Sharp's Travels

We got the full tour of Ingelboro Mansion Bed and Breakfast. We stayed in the Green Room with its 4 poster bed and high boy dresser in dark cherry. We even had a private entrance to use if we wanted. The owners Bruce & Bobbi are a neat couple. They gave us the history of Ingelboro and then took us over to tour a second home they are restoring.
We were invited to join the problem solving council members coffee clutch at the Second Cup, a local restaurant. We enjoyed talking with everyone. The group broke up around 9am and we headed back to the Excel service center to check on how they were coming on our 5thwheel.

We met up with Brian & Devorah Sanders and found out they were about ready to leave. It had been a fun few days visiting with them and sharing information on 5th wheels and sites to see. We said our goodbyes and wished them safe travels and then headed out to see the geographic center of the U.S. We took a look at the miniature church there and took a few pictures. We had forgotten to bring along our papers on the geo-cache hidden there but remembered some of the clues so we began looking around for it. Gay located it down inside a pipe to the right of the church. The clue to this one was “be sure and bring our tools to retrieve it. He finally used a long screwdriver with electrical tape wrapped around it, in hopes the sticky side would grab the side of the little container. It worked! We signed the log and replaced it and headed back into town.

I had one more place I wanted to visit and that was the art gallery. We parked the truck and were headed down the street and a lady stopped us and told us a storm was coming and there was lots of hail with it. We rushed back to the truck and headed back to the service center to see if we could get inside the garage. The service manager said “if you can beat the employees, go ahead.” We got in and headed for the lounge but we were told they wanted us all over to the main office basement. The sky was green and the clouds were whirling around. It did not look good. We watched outside for a bit until the wind, rain and hail hit. The hail was about the size of quarters. We were worried about Brian & Devorah Sanders, our friends that had left earlier in the day. Before the storm was over we got a call from them saying they had skirted the edge of the storm and had a little hail damage, but were ok. That was sure a relief. Smith Center had hail damage, the high wind had flipped a small building and the lumber yard sustained some damage. This is the worse weather they have had here since 1909.

We picked up our belongings at the service center and headed downtown to Duffy’s for supper before returning to the Ingelboro Mansion for the night.

We didn’t get up until 7:30 am this morning, seem nice to just lie around. It was about 10:00 am when we got to the Excel maintenance shop. We sat around the lounge all afternoon talking to another guy that had his 5th wheel in for repair. At 4:00 pm they had our 5th wheel ready to pull out side so we could spend the night in it. We told them to leave it inside and we would go down town and stay at Ingleboro Mansion Bed and Breakfast. That way we wouldn’t have to be up before 5:00 am.

It was an early morning as we had to be out of our trailer by 6:30 am. I pulled the trailer into their work bay right at 6:30 am and they went right to work on it. We hung out around the customer lounge until noon and then went to a local restaurant for lunch. At 1:00 pm we had an appointment with the president of the company. We went over some of our concerns and he was very understanding, also gave him some ideas on things that could be added. At 1:30 pm we took a two hour tour of the plant. It was very interesting, got to see all the different steps that goes into building a 5th wheel trailer. After the tour we returned to the customers lounge and found out that we would not be able to stay in our trailer tonight. We gathered up what we needed and found a motel for the night and walked to Pizza Hut for a bit to eat before turning in.

We had a much laid back morning. I told Gay it was nice to just sit, drink my coffee, rock back and forth and gaze out the window and watch the trees blow! I fixed waffles this morning and used the maple syrup Kenny & Eileen gave us. It was sure good. We walked some of the streets of town to get in our exercise, took our showers and then headed out to do some geo caching. There is a little town about 36 miles from here called Gaylord so of course we had to go there. Gay needed his picture taken by the town sign.

The first find was hidden in a neat container attached to a tree to look like a bird feeder. The bottom was open and you needed to pull what looked like the perch out to release the container. The second find was among some cement blocks. One of the geo caches also made note of just coming from Cawker City, the home of the biggest ball of twine. Of course we thought we needed to go there too.

