Wednesday, August 15, 2012

Days 15 and 16... I'm Home Now

Without going back to check the comments, I don't remember who said it, but they were right...."when the cow smells the barn..."

That's what yesterday and today were like. I took only 1 picture all day on Tuesday. I thought it was an appropriate name for a little town... I took it as my Last Chance to turn around and keep traveling before going home.

Tuesday ended with us trying to get another camper cabin at the KOA in Kennebec, SD, but again, they were all booked. I'll have to remember to call ahead and reserve them. We found a great room just a block or so away from the KOA. The price was right too. $5 bucks more then a cabin!

This morning would be the last run to home. I had 576 miles to go, John, about 160 less. It helped that there was no breakfast at the motel. We were on the road by 8:00. Our earliest start yet! We made a few gas and food stops along the way. I broke off from John at the I-35E/I-494 interchange. I had about 3 and a half more hours ahead of me.
It felt great to be so close to home. I noticed that Wisconsin is a lot greener that most of the places we traveled.
The corn is looking pretty good for a field with no irrigation!

Soy beans too!

Is there any wonder why Wisconsin cheese, eggs, milk, beef and chicken taste better than the products from out west.... No Sage brush in our "pasture land".

I knew I was close to home when I started to see Corn and Firewood for sale on the "honor system".

I guess the high price we pay for gasoline is a small trade off for the high quality of life up here.

By the time I got home, I had logged 5058 miles (8140k) on this trip. The '09 Ninja now has 38,545 miles (62,032k) on it. It needs a bath, an oil change now, and a valve clearance service sometime this fall.

It's good to be home!!!

15 comments:

  1. Hooray for being home. It is funny how when we are headed home we are so much more focused on the destination and don't stop as much. We were the same way.

    It looks as though you are paying the same thing we are for fuel. It was $3.89 for regular when I filled up on Monday.

    After seeing so many brown corn field pictures on other blogs it is nice to see they are green in your neck of the woods.

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    1. Regular was 3.699 when I left. I paid 3.79-3.99 for premium most of the trip. I was a bit shocked to see it so far over 4.00 upon my return.
      About the only thing not green around here is my lawn. It's gone dormant. Saves on cutting!

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    2. But, that price is for the Ethanol free premium! It's .12 cents cheaper across the street, but it's mixed with corn juice

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  2. And since we pay more for gas, our quality of life must be even better;-}

    I like the town name shot as you were approaching home, and I'll add my welcome back home since you didn't choose to turn off in a new direction. Sooo, when's the next trip? New England for the leaves changing?

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    1. I think I'll limit my fall color tour to some of the local rods full of Maple and Birch trees.

      The town sign was out in the middle of no where Colorado.

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  3. Welcome home Erik! I'm way behind in following your trip, been too busy and recuperating but will catch up over the weekend.

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    1. I know the feeling, I have lots of blogs to catch up on too.

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  4. Glad to see you made it home safe and sound! That was a lot of miles logged on the Nija and you in a relatively short time. (Since I returned my grass has begun to grow and grow and grow, there's something to be said about dry weather.)

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    1. Karen it was great to meet you. I racked up 8543 miles (13,748k) in 22 days of riding, spaced out over 27 days. I'd do things differently if I did it over.

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  5. 'Last Chance' what a good fit for your last leg of the journey. Welcome home, I guess the wife is happy to have you back (for a while).

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    1. I thought that sign was perfect! and yes, I'm sure I'll be "paying" for the trip for a while...

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  6. Erik:

    you won't like our gas prices up here. This morning $1.389 / ltr = $5.26/US gallon, premium would be around $5.71 / US Gallon.

    No matter how much fun you have while touring, it's always good to be home

    bob
    Riding the Wet Coast
    My Flickr // My YouTube

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    1. I agree, it is great to be home... Now, where to next?

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  7. Home again, home again, jiggity jig. It was great to be able to follow your trip. It kept me informed about my honey's whereabouts. Thanks for taking such good care of him. See you soon for our fishing outing. Hugs

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    1. It's fun to travel with John, we do pretty good together.

      Come on up for a quick weekend get-a-way of fishing! sounds like fun.

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