SKI vacation, Part 1 of 3
We looked ahead at the long-range weather forecast for Beaver lake. The forecast was for warmer than usual between Monday, July 11 and Saturday, July 23. Many of the days would be in the 90s, with records broken for high heat and high humidity. Based on that, Genie and I went on a SKI vacation during that time period. SKI is Spending Kids’ Inheritance!
Thanks to Earl and Rosemary Colstrup for checking our lake place and Harriet Starne for bringing in the mail and newspapers in Albert Lea while we were gone.
We left Beaver Lake early Monday, July 11th in the HHR Chevrolet, headed for the ELCA Ladies Triennial Convention in downtown Spokane, WA July 14-16.
As we approached South Dakota on I-90, we passed a vehicle that had Krejci on the back. We soon spotted a second car with Krejci on the back and then, we saw a third vehicle with Krejci on the back with the words “Awesome Blossoms” on the side. We later found out there was a football camp in South Dakota that would find out about the “Awesome Blossoms” male students.
Just prior to Wall Drug, where we stayed the first night, we saw a billboard that said, “Gas now or gas can later.” We opted for gas now.
At Wall, we were lucky enough to stay at the Super 8 Motel where the former Mayor and First Lady of Rocky Hill, New Jersey were also staying. In touring Rocky City City offices of former mayors, we saw a picture of Raymond and Barbara Whitlock. The nickname “Toby” was given to Raymond because the doctor couldn’t figure out if it was going to be a girl or a boy prior to birth.
We walked into the backyard of Wall Drug to see T-Rex blow smoke and scare people, and then all of a sudden, a female voice hollers “Genie.” It was Dixie Michaelis of Albert Lea.
The second night we stayed at the Super 8 Motel in Bozeman, Montana. The dynamite duo of Tom and Taylor checked us in — they are truly “TNT.” You must stay there to see those two in the evening plus Keren, the young lady who has a great breakfast waiting for you every morning.
TNT suggested “The Garage” as a must have for the evening meal. The employee’s name badge was like a miniature car license plate from Montana. The front cover of the menu was an actual license plate as was the back cover. I had Vermont on the front and Minnesota on the back. Genie had Georgia on the front and Washington on the back. The building was an actual garage, which was converted to a restaurant with a lot of garage type items built-in for appearance.
The employees knew how to treat us like we were VIP customers. Kirsa took our drink order. Clara took our food order and Mick cooked it. Other waitstaff were Maren, Rachel and Emmy. Fred, Lewis and Steve were additional kitchen staff. All the above mentioned employees thanked us as we left. I was even given a “The Garage” T-shirt. I think they were all former residents of Minnesota as they were most certainly “Minnesota Nice.”
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Bob is a retired AAL (Aid Association for Lutherans) agent. His wife, Genie, is a retired RN, currently working on her doctor’s degree in volunteering. They have two children, Deb in North Carolina, and Dan in Vermont. This is the Hanson’s 36th summer at Beaver Lake. They leave the lake in mid-October to go south — to Albert Lea — and return in April. Bob says if you enjoy his article, let him know. If you don’t enjoy it, keep on reading, it can get worse. Words of Wisdom: There is always room for God.