Frank Stoeber started his ball of twine on his farm in 1953. By 1957 it weighed 5,000 pounds, stood 8 feet high, and had 1,175,180 feet of twine on it. Stoeber gave the ball to Cawker City. Now it weighs nearly 18,000 ponds and has more than 7 million feet of twine on it. Each year the Twine-a-Thon is held in August and so the ball never stops growing.

We visited an antique store there and the gal told us we should go see the Garden of Eden, cabin home, and the Grassroots Art Center in Lucas, and so off we went!

Samuel Dinsmor, a retired schoolteacher, Civil War Veteran, farmer and politician, began building the Garden of Eden and Cabin Home in 1907 at the age of 64. For 22 years he fashioned 113 tons of cement and many tons of limestone into his unique “log” cabin. It had 11-rooms. It is built of limestone logs, the native post rock limestone traditionally used for fences, most of which run the cabin’s full length.

There were 150 sculptures in the outside garden, including the 40 foot tall limestone log mausoleum for himself and his first wife. He was laid to rest in his handmade, glass-topped concrete coffin, which we visited.

It was all really a site to see.

Next in Lucas came the Grassroots Art Center. All the pieces there were made by self-taught artist working outside the academic structure of fine art and beyond the cultural traditions of folk art. The exhibit emphasizes the architectural, historical, and cultural value of post rock limestone and incorporates at one place a series of examples of construction and design, showing the many uses of the stone from the most utilitarian to the ornate and whimsical.

They also had barbed wire designs and pop-tops from cans that were put together to create a motorcycle, car and clothing.

One more stop there in Lucas took us to the Flying Pig gallery. Things there were very ornate. Nothing I would want to have around my house!

It was all different, some weird and everything was very interesting to say the least.

We wound through a lot of countryside today. Miles of stone fence posts stand tribute to the early settlers. They solved their fencing problems on the treeless plains by quarrying rock to use as posts. The stone posts have become a trade mark around here.

It was a lovely day. We got back to our 5th wheel around 6:30 and found out we have a neighbor. He’s been told they have to be out of their 5th wheel by 6:30am tomorrow morning so we will be making it an early night.

For pictures of the day click on photos and then on Memorial Day 2007

For additional information check out the following web sites:
www.garden-of-eden-lucas-kansas.com
www.grassrootsart.net

Today was a take it easy day, we took our time getting around this morning. We went to the 10:30 church service. After church we did a Geo-Cache down town in the park. Cheri fixed a wonderful dinner of pork roast and fresh fried potatoes. This afternoon we took a walk around town and when we got back Cheri gave me a hair cut.
Down town in the park we saw this Old Dutch Mill that was moved to Wagner Park from its original site near Reamsville, northwest of Smith Center. It was built by Charles Schwarz, a native of German who homesteaded in Smith County in the 1870s. Its timbers were hewn from native logs and its burrs cut from native stones. It was completed about 1882 and for years it ground corn, wheat, and buckwheat brought to it by farmers of the area. Wind power operated the mill until about 1913 when a kerosene engine was installed. After being moved, it became the center attraction in a beautiful city park that was built around it.
To see pictures of Old Dutch Mill click on photos and then miscellaneous photos.

I was up at 5:00 am and checked the weather on the internet and saw rain coming. As soon as Cheri got up we hurried around getting things ready to close up. Well about the time I stepped out side it started to rain. So this morning I got two showers. Now I am squeaky clean. We drove in rain until noon and then it was mostly cloudy the rest of the day. We arrived in Smith Center Kansas about 5:00 pm. After we got set and had supper we went for a ride around town. Well that took all of 15 minutes, very small town

This morning it is only 46 degrees and foggy and I need to wash the 5th wheel before we leave. It is an endless job and I thought I was about done and the fog lifted and I saw there were 2 more feet to go!

We didn’t get on the road until 11am but I feel better now that the truck and 5th wheel have had a bath. South of Cedar Rapids we picked up HWY 80. It was a nice road. We planned on stopping at a campground in Des Moines, Iowa. They advertised 500 sites and it was only 4pm so we were sure we’d be able to get in but they were full. We went on to Waukee, Iowa to the Timberline Campground and they had 2 sites left. We were lucky!

