Day 118 – Jim’s Trek – 20.5 Miles On Easter Morn

Good Day,

This Easter morning I completed my 20.5 miles on my Schwinn 150… and I’m looking forward toward a great Easter Brunch. This morning I am headed west on Highway US-12, also 50th St. SW in Minnesota. I made it through the city of Cokato. And Cokato’s claim to fame, the Aho Family whose 12 sons all played football at the local high school over the period of more than two decades. The Aho Family is actually a bit more than 2% of the total population of Cokato.

I am located on US-12 W headed toward 738th Avenue. I’m coming up on Dassel, Minnesota. And it is 32° F and mostly cloudy in Dassel. Tampa is 66° F and I’m indoors.

My mileage total today, on this beautiful day in Tampa, is 2,019.2. I never did think that I would clock this many miles on my Trek from Tampa to Seattle. Only 39% of my goal left to go and 98 more miles to my next Interlake address goal.

This episode of The Tudors increased the number of heads rolling to five. Henry is cleaning house and Queen Anne is now confined to the Tower of London.

Enjoy your Easter, and be healthy,

Jim

Day 117 – Jim’s Trek – 20.5 Miles – Headed Northwest on My Schwinn 150

Good Day,

Once again I have completed 20.5 miles on my Trek on my Schwinn 150. I left the banks of Lafayette Bay and have reached the intersection of 60th Street SE, U.S. 12, and SE Brighton Avenue. I’m in the middle of farmland. Total miles to date equals 1,998.7.

My stats -

Total Direct Miles to Seattle	To Date	TD Miles Remaining	% TD Miles Completed	Interlake Miles Left to Seattle	Weight (lbs)
3,301.0	1,998.7	1,302.3	60.55%	4,000.6	166.6

And today is National Doctors’ Day. But today is Saturday… Are doctors’ offices opened on the weekend? I supposed one could write a note of appreciation to one’s personal MD on this, also, Pencil Day. Do you think we can survive without our keyboard for one day?

Queen Anne loses another child and Henry now believes that there is a black omen over their marriage. I am amazed at the writing of The Tudors. It appears that the women in Henry’s life are pawns, used by their fathers and brothers to secure favors and positions in Henry’s court.

Be healthy and enjoy.

Jim

Day 116 – Jim’s Trek – 20.5 Miles – Two Interlake Goals – Numbers 16 and 17

Good Day,

Two for the price of 20.5 miles on my Schwinn 150! This morning I hit my next two, number 16 and 17, Interlake address goals on my Trek to Seattle. Number 16 is Interlachen Boulevard, in Edina and 15.6 miles toward the northwest my Number 17, just off Manitou Road, is Interlachen Lane. My total 20.5 miles has me at a location on Shadywood Road at Lafayette Bay.

Number 16 – Interlachen Boulevard, Edina, Minnesota

Number 17 – Interlachen Lane at Manitou Road, Minnesota

My location Day 116 – Shadywood Road at Lafayette Bay, Minnesota

My total mileage to date is 1,978.2. I have now completed 60% of my original Tampa to Seattle Trek goal.

Someone please explain to me… On March 29, 1848 blocks of river ice caused Niagara Falls to come to a stop, and now celebrated every 29th of March is Niagara Falls Runs Dry Day. Why? What type of celebrations and parties does one have when a major source of power comes to a complete stop? It seems that a number of websites and blogs are posting about the Dry Day but no one seems to address the issue of what does one do to have a celebration. Since St. Patrick’s Day was a couple of weeks ago, could it be that Niagara Falls Runs Dry Day is the antithesis?

Update – The Tudors. Queen, excuse me, Lady Catherine of Aragon passes away. Queen Anne dreams of her death and then announces that she is once again pregnant. Henry meets Jane Seymour. And Cromwell purges England of all Roman Catholic land holdings and organizations. Season 4 of Game of Thrones is just about to start.

Our third pass of quilting of Cosmos' Moon is now completed on our Longarm. We are now transferring it to one of our Domestic machines. I am working on three new designs. You'll have to check back and check Quilts SB to find out later.

