Wednesday, July 31, 2013

Bridge Over Box Elder Creek

Bridge Over Box Elder Creek
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=X3QPrvCQHiw&feature=youtu.be











Cheryl was right!

First full day on the ranch.
My friend Cheryl whom is taking care of my kitty and the homestead told me to expect to feel crappy up in the higher elevations. It didn't hit me until yesterday. I played the roll of a slug most of the day. No energy, no motivation. In my defense it has been years where I have had the opportunity to nothing all day and not feel guilty about it. So, I took advantage. I worked on a few people and treated the owner to some hand Reflexology. There is a method to my madness working on Troy. At this point there is only one other 'vendor' at this ranch. He will be working up front amongst the droves of visitors and I would really like the opportunity to have that exposure.  At this juncture I am way in the back with the staff trailers and I can't see, don't feel good about being all that busy. I will work on my position for when the rally kicks into gear on Monday. I can't imagine and I am really excited to see the masses of bikes and riders coming through.
We ended the night with a campfire until lightning and a small shower sent us inside.  Wednesday is a big push day to get the ranch in order and I have told those in charge to put me to work. Until tomorrow.

Tuesday, July 30, 2013

Like cramming an elephant in a matchbox.

Our trip started on the morning of July 29th at 12:31am. After struggling for nearly two hours to pack Marilyn's small car with all I thought I would need for the next three weeks. We managed to fit the necessities in and off we went. Our map showed us that starting out on Rt. 20 was our best option and we didn't question it until we were well on the road and 'stuck' on this route. Traveling in the wee hours is normally the best way to travel a boring road, but as we found out, rt. 20 is not accommodating after 10 pm. No gas stations for gas or potty was the frustrating bit, along with NO rest stops for the weary. We reached Hywy 29 in South Dakota to take us north to I90 which would finish our trip into Nemo. I90 was almost as bad as 20 but at least there were some rest stops and more petroleum stations.
There are a few things on learned on this trip west. #1 Wall Drug must be the best drug store in the country or they have the best marketing team on the planet as there are signs for it 400 miles out and a outside banner posting its assets every mile. #2 Hay is a huge commodity in South Dakota, hay rounds and bales along nearly the entire highway. I was intrigued by the ditches. Those even grew the golden grasses there and were also cut and bailed.
I was amazed at Marilyn's endurance. She drove the entire 14 hours of our trip. She had been up since 7am the morning before so her ability to speak in full sentences last night was limited.
Upopn arriving at Nemo Guest Ranch, my expectations were not dashed. The ranch is an old family owned establishment most recently purchased by Troy and Wiladine Sayne in 2006. www.nemoguestranch.com.
I knew we were to be staying in a 40 ft. trailer with two bedrooms. The trailer had become a placeholder for allot of items over the winter and from the last rally. Encountering this was a bit overwhelming, but we had it cleaned out and fixed up within two hours. Unpacked, exhausted from the road trip, and excited about what lie ahead of us we turned in and both slept like babies in our new digs.

Thursday, July 18, 2013

Count down begins

10 days, 3 gigs and 10 pair of feet until I head west to South Dakota with my new friend Marilyn. It was a fateful Christmas night this past year. My client Candy has a daughter that was visiting from Minnesota for the holiday. She called to ask if I was available to work on her daughter as she has many health issues. I was alone as my kids had gone back to the city already so I told her to bring her over. I felt like I was meeting a sister when Marilyn came into the room. Certainly after working on her for just a short time we discovered we had allot in common and most importantly she told me about her past adventures of working at a place called Nemo Guest Ranch in South Dakota. The ranch is located 18 miles south of Sturgis and the bike rally that takes place every year. She said my Reflexology would be a big hit out there, would I like to come with her this year? Uhm, YES! Of course. I love new adventures like this. My life is great but a bit stale of routine and this type of fun is right up my alley. So the morning of July 29th, 2013, Marilyn and myself will be headed west to the Nemo Guest Ranch to work for 3 weeks helping out on the ranch and myself, hopefully rubbing hands, relieving the riders from carpal tunnel.
Nemo is a beautiful ranch and here is the link to its site.