We got settled in, had some supper and took a walk. Cheri talked me into some ice cream at the camp store.

We crawled into bed early and watched a little TV before lights out.

Cheri wrote today’s Blog!!!

Well we are still in Boscobel; I had planed on leaving here around noon today. We had our meeting to sign the contract for selling the house at 11:00 am. But we had to go back at 3:00 pm to sign as we had to wait for the paper work to be done. Also with the storm coming we thought it would be better to wait it out here and leave in the morning. Late afternoon we went and picked up a tank of LP. Then I started washing the trailer, didn’t get much done before it started to rain. So we had supper and then took Grandpa and Grandma to Richland Center to pick up medicine and groceries. I plan on getting up early and finish washing the trailer before we leave.

We took time to do our walk this morning; we hadn’t done one for a week. It was 10:00 am before we got to Grandpa and Grandma’s. Cheri went right to work helping Grandma get things packed and other things ready for the sale. I went to work on changing out the water heater. It turned out to be a big job. I had to run some new wiring to bring it up to code, pulse the old one sat on the floor. I put some blocks down to set the new on, so then I had to redo the plumbing. Diane Merwin came over to Grandpa and Grandma’s with a furnace man to check it out and see what it would cost to have new one installed. To make a long story short she told us she wants the house and we have an appointment tomorrow to sign an offer sheet. We also called the auctioneer and got the sale date moved up to July 28th.

We were all pack up and on the road by 8:30 am. We arrived in Boscobel and was set up by 12:30 pm. We met with Diane Merwin and her son at 2:00 pm to go over some of the issues she has with Grandpa and Grandma’s house. (She is a potential buyer) She wants to have some one inspect the furnace. Later in the afternoon we took the new water heater over to Grandpa and Grandma’s, then went up town to pick up some of the new fitting I will need to install it. Grandma fixed supper for us along with Burl and Dorothy.

I took the truck to Appleton to have it serviced (oil, filters, and grease). They found that the drag link on the steering was showing wear and they replaced it under warranty. I stopped on the way back at Menards to pick up a hot water heater for Grandpa and Grandma’s house. The old one started leaking. Cheri and Nikki spent the day shopping. We sold our 1991 Dodge Dynasty that Grandpa and Grandma used the last few summers here in Wisconsin. Now that they will be living in Florida full time they don’t need it any longer. Cheri and Nikki fixed a wonderful supper of chicken and dumplings and cherry pie. We will be leaving here tomorrow morning and heading back to Boscobel as we have some one that is interested in Grandpa and Grandma’s house.

We went to the 10:45 church service at the Community Church. After church we went over to Coz and Nikki’s for a cook out and to play some cribbage. Coz did steak and chicken on the grill and later Nikki made grasshoppers for dessert. We played 4 games of cribbage and we guys won 3 of them. That is the first time Coz and I could win more than one game.

We went over to Nikki and Coz’s for breakfast. Coz left before breakfast as he had to help a friend install an air conditioner and wouldn’t be done until noon. After breakfast I went back to the trailer to work on the front brakes of the car. When I took them apart I found the brakes were OK, they just needed to be cleaned up from not driving the car for a long period of time. Coz came just as I got done. After I got cleaned up we went to look at motorcycles. I have been thinking about getting another one. We looked at a 2006 Harley-Davidson 883 sportster. Around 5:00 pm we all went to Beaver Dam for Chinese dinner.

This morning I took back the rear brakes and got the ones for the front of the car. On my way back I stopped by Nikki and Coz’s to pick up a couple of packages. I ordered a remote extender so I could change the channels on the TVO from the bedroom, also a scan gage for the truck, which I can receive all the information in the truck computer. We left Fond du Lac for Randolph to have lunch with the people we used to work with. From there we went to Friesland to visit a friend and also drove by the old house. We had to be in Beaver Dam by 3:20 as I had a dentist appointment to get a new crown. While I was having that done Cheri did some shopping. On the way home we stopped at the mans stores; Feet Farm, Home Depot, and Menards.