Be healthy, and enjoy.

Jim

Day 115 – Jim’s Trek – 20.5 Miles – 15th Interlake Goal Achieved

Good Day,

Today I completed another 20.5 miles on my Trek on my Schwinn 150. I began this morning’s journey just south of Chanhassen, Minnesota. I crossed over Lyman Boulevard and headed north, then west, then north to my 15th Interlake address goal. This goal is Inter Laken Street at Rolling Acres Road in Victoria, Minnesota. But this was not the end of my morning’s 20.5 miles.

I am now located, after turning northeast, at about Hopkins, Minnesota. I’m on Highway 7 just about 17th Avenue North. Why am I heading east, you ask when Seattle is to my west? My next Interlake address goal was just too close to by pass on my overall Trek. I shall hit my 16th goal tomorrow.

Well today we are supposed to celebrate Weed Appreciation Day. I'll be damned, with dripping eyes, a drippy nose, and all my sneezing that I will be thankful for any weeds at this time of year. But I do like a salad with dandelion greens.

The talks between Henry and Queen Anne Boleyn are getting more and more heated. This weeks episode of The Tudors includes the excommunication of Henry from the See in Rome.

I'm trying to remember the name of the artist who did the original of the above work. About 40 years ago I created this piece of cut-work for a class I was teaching regarding the art of stain-glass windows. Certainly would appreciate any help?

Be healthy, and enjoy,

Jim

Day 114 – Jim’s Trek – 20.5 Miles – 14th Interlake (Sort Of) Goal in Lakeville, Minnesota

Good Day,

And this morning, on the 114th Day my Trek on my Schwinn 150 I reached my 14th Interlake, actually Interlachen, goal in Lakeville, Minnesota. The direct mileage from Tampa is 1,558.0, but including my Interlake goals my total mileage reached at this point is 1,916.0. (Yes I know that Interlachen is not Interlake... but it is pretty damn close.)

Including my total 20.5 this morning, I have now totaled 1,937.2 miles. My location at present, and I’m headed north, is at the intersection of the Great Plains Boulevard and Pioneer Trail. I’m in Chanhassen, Minnesota. I’m right next to the Halla Greens Executive Golf Course and Driving Range.

And today I pleased to realize that I have now dropped another ½” on my belly or waist measurement. Not bad that in 114 days I have gone from 44” to 36”… I wonder what the measurement will be when I reach Seattle.

And today is National Joe (or Jo) Day. What can I say? It also is World Theatre Day which was established in 1961 by the International Theatre Institute.


The Tudors, minus two more heads, Fisher and Moore. The Henry and Anne Boleyn thing seems to be waning, but if you aren’t for Henry, in Henry's mind, what other choice is there? The Headsman.

On to my next Interlake goal as I keep heading on toward my final goal of Seattle.

Be healthy and enjoy.

Jim

Day 113 – Jim’s Trek – 20.5 Miles – Make Up Your Own Holiday Day

Good Day,

This morning on my Trek on my Schwinn 150 I am headed west on 160th Street West at the intersection of Galaxie Avenue in Apple Valley, Minnesota. Population of Apple Valley, per the 2010 Census, was about 50 thousand and Money Magazine named it the 20th best place to live in the United States.

I'm almost at my 14th Goal and my total mileage is at 1,916.7. It seems weird that the 2,000 mile mark is not that far away.

I'm writing up my Trek a bit later today… Just got back from lunch. Today is my pride and joy’s birthday… and it is as bloody cold here in Tampa as it was the day he was born 1,861 miles north in the frigid land above the border. Happy Birthday, JK.

Today is wear Red Day. Also today is Make up your own Holiday Day… And I definitely decided that it is time to celebrate I wanna be warm day.

Princess Elizabeth is baptized and Henry’s and Anne’s line is now declared the correct line of succession. Politics, sex, allegiances, graft are what make the world of The Tudors go round… Not much has changed. Ethics are always in the mind of the beholder... Just ask Ms. M. Bachmann.

