After a long week of cleaning out and packing, driving for 1750 miles and 27 hours, and several failed attempts to meet the moving van at the storage facility before we finally succeeded, we are back. I enjoyed sleeping in this morning and not having any scheduled tasks that had to be started at the crack of dawn. There is still plenty to do - catching up with bills, laundry, and life in NJ before I head to MD next week to catch up there, making room for Ryan and some of his stuff since he can't move in to his house until Aug. 15th, and making a little time for a bit of reading and knitting.
Since it's Thursday, I thought I might ease back into blogging and share three things we saw during the drive from CO to NJ.
1. Some interesting skies
I took this one on Saturday morning as we left Kearney, Nebraska. There were torrential thundershowers that woke us up frequently during the night, but at least we didn't have to drive in the pouring rain.
All we saw through Nebraska, Iowa, and much of Indiana was corn, with a few soybeans for contrast. Nebraska is the Cornhusker state, and it turns out that Iowa grows more corn than any other state in the US (2.7 billion bushels). We got a real feeling for just how vast corn production is in these states.
3. Wind Turbines
We got to see hundreds of these along Route 80, and they were interesting every time. Most of them were in Nebraska with a few in Iowa, and most had their rotors turning slowly and steadily, even though there was no wind evident at ground level.
We saw several trucks towing turbine rotors and they gave us an even better idea of how massive these things are. It took us a while to figure out what they were were!
I'm glad to be back. Be sure and check in with Carole to see what three things others are writing about today.
Welcome back! And thanks for sharing interesting photos of your drive. I remember a few years ago when Dale and I saw a truck hauling a wind turbine rotor. Just like you, it took us a while to figure out what it was!
ReplyDeleteYou slept in, but still posted at 6 a.m., eh? ;-) That turbine blade is something else. I have seen a few turbines "in the wild," but I don't think I ever got a real sense of just how big they are.
ReplyDeleteWelcome back to both you and Ryan! What fun pictures! And it makes me feel so good to see a wind turbine in progress! Our skies yesterday were very much impacted by the fires out west...
ReplyDeleteWelcome back, Bonny! I've been thinking (so much) about you and Ryan and The Big Move, and I'm so happy you're back home and settled enough to share a blog again. :-) Here in the Kalamazoo area, we have busy I-94 crossing right through . . . and we often see wind turbines and blades in transit on the highway. They are MASSIVE -- and, like you, at first I couldn't figure out what they were! But now I know . . . and it always warms my heart to see them on the highway.
ReplyDeleteOh, it's been AGES since I drove that east-west route! I drove from Wisconsin to Oregon several times in the '80s and some shorter portions since -- and other routes besides I-80, such as I-90 or I-94, and even TCH-1. I used to get much longer periods off of work, I guess. :) So glad that you're back! Welcome home!
ReplyDeleteDelighted that your arrived home safely and got a chance to sleep in. Welcome back. Enjoyed the photos + story you shared - wind turbines are interesting, as are clouds, always.
ReplyDeleteCheers~
I, too, have encountered wind turbines on the road, and they are too big to describe, so I just looked it up. They are approximately the height of a 32 story building when assembled! It warms my heart to see them, less fossil fuels being pumped into the atmosphere. That first sky picture is beautiful. I'm glad you two had an uneventful trip. I have thought about you every day, Bonny. And I am thrilled you are safely home again. I know you have a lot to do, but take it easy when you can, and delegate to Ryan.
ReplyDeleteWelcome back, Bonny! I'm glad you and Ryan had a safe trip back east. A few years ago my sister & I saw one of those turbines on the road and we couldn't figure out what it was & had to look it up. There are more and more wind turbines on farms in this part of IL and I am glad to see them. I hope you have some time to relax over the next few days...I bet you need it!
ReplyDeleteThank you, Debbie; it's good to be back! I thought about you as we drove through Illinois and saw those huge and interesting wind turbines. Relaxing is just what I'm doing. My body and mind are very glad not to be packing, moving, and driving and I'm resting up for moving all Ryan's stuff out of the storage facility into his house in August.
DeleteI am glad you are home safely. You must be exhausted but it is a good feeling to be able to help your son. I'm glad you saw some beautiful skies. I hope you find some time to put your feet up and rest. Sounds like you will have another move when Ryan can get into his new home.
ReplyDeleteWelcome Home! Sorry about the bills that need attention and other "chores" but that's what happens when you are away!
ReplyDeleteLove that sky picture - gorgeous and those turbines! WOW! I've seen many of them but never realized how huge their rotors are.
So happy to see you back safe and sound. You've been on a whirlwind treadmill! I hope you find time for yourself amidst all that you have going on! Congrats to Ryan for being back "at home"!
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