It is cold here this morning only 39 degrees. We both were up early this morning has we had a dentist appointment in Beaver Dam at 9:00 am. At 7:30 am we paid our rent for a week and headed for Beaver Dam. After we got done with our appointments we went to see Bill and Barb Mullin near Fox Lake. We visited for a while and then went to Beaver Dam for lunch. After lunch we went back to their place. While Cheri and Barb visited I helped Bill get his Geo-caching page set up on his computer. At 3:00 pm we headed back to Fond du Lac and stopped at the grocery store to pick up some things for supper. Coz and Nikki came over for supper. While Cheri was fixing supper I went and picked up rear brakes for the car. When I got back I went right to work on the car and found out it was the front brakes that were bad and not the back ones. So tomorrow I will take the rears back and get some for the front. We both went to bed early.

We were up early this morning as neither of us slept very well. We were on the road to Fond du Lac by 9:00 am. We arrived in Fond du Lac around 12:30 pm. Just about got the camper set up when it started to rain, finished between showers. Coz and Nikki came over around 4:30 pm. They treated both of us to a massage, it was wonderful. It was 9:00 pm when we got done, so stopped and grabbed a burger at a take out. Went home had our burger and called it a night. Oh we had two people call about Grandpa and Grandma’s house today. We just put up the for sale sign yesterday. I hope something comes of it.

We were up early and after breakfast we started to walk the trail but got caught in the rain. We got back before we got to wet. We showered and headed over to the folks to help clean out closets and cupboards for the sale. We worked until 12:30 and Grandpa & Grandma took us up to the Vale Inn for lunch.

We started right in on our projects when we returned. We got a lot done and put into the spare bedroom for the sale.

Gay put the House for Sale sign out in the yard and we got a sheet made up with all the information regarding the house on it for anyone who might be interested. We quit about 5pm and said our goodbyes. We went back to the 5th wheel to start putting things away so we can pull out tomorrow and head for Fond du Lac.

It warmed up very quickly to 87 degrees and is very windy. Suppose to get rain tonight and tomorrow. We took Grandpa and Grandma to Richland Center to see Ken & Eileen, Dean & Betty, and Henry & Marietta. We met them at the Country Kitchen Restaurant. After lunch we went to Ken & Eileen’s for a visit and to drop off the items we brought back from Florida for them. On the way home we stopped at Wal-Mart to pick up a few things.

We had a lot of rain, thunder and lighting last night and it then rained off and on until noon, then the sun came out and was a very nice day. We picked up Grandpa and Grandma and went to church. At noon we took Grandpa and Grandma out for Mothers day dinner. After dinner we went back to Grandpa and Grandma’s as we had an appointment with an auctioneer to see about booking an auction for the things that they don’t need in Florida. Well we ended up booking an auction for August 18, 2007. When we got back to the 5th wheel Cheri laid down as she had a bad headache and I took a long walk to clear my head.

We took our morning walk and it was a little cooler, 50 degrees. We headed over to Grandpa and Grandma’s this morning and started going over the things that they want to take to Florida. We plan to rent a small U haul trailer to pull behind the van back to Florida. I fixed the sliding closet doors in the bathroom and did some electrical wiring in the living room. Cheri helped Grandma clean out the desk and other sorting. Cheri and I left around 5:00 pm and went out for a Friday fish fry.

We didn't get up very early this morning; both were tired from the trip. By the time we took our walk and showered it was 10:00 am before we got to Grandpa and Grandma's. Cheri helped Grandma put things away and they went up town to get flowers and planted them in the beds by the house. I worked on cleaning the rain gutters and fixing the water hoses. I also tried to fix the garage door opener. Found out it had a broken gear in it, so I will have to look for a new one. Cheri didn't feel like cooking so we went out for supper.