I have had to add a pillow to my seat at my PC. It appears that my daily cycling is chaffing the parts of me that sit on the saddle during my Trek… and it hurts. Either that or I’m beginning to lose the weight on the parts of my body where it sort of counts.

Be healthy, warm, and enjoy.

Jim

Day 112 – Jim’s Trek – 20.5 Miles – Waffles and Our Lady and Hobbits

Good Day,

Sometimes my mind is barren, devoid of any possible idea or thought to write about when I sit down at my desk and put my fingers on the keyboard. I know that I am daily producing type on a figment of paper somewhere in the annals of Internetland but I wonder if I am beginning to dry up.

This morning, on my Schwinn 150, and having completed 20.5 more miles in my Trek, I am on Red Wing Boulevard just about at the intersection of Michael Avenue. Red Wing Avenue is also MN-316 N. And we are having a cold snap in Tampa… but the 25° F at Rosemount, Minnesota this morning, at about 10 am, is just plain cold.

My next 14th Interlake address goal is on the short horizon. This morning I have completed 57.4% of my total Tampa to Seattle goal.

And today we can celebrate Waffle Day. This celebration began in Sweden due to confusion in the actual pronunciation of the correct day “Our Lady’s Day”. Våffeldagen – Waffle Day and Vårfrudagen – Our Lady’s Day… So does this mean that as one asks for intercession of Mary one feasts on waffles stacked and drenched in sugary maple syrup? Oh and by the way Nathan, today is also Tolkien Reading Day. Waffles, penance, and Hobbits?

Last night for supper, and I haven’t tried the Egyptian Koshari, as yet, I created a dish that was actually quite decent – Red chili rice with shrimp and bacon. This is a Rick Bayless recipe and I did make the salsa prior to including it as one of the key ingredients. And yes I would make this again…

The Tudors - Henry secretly marries Anne Boleyn... Cranmer and Cromwell take up the key advisory positions. The Reformation has begun. Was it coincidental that the pearls around Anne's neck, at her coronation as Queen, a production underlined-theme or just a dotted line?

Be healthy and enjoy,

Jim

Day 111 – Jim’s Trek – 20.5 Miles – Red Wing, Minnesota

Good Day,

This morning in Tampa if certainly feels like the cusp of the rainy season; clouds, rain, humidity, blasts of warm air. But the weather prognosticators insist that the coming week will be a dip in temperature once again. Even the Old Farmer’s Almanac is predicting our, I think, 5th winter. (That’s when the temperature goes below 50° F.)

This morning my 20.5 miles on my Schwinn 150 spots me on Main Street in Red Wing, Minnesota. My total mileage today racks up at 1,875.7. The City of Red Wing is on the Mississippi River… It certainly has changed since 1860.

Today is Chocolate Covered Raisins Day… and I missed yesterday’s celebration, but I think it should be celebrated anyway. It was Near Miss Day. Something to do about an asteroid missing the Earth in 1989. What about yesterday in Delaware? Guess they celebrated their near miss.

Episode Two of Season Two of The Tudors… Same sub-plots – politics, reformation, sex, in-favor and out-of-favor. Nothing too much original.

Be healthy and enjoy,

Jim

Day 110 – Jim’s Trek – 20.5 Miles – Where's Pepie?

Good Day,

The thunderstorms have started… but I’m still sneezing and wheezing from the high pollen count. My nose is off by three months and definitely able to shine red in the dark.

My Trek on my Schwinn 150 this morning and my 20.5 miles has me hugging, almost the shored of Lake Pepin on the Minnesota side. Lake Pepin is described as the widest naturally occurring part of the Mississippi River. History has it that this is the home to the lake monster, Pepie, first seen in April 1871. My location is on US 61 North and at the southwest end of Lake City.

I think for supper tonight I’m going to try and make Koshari. It’s an Egyptian dish of pasta, pulses, and rice with a spicy tomato sauce. Should be interesting… Check back to hear the verdict.

