We left the Birmark Inn at two in the afternoon after a good shower and lunch. The manager was most gracious, and he allowed as much time needed before checkout. We got on highway 90 heading east into Minnesota. We drove looking for a welcome center or a rest stop, but nothing came into view. What did come into view beyond the fields of corn were wind mills or I should say wind
turbines.
Windmills have been around since the early Greeks and Persians used a horizontal rotary windmill to grind grains. The invention traveled to China and India as well. The Windmills converted energy of the wind into rotational energy by means of vanes called sails or blades. In the pas they were used for milling grain or to pump water. The Horizontal-axis windmill was developed in Western Europe around the 12 century. Don Quixote fighting the windmill always comes to mind. The ones seen now are wind turbines to generate electricity. In 1974 ASA developed wind turbines technologies in use today. These include aerodynamic structural, acoustic engineering design capabilities. Looking out into a forest of white windmills turning in the light wind we have utilized this information to create and store electrical energy for farms, and towns throughout the west.
We watch as a huge truck as it approaches from the opposite direction hauling a large white blade that seems endless as it sweeps past us. The blades come in many sizes depending on the size of the tower of the wind turbine. Most industrial wind turbines have towers 164 ft. high and can generate 250 kilowatts of power with blades that are approximately 50 long. The huge turbines that you might see in the North Sea may be as high as 288 ft. and can generate up to 660 Kw of power. On the other hand, some ranchers can put in small turbines to produce just enough for their farm needs. Also some boats use wind turbines for their electrical needs or to use as chargers for batteries. Looking out into the planes of Minnesota we are amazed at how many turbines are in place like marching armies with rows and rows of turbines all turning gathering energy. This energy is linked by cables under the ground from each turbine into a larger cable that then is transported to stations to be dispensed or stored. Wow!
We were nearing our destination and typed in the Koa address into our Garmin Girl and she led us off the highway to a quiet pasture area where our Koa was located. This Koa was split in half by a public road so that the main office and bathrooms were on one side and the pool and tent and some RV sites where across the street. Out site was right next to the children's playground and next to the fence adjoining the street. We set up our tent and went to the pool that was being used by several families. It was impossible to swim laps so I brought my hand weights. I started with sit-ups on the lawn chair and then did my upper body weight routine. John had jumped into the pool and was engaged in throwing his football to some of the kids. He is pretty much like a kid himself and he enjoys getting kids all playing games. I happened to be wearing my blue Life Guard suit and all the time I was working on my weights, a little girl about the age of Berkeley my seven year old grand-daughter, kept looking at me with curious eyes. Finally, she asked, "Are you a real life guard?" "Yes," I said. "Only life guards get to wear these suits." Well, I wasn't really fibbing. I had to pass my life guard test in Hawaii back in 1964 in order to work summers at Palama Settlement.
When I had finished my weight regiment, I stood at the edge of the pool and put on my cap and goggles.
I blew my imaginary whistle and announced that the lane be cleared so the lifeguard could do her workout. Everyone looked up and automatically moved to one side of the pool as I dove in. It was great not having to bump into anyone as I did my routine of swimming. Soon John joined me and we had half of the pool to ourselves while everyone politely stayed and played on the other side. Nice!
After our workout we got to talking to the family that had a boy about three and the little girl about seven. They were from Madison, Wisconsin and were enjoying their camping in a large, top of the line Motor Home that was will to them from his father that had passed away. They were also given a cabin on a lake somewhere in Minnesota. They were not sure they were going to keep the Motor Home. She said that he should sell his Porsche that was just sitting in the garage most of the time and that they should keep the Motor Home. He clearly did not like that idea. But he did like the new VW Beatle that they were towing in the back of the Motor Home. He said that he actually bought it in Sarasota on line and got a great deal. Just then little Bobby got out of the pool and started running around the edge of the pool which was a no-no! So Dad got out and started chasing him around until he caught him and holding on to him, he jumped into the pool.
There were two other boys in the pool that John referred to as the Tons-of-Fun Twins. They were big and when they jumped into the pool, which was another no-no, they created a Tsunami of water that went outside the pool. One was a Down syndrome boy who kept bragging that he got to go to Special Olympics. He boasted that he was in China last year competing in wrestling. All the while he was talking the other boy kept tossing John's football as hard as he could and visa-versa. We kept out of the way and John patiently waited until they were done to get his toy. We then gathered all our equipment and said good-bye to our friends and went to change for dinner.
We drove to the near-by town called Marion. John was eager to find a Sports Bar where he could find out about a golf tournament. We located one across from a strip joint that was pretty vacant on a Wednesday evening. We sat at a table and ordered salads. My special request was that it be a GREEN salad instead of a white one. John doesn't care if they use iceberg or what- ever. I have found Iceberg salads are mostly water white. So when we both got great green leafy salads, we were most happy. The cute waitress said that they grow their own vegetables and herbs for salads and they never use Iceberg. I was impressed!
Since we were the only customers we had a chance to talk with our server who was a nurse at the Mayo clinic. She was only working part time as she was expecting her first child. Tonight she was just filling in for a friend who worked at as a bar tender. Nancy said that she felt like an indulgent child when she worked at the clinic with all the other nurses making sure she was eating well and taking care of herself. While Nancy was called to serve at the bar, we got to know Joanne who brought us our meal. Joanne had her arm in a cast. She was third baseman and she tried to catch the ball with her left hand to put the runner out and had her wrist pulled back and strained. She had to go to the Mayo clinic to get patched up. In spite of this injury, she was still good at being able to carry two plates full of food with her right hand .I wished that we had an extra day to visit the Mayo Clinic. I use the Mayo clinic on line service whenever I have a physical concern and feel that it is my personal clinic.
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