The Tale of Steaks

Wednesday I bought top sirloin steaks to bbq on Friday.  Well then Friday morning Rebecca told me that they were bbqing steaks after they got back from the river. 
I devilled up some eggs, got some cauliflower ready to steam and sliced some cucumbers.  They came home about 5, but nothing seemed to be happening. Gordon left.  So I started the charcoal and got my steaks seasoned.  Then Gordon came back with expensive rib eye steaks and some New York strip steaks.  They opted to only cook the rib eyes since my steaks were going on the grill.  Now it was a lovely meal.  And I think Rebecca still has those NY steaks for another day. 

Recap

My trip consisted of just under 6000 miles, $450 worth of gas, four nights in hotels, 25 days away from home and tons of dead bugs.  I saw all my first cousins on my dad's side.  I saw three aunts and two uncles, double second cousins, first cousins once removed, and my sister and brother-in-law. I left with a car full of bikes, toys, games and misc. stuff that belonged to the littles.  I came home with Amish chocolate, syrup, quilts, a new wardrobe from Helga, dishes, a cake dish and souvenirs.  I made great memories and heard old stories.  New experiences.  It was good to catch up.  I got hopefully enough (and it never will be) hugs from my little man to last till the next time.  Cuddles from my girl.  I left big pieces of my heart in Kokomo.

Prince's

We spent some time fishing in MN when I was a kid.  Mom would take us down to the river near our house.  I remember catching a northern and Grandma cooking it up that night.  I can remember fishing for sun fish on pontoons.  

In MN you fish with live bait.  Minnows.  That meant a trip to Prince's for the bait.  I always liked watching all the little fish swim around.  I can remember learning how to attach a minnow on the hook.  I liked it a lot better than hooking a worm.  

Prince's in still there and still selling minnows.  

Bear Stories

Most of my trips to MN do not include a visit with my cousin Greg.  Greg now owns the farm and comes up from the city most weekends.  That means that this year I got to see him.  And I remember how much I like him and all his stories.  We're not close but we are still family.
I found the hot pad at a little roadside store near Fred's house.  I got it in honor of the first bear story Greg told.
He was out hunting bear.  Sitting up in a deer stand in a tree.  Mama bear and her two cubs came through.  He had no interest in them of course.  They stopped right by him.  Mama bear gave a huff and the two little bears went up trees.  One tree right next to the one Greg was in and then one right up his tree.  Little bear sat right on his toes.  Greg looked at the cub and the cub turned and looked at him and they sat there very quietly.  Greg had his rifle right on his lap.  Just in case.  Well turns out there was a big male coming through.  It was the one Greg was hoping to shoot.  Mama bear gave a huff and tangled with the male.  After a couple of minutes the male gave up and went on his way.
Greg had been kind of nudging the cub with his toe trying to get him to just go down.  But that cub was not coming out of that tree until the Mama bear said it was all right.  Well behaved babies.  And Greg wasn't trying all that hard. He didn't want that cub making any noise as that would have brought the Mama bear up in the tree. Greg never got a shot at the male as it never made it to the spot Greg was hoping for.  Mama bear gave a huff and the cubs went down and wondered off.  Greg says maybe he will get that male this year during bear season.
His other bear story happened in Wyoming I believe.  He was out hunting with a friend and he saw a rack of antlers sticking up above the grass.  So he went to see if he could cut them off and pick them up on the way out.  When he got pretty close to the carcass a grizzly bear popped up out of the grass.  They looked at each other.  After a long minute Greg took a step backward.  The bear took a step forward.  Greg estimates they did this dance for about 100 yards before the bear turned around and went back to the carcass.  Greg didn't need those antlers after all.

Notes From the Road

Just some observances.  Gas in North Dakota and Montana sucks.  I think they add more ethanol than 10 %.  My gas mileage dropped as soon as I filled the tank in ND and didn't go up until I filled a tank in Idaho.  Nothing is comparing with that clear unleaded I put in in Wyoming though...I got 37 mpg on that.  I didn't do it on purpose. I wasn't paying total attention to the pump. The octane was right.
In Montana I saw a convocation of eagles.  A most amazing sight.  And naturally by the time I realized what I was seeing I was past them.  And I was in the wrong lane to pull over.  There must have been something to eat there because there were like 20 of them circling. 
Loads of roadkill.  But only in those middle states.  The most was in MT and some of those were pretty fresh. 
I sure was appreciative of the windshield wipers Leo had installed on my car.  Not the rain, but the bugs.  My car needs a big bath. 
I really wanted to see prairie dogs and I knew they were at Painted Canyon.  When I came though though there were tons of cars so I chose not to join the crowd.  Painted  canyon is just gorgeous.  And then what did I see?  There was a critter almost across the road.  It was a prairie dog.  Success.  Silly thing should stay off the freeway though or it will be roadkill.
Every other state I was in does  road construction different.  Fines are only double when there are workers and sometimes when there is no work being done the speed limit goes back up. Loved that.
The Mississippi River is still spectacular and I really liked the Yellowstone River. 

Home

Google said I would be home at 7:15 p.m  I was home by 6:30 p.m.  I don't feel like I was too speedy.  It sure feels good to be home though. The dogs missed me.  Sunset missed me.  Mica must be mad as I have not seen her. Willow seems indifferent.

Way Home

Google says it takes 25 hours to drive from Zimmerman to Vancouver.  We shall see.  I got up not too early and loaded the car and rearranged.  I wanted my snacks by me and the rest in the back.  Headed out.  Realized after  I got on 94 that it would have been shorter to go to St. Cloud first.  Hindsight.
My goal was to reach Billings MT.  It is almost half way.  And I was successful.  I did all right with moving around every time I stopped for gas.  MT is much stricter in terms of the covid.  So I ended up eating Taco Bell in my hotel room.  I didn't mind.  Ate, took a shower and went to bed. Amazing how tired you can get just driving.