My visual accompaniment began with the Second Season of The Tudors. After a quick summary of Season One the first episode moved right into the precipice of Henry’s Reformation. Will Henry marry Anne Boleyn? Of course, he will, we know the history…

Cosmos’ Moon has been loaded to our Longarm. A first basting has been done and all thread shades have been chosen. Metropolis is now hanging on our new quilt stand.

Be healthy, and enjoy

Jim

Day 109 – Jim’s Trek – 20.5 Miles – Allergies and Water

Good Day,

And today is my peak day with running eyes, dripping nose, sneezing, and sneezing, and sneezing once again. Spring must have sprung… because I am taking additional stock in Kleenex.

This morning I, once again, was able to increase my daily mileage and reduce my total time on my Schwinn 150. Today’s mileage – 20.5, and time – 1 hour 6 minutes. My location is now south of Kellogg, Minnesota… Just great, but not the Tony Tiger Kellogg! That’s in Michigan. I’m on U.S. 61 somewhere in the McCarthy Lake State Wildlife Management Area.

I’ve got 84 more miles to go to get to my next Interlake address goal and just about 1,470 miles left to complete my original Tampa to Seattle Trek. I just noted that I am a short distance to the west of Halfmoon Lake in Minnesota. I wonder if there are any similarities to the Halfmoon Lake just west of my home in Tampa. And how apropos, today is the World Day for Water.

My stats -

Total Direct Miles to Seattle	To Date	TD Miles Remaining	% TD Miles Completed	Interlake Miles Left to Seattle	Weight (lbs)
3,301.0	1,834.7	1,466.3	55.58%	4,164.6	166.6

Finale of Season One of The Tudors and everything and everyone is still pursing the same. Henry is slowly beginning to believe that the Church is not necessarily the intercedent agent between man and the divine. Politics is taking its toll and Moore appears to be ousting Wolsey as the bad guy. Today’s Saint of the Day is St. Nicholas Owen who was also known as Little John. He is remembered for building a number of “priest holes.”

Projects for today… Genealogy - Half-Triple Great-Grandaunt Elizabeth Huard. Quilting – Thread matching for Cosmos’ Moon, design work for Rán, try to organize fabric room.

Be healthy and enjoy,

Jim

Day 108 - Jim's Trek - 20.3 Miles - Winona, Minnesota

Good Day,

Well I finished another 20.3 miles this morning on my Schwinn 150 Trek. My total Trek miles 1,814.2. I am still stupefied that I am actually keeping to my schedule of doing it every single day. Even this morning, as I had a relatively early appointment, I actually got up earlier than normal to make sure that I could fulfil my commitment to myself. And I just realized that this Trek is my Trek, my commitment to myself and no one else.

This morning I began at Dakota, Minnesota. My 20.3 miles takes me to the intersection of US 14 West and Peltzer Street, just about between the cities of Winona and Goodview. Total mileage to date 1,814.2.

An interesting piece of note is that The Minnesota Marine Art Museum, in Winona, may host one of the finest collections of Canadian maritime painting outside Canada. Winona is also known as the stained glass capital of the United States. Wonder if there may be some ideas for some quilt designs.

Today’s episode of The Tudors has Cardinal Wolsey falling contemptuously out of grace of Henry, of Catherine, of Anne, and everybody else... and he can’t understand why. I’ve also been able to catch up with the episodes of Continuum. This last episode, number 9 helped me to understand who was who and how he or she may be related to characters from 2012 and 2077.

And now back to my genealogy search and quilting work.

Be healthy, and enjoy,

Jim

Day 107 – Jim’s Trek – 20.3 Miles – Wisconsin / Minnesota

Good Day,

Well on this 107th day of my Trek Tampa got its 28% possibility of rain storms during the early hours of the morning. Since when are weather prognosticators able to predict the likelihood of rain within one degree? But on my Schwinn 150 I continue on my Trek within the protection of my roof and I keep out of the rain.

