Speaking of storming... it was when we left town today. Here is the van and trailer loaded down. The trailer is 18 feet long. The winds were horrific. I drove for a couple hours today, and during the worst of the wind, the steering wheel was turned about 40 degrees to the right to just try to keep the van on the road... UGLY. I have a whole new respect for truckers....
Saturday, June 12, 2010
WIOTA, IOWA
Speaking of storming... it was when we left town today. Here is the van and trailer loaded down. The trailer is 18 feet long. The winds were horrific. I drove for a couple hours today, and during the worst of the wind, the steering wheel was turned about 40 degrees to the right to just try to keep the van on the road... UGLY. I have a whole new respect for truckers....
Friday, June 11, 2010
Final Thoughts on Nebraska
This is a common site along the country side. This is where they hook up the irrigation systems. Pat explained to me that the propane powers the generator to pump the water up, but once hooked up, the water actually powers the large irrigation operation. WOW... again, this shows the character of the farmers out here. I can't imagine the amount of work that must go into the growing a crop where rain is not all that common in the summer. They have to move the irrigation around, and cultivate often between the rows of crops. Ohioans have it relatively easy once the crops are planted.
Tomorrow we will head out on our way home. I have sure enjoyed this trip and have learned an awful lot about another part of our country. The windmillers were very welcoming and all were extremely helpful. I saw many of them lead around newbies and people who wandered on the scene and patiently explain how the mills work and why. I can honestly say I abandoned my purse, camera and cell phone for long periods at a time in the merchant hall and no one would dream of bothering any of it. The people are honest, hardworking, and not afraid to jump in and help one another. I sure wish more of America still shared those values.
Wrap Up
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So today has been the wrap up of the trade fair. The last bits were sold and the guy that bought that beautiful windmill you saw photos of came to get it. I am now relaxing in the hotel in blessed air conditioning. Patrick and I spent about 2 hours loading up the trailer with windmills and parts to come home. He is delivering it for someone in Ohio. They brought in a front end loader bobcat to help the process. Somehow I am still tired and a little sunburned. Tonight is a banquet for the windmillers at a fancy place here in town. I am sure hoping for some prime rib after today's activities!
I did look up a wildflower guide today, but have not had time to really read it yet. I am hoping to figure out what some of the gorgeous flowers are. I know that I have seen coriopsis and various cone flowers.
I can honestly tell you too, that I have a whole new respect for the pioneers. This land here is gorgeous, but also brutal. It is HOT and the wind never ever stops. The storms are horrific, and I am told that the winters are too. I am not sure how they made it.
More later....
Thursday, June 10, 2010
Paradise FOUND
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The best part of the day was going to visit Roger Bailey's ranch. I am not sure what else to call it. He lives outside of McCool, NE and has made a fortune as a bee keeper. He ships his bees all over the western part of the United States. He is also a HUGE windmiller..... I counted over 35 on his place. They are simply everywhere. (Side note: In order to get there, we had to drive outside McCool, like I mentioned. The roads in Nebraska and Iowa all are dirt, believe it or not. The main highways are not, but all of the country roads are. It seemed odd....)
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He lives up on a hill, and the view is spectacular! I just about lost my jaw. When we first arrived a bus was there to truck us up a hill and to his home. He has installed a PIPE ORGAN in his house! He had a gentleman there to play a recital and then we were free to wander and explore his place. He had a neat view, as I mentioned. I was blown away almost literally by the wind. He has a 20 foot windmill installed at his pond that pumps water from a well into the pond. It was pretty cool to see how the windmills were really supposed to work! WOW.
Dinner was a low key affair... it was in his airplane hanger. He flew them out somewhere else so he could fit all 300 of us in.... again.... wow.
Maybe I should get into bees?!
Wednesday, June 9, 2010
gear box running
Here is a better shot of the gear box running that I promised you. It really is very cool to watch go. It pumps once per revolution of the wheel.
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