Last night our TV quit working, so when we get to Fond du Lac I will have to have some one come in to repair it. We left Jason and Kari's at 8:45 am and arrived in Boscobel at 1:15pm. We went up town for a late lunch. They came to hook up the electric and water at 2:00 pm. I had to repair a broken water pipe before we could turn on the water on. Later Cheri and I took the 5th wheel to the campground here in Boscobel. It was 6:00 pm by the time we got set up. We went out for a bite to eat and called it a night

Jason and I went right to work on Kari’s car putting in the new brakes. We got done with that job about 12:00 noon. After lunch we went back to work on the shed and finished it about 2:30 pm. Then we put the Jet Ski in the river at the boat launch. Well Jason left the dock and the Jet Ski quit running and had to be tolled back to the dock by a boat that was passing by. So we loaded it up and brought it back home.
Cheri fixed lunch for all of us and got thing ready in the crock pot for supper, also Grandma and she made a pie. Cheri also took a nap this afternoon as she didn’t sleep very good last night.
Click on photos and see the painting Cheri did and the shed Jason and I built.

Gay went right to work on the shingles for the shed. He finished that project about 11am and then went to work putting the benches together for me. I finished the doggie picture and then put my paints away.

Jason and Kari got home around 1:30 and the guys went to work on the skylight and doors for the shed. They finished the shed by 6:30 and we had supper. It was another long busy day. We had to turn in early again!

Gay and Jason went right to work on the shed. They finished the roof including the shingles. They wouldn’t quit when supper was ready. They finally called it a night when it got too dark to see. They sat down for supper at 9pm.

I finished painting the second bench around noon. All it needs now is a coat of varnish. I am working on my canvas print now. It is a goofy picture of a bunch of dogs.

We are both exhausted and it will be another night of Tylenol PM’s.

Gay and Jason started on the
shed. They were able to get it all framed up before the quit for the day. It turned out to be a beautiful day for working outside. I started painting on one of the benches. It was an all day project. It is blues, purple, magenta and red all blended together. It has a funky heart painted with Kari and Jason’s initials on it. I also put vines and a dragonfly on the back. It was a big job. Before I quit for the day I painted the back of the second bench.

We both took our showers and headed for bed.

Today Cheri and Kari moved some flower to different places in the lawn and round the house. Cheri is also painting a picture on canvas of dogs for Kari. She also finished the mail box pole. Jason and I spent most of the day taking apart two old park benches and cutting new boards for the seat and back. Also sprayed the park bench frames. Late afternoon Jason and I went to Menards to pick up the rest of the materials for the 8 X 12 shed.

This morning Jason made pancakes for breakfast. Jason and I got right to work on the truck and finished at 3:00 pm. We put in a new steering gear, pitman arm, drag link, tire rods, steering stabilizer, rear shocks, and 4” exhaust system. Cheri did some artistic painting on the mail box and a swing board. Plus she did a lot of laundry. This evening we went to Menards to get wood for the park benches and some of the lumber for a shed in the back yard. Jason and I didn’t get back from Menards until 10:00 pm.

We were up early and ready to get to work. Gay and Jason left for the MAN’S store
(Harbor Freight) for some necessary tools so they could start on the truck. They worked until about 6:30pm without even a break for lunch. Things went real well. They say about 3 more hours tomorrow and they will have it done.

I did a little painting for Kari today. First I painted some flowers on and old watering can and then we took their mail box down and I painted ivy vines with a frog and dragonfly. They came out real neat.

Kari fixed a very nice super of pasta and shrimp with brownies for dessert. We are all tired and it will be an early night for everyone.

Well today we had only 150 miles to go to get to Jason and Kari’s, so we didn’t have to hurry to get on the road. We arrived at their house at 2:00 pm. We had hard time getting in to the lot by their house. We tried 4 different times and there wasn’t enough room to make the turn. Well after a lot of work we got turned around and were able to back in from the other direction. Tomorrow Jason and I will start on rebuilding the front end of his truck.

We were on the road by 8:30 am. We arrived at the Tincup Campground in Mahomet, IL around 2:30 pm. We just got set up and it started to rain, but only lasted a couple of minutes. We went out for supper and stopped at the Hen House restaurant. The food was very good.