Today my 20.3 miles has me following the Wisconsin Minnesota state lines. I am on Riverview Drive, west of Lake Onalaska… (And I can see the Russians from my front porch.) My actual location is County Road 12 at Park Road. Total mileage 1,793.9.

I’ll be following the state line and the River to my next Interlake location for about 130 miles.

Shades of Salem, even though no one was actually burned at the stake, today is the day to celebrate Snowman Burning Day… It appears that this is an American and Swiss tradition first celebrated March 1971. Supposed to mark the end of winter and the start of spring… Whatever happened to the groundhog? And since when can someone put a match to snow?

He said, She said, they said, in whispers, in hallways, in confessionals, over dinner, in the garden... the topic of conversation, Annulment. Henry wants out of his marriage to Catherine of Aragon. It is a game of illicit chess, and The Tudors, in this episode, getting rid of his wife is the foremost theme and plot. Henry wants Anne... Henry wants his way.

My take on the Hasselback potatoes last night... Yukon Gold - nice and moist, Red Bliss - a wee bit dry. Both good, and here I just thought a potato was a potato was a potato. And when I learned to make Hasselback potatoes about 40 years ago, no-one ever told me that those fan cut potatoes baked in bacon drippings were named after David Hassel... sorry guess that's Hasselback and not Hasselhoff. Guess I have to try the many varieties of potatoes now available, just to compare.

Be healthy, and enjoy.

Jim

Day 106 – Jim’s Trek – 20.3 Miles – Minnesota Here I Come

Good Day,

Today I completed my 20.3 miles on my Schwinn 150. I’m still on the highways 14, 61, and 27. I am located at East Hills Road next to a mobile home community where the streets are named: Linda Lane, Judy Avenue, Andy Avenue, Kelm Avenue, and Krissy Lane. Also I am just about southeast of La Crosse, Wisconsin. The B marks my spot.  Minnesota here I come.

My total mileage to date is 1773.6. I have completed 54% of my Trek.

I’m trying to find out the best potato to use for Hasselback potatoes. Anyone out there in Internetland know?

And today is Chocolate Caramel Day. Who comes up with these days of celebration? Please don’t tell me that it is our elected officials spending our tax dollars. This is also National Spring Fever Week… Does this mean the break from schools or the honking of reactions to airborne allergies?

Only in Florida we have barking and growling interpreters – (And I just summarized the best parts… of the media coverage.) Billy E. Brown, 78, was shot in the thigh by his dog as he drove to a deer-hunting spot in Pasco County. The bulldog, named Eli, apparently became excited and knocked into the rifle. Police have ruled the shooting accidental and did not detain the dog for questioning. No word on whether Lanier gave him a treat when they returned home, however. And really? I wonder how if there was any Pasco police officer versed in dog-languages?

The “English sweating sickness” is the major theme of today’s episode of The Tudors. Even though nothing, historically, has ever determined the actual cause of this mysterious disease the symptoms and signs sort of sound like a major version and onslaught of the Norovirus…

Be healthy, and enjoy.

Jim

Day 105 – Jim’s Trek – 20.3 Miles – Still on My Schwinn 150

Good Day,

Today I increased my mileage to 20.3 miles. I am located somewhere going north on Highways 14, 61, and 27. I am almost at the intersection of 3 Chimney Road. I’m still in Wisconsin and I believe soon I will be leaving this State on my Trek, on my Schwinn 150, continuing to destination of Seattle, Washington.

I have increased my resistance level on my Schwinn 150 to 7 and I am cycling my 20.3 miles in 1 hour and 7 minutes. But I think, as I continue, I need to find some comfort seat for my butt. I am really pleased with the results, thus far.  Blue line - mileage per day; Red line - belly measurements.

This morning our local Public Broadcasting Station is having its funds’ drive. This is a regular part of their marketing… But it was the offered giveaways, for a “donation”, that had me almost crying with laughter. Based on the amount of money pledged, a listener will receive various forms of packaged and state of the art temporary PBS tattoos… Obviously there is nothing more in life that I would rather have adorned to my body or to the nether regions thereof, a PBS tattoo. Has anyone as yet ventured into the idea of optical lighting body adornment?

