tested at a free Illinois COVID-19 Testing Site Since the seriousness of COVID-19 began to hit home mid-March, Mr. TLT and I have been cautious. We’ve limited our outings to grocery shopping, a couple of curbside pickups at Julie Ann’s Frozen Custard, walks on the Prairie Trail and an occasional …
Diary of a Cockeyed Optimist: Why I Got Tested for COVID-19Read More
Don’t leave home without these necessary items.
Almost. I should say almost home. Technically, we were still in Wisconsin and needed to get to Illinois. If you wanted to get truly technical, we still had no home at all. Whatever. We were close. We took our time breaking down camp that morning. We tried to take a hike, but we got about …
Home. That’s what I felt as we rode our bikes on the Great River State Trail. Home. I loved the unrestrained and extreme beauty of the west, the sheer extravagance of the earth’s upheaval, the power of an ever-changing landscape. It was one “wow” after another. But as we rode our bikes along the Mississippi …
Two Lane Gems, Vol. 2: Day 34 – Onalaska to Governor Dodge State ParkRead More
I love the big puffy clouds,” I said, “when they’re not dropping stuff.” I’d officially hit the loopy stage. That’s OK. We were getting closer to “home” with every mile. In two more days we’d be back in Illinois and then we could rest. BWAHAHAHAHAHA! Oh, my. Anyway… Day 33’s agenda was light. We drove …
Two Lane Gems, Vol. 2: Day 33 – Eden Prairie to OnalaskaRead More
Everything looks better in the morning. Jim called Hertz and extended our rental. With his mellifluous tones, empathy, and patience, our problem was solved and we had some breathing room. We had to be back by July 3, but that was four days away and those two extra days meant everything. We checked out of …
Two Lane Gems, Vol. 2: Day 32 – Jamestown to Eden PrairieRead More
Don’t underestimate small towns. It’s something I’ve learned over and over. It’s something I’ve preached over and over. Yet here we were in a small town in eastern Montana, and I thought we’d be there to sleep and leave. Have I learned nothing? When we approached our hotel the night before we’d noticed signs for …
Two Lane Gems, Vol. 2: Day 31 – Glendive to JamestownRead More
We began our day with breakfast at Clark and Lewie’s Pub and Grill, the restaurant inside the O’Haire Motor Inn. Great Falls, Montana, is officially Lewis and Clark country. As in, they were HERE, Lewis and Clark country. The Mandan, a hospitable tribe in what is now Washburn, North Dakota, had warned the explorers about …
Two Lane Gems, Vol. 2: Day 30 – Great Falls to GlendiveRead More
If you’re beginning to wonder if Jim and I are for real, I don’t blame you. We sure sound happy, don’t we? I’ve called him a saint. It’s obvious we like each other and we still have fun together, even though by this point in the trip we’d spent nearly every moment – together. And …
Two Lane Gems, Vol. 2: Day 29 – Glacier to Great FallsRead More
The 28th day began like so many others had on this adventure. I woke up to the sounds of birds, pulled out the Coleman stove and my French press, and made coffee. It was our 14th day of camping; half of our nights had been spent outdoors. For a flash of a moment the day …
Two Lane Gems, Vol. 2: Day 28 – Glacier National ParkRead More