I am at a loss for the celebration of today… Biodiesel Day. Just think of all the cars at rush hour emanating the odoriferous fragrance of French fries. And today is St. Cyril of Jerusalem’s day… He attempted to teach and protect catechumens. (And yes I had to look up that word.)

Henry cannot get a Papal annulment for his marriage to Catherine of Aragon… and Anne Boleyn appears to be garnering more and more gifts and jewels from the royal coffers. The Tudors’ plot lines and allegiances keep me enthralled. All I can say is that my high school history classes were never this fun and intriguing.

Check out my latest posts on Quilts SB. Metropolis has been finished and Cosmos’ Moon is now being quilted.

And my Trek continues.

Be healthy and enjoy,

Jim

Day 104 – Jim’s Trek – 20.2 Miles – Sound Works.

Good Day,

In courtesy of St. Patrick’s Day and since my genealogy does not show any recent ancestry to Ireland, I decided to increase my day’s mileage by 0.1 to 20.2 miles. This morning I am still on US-14 West and at the intersection of High Point Road. My total miles to date on my Schwinn 150 are 1,733.0.  My weight is remaining constant.

I wonder if there were snakes in Ireland before St. Patrick’s time. Legend has it that he may have driven the serpents out, but there really is no credence to the folktale nor any direct conclusion that there were any of the slippery things on the island… just leprechauns, shillelaghs, and unicorns.

Well I guess here is my thought... Game of Thrones was partly filmed in Northern Ireland...


And The Tudors now works the theme of Henry's desire for divorce from Catherine of Aragon. Only the Pope knows for sure.

And today apart from being St. Patrick’s Day, we celebrate Submarine Day. Is that the sandwich? Or the sea-faring vehicle?


Our Metropolis quilt wall hanging has been finished. Check out the details at Quilts SB.


Be healthy, and not too green. Enjoy.

Jim

Day 103 – Jim’s Trek – 20.1 Miles – 52% of My Trek Has Been Reached

Good Day,

Today my 20.1 miles on my Schwinn 150 has me located once again on US-14 W in Wisconsin. I am located between Jelland Drive and Pleasant Valley Drive.

51.89% of my Trek has been reached. The Label B marks my current location on my Trek from Tampa to Seattle.

Get your silicon out… Today is Lips Appreciation Day. Madame would certainly appreciate it.

I am enthralled by the costumes that are used to decorate the actors in The Tudors. I can just imagine the amount of dressers and designers involved in the production.

I have been attempting to capture the theme music to the Game of Thrones. This is a trial control and it won't work as yet as there is no music file attached.



Metropolis has been completed. We are both pleased with the outcome. Stay tuned-to Quilts SB for updates and our progress.

Be healthy, and enjoy,

Jim

Day 102 – Jim’s Trek – 20.1 Miles – Et Tu Brutus?

Good Day,

Today my total miles now equal 1,692.7. My Trek on my Schwinn 150 is now into its 102nd day and it has now become an obsession. I am located on US Highway 14 headed west and I have just crossed over the Lower Wisconsin River. I am at a village located within the Town of Spring Green.

This about the location where Frank Lloyd Wright built his first Taliesin studio in 1911. Obviously some history.

Always amazed how some printed words can be used to support whichever side of an argument one wants to espouse for the benefits of his/her soapbox. Thank you Senator Rob Portman.

Watch your back, today is Brutus Day. If office and family politics aren’t enough, the Ides of March bring on the celebration of all those bloody backstabbing bosom buddies. Et tu Brutus!.

The Tudors are at it. Henry is at odds with Catherine of Aragon, his wife. He now directs his attention and dreams in the direction of Anne Boleyn. Thank you father for "selling" your daughter.

Test 40 has been delivered today. Binding and label for Metropolis completed. Cosmos' Moon's tree in progress. Check Quilts SB to shortly see what's next in production.

Be healthy, and enjoy,

Jim