onegirloneride Day 55 July 31 Thursday July 31, 2008

Paynesville

We got up and Cheryl Veldkamp made a big breakfast for us.  We waiting for Becky Fiest (president of MTRA) to come and get us and take us somewhere.  No one will tell us what we are doing.

Becky took us to Ruthie’s Hair Design!  Mom got her hair (that looks like straw after I cut it in the bathroom before we left) cut by Rachel Nelson.  Her hair looks very pretty.  She can’t stop touching it. Lee Ann Nepsund gave us both petacures.  Rachel gave mom a massage and did my nails.  Ruthie Wensmann cut my hair.  I have some layers and it looks really cute!  We had a really fun time.  Thank you Ruthie’s Hair Design so much for making us feel and look so good.

We returned to the Veldkamp’s and got ready to leave.  Thank you Arnie and Cheryl Veldkamp for letting us stay with you. See you soon.

Kimbal

We got to Kimbal late inthe afternoon and went to Kathy Hokkala’s house.  Kathy is on the Meeker County Posse.  She will ride with me over the next few days.  Kathy is riding the Meeker County Fair and will ride until 3 am this morning.  The posse keeps the people, the exibits, and animals safe at the fair.  Kathy’s mom lives with her.  I wish she was my Grandmother.  She is so sweet and kind. 

 

 

onegirloneride day 54 Wednesday July 30 July 30, 2008

Roscoe

Posse members Arnie and Cherly Veldkamp will ride with me today.  We will go over 11 miles today.  It is going to be about 97 degrees.  We are going to ride the Soo Line Railroad bed to Paynesville.

Walt Fresberg who is a Viet Nam Vet came and met us on the road.  Thank you for my freedom Walt. Nice to meet you.

Paynesville

Chief of Police Kent Kortlever and officer Adam J. Hennen brought us into Paynesville. Thank you for your help. 

My back has been really bothering me lately so Arnie and Cheryl brought me to Jacklitch Chiropractic Clinic and Laurie Rausch, massage therapist, gave me a great back massage.  My back feels so much better.

Then we went to dinner at Ron and Judy’s Restaurant and Lounge.  I had a steak

 

Onegirloneride day 53 July 29 July 29, 2008

Cold Spring

We woke up at Bob and Alice Mayer’s home.  The storm never really came here last night.  Chip looks a little thin and Lynn Reicherts asked her Vet to check on Chip today.  Bob Mayers is on the Posse here in Stearns County.  Jen Wuertz is riding with us today.  There was a nice breeze all day so the bug were not bad. 

Richmond

We got to Lynn and Charlie Reichertshouse about 1:45 today.  It was a fun ride today with no bugs.  Imagine this….You arrive at a ranch with beautiful Arabian horses surrounded by lush pastures and a clear, clean lake across the street. Yup, that is what the Reicherts place is like.  Jen, Bob, and I went into the lake on our horses and played in the water.  Lynn’s daughter Nelle is a farrier and she came to the water with us.  Jen’s horse even rolled 3 times.  Mom splashed Chip over and over.  He really seems to enjoy the water more an more.

Nicole Eller-Medina DVM, Donna Knevel-Walters DVM, and Kimberly Walz Technician, Frome Siete-Leguas Equine Veterinary Services, all came to check Chip out.  Nicole gave Chip a complete check up and said he looks good for all the miles he has covered.  She also drew blood for tests. The heat and extra miles he has covered the last days have caused him to loose a little weight and water. Lynn has given Chip beet pulp, minerals, and electrolytes.  Everyone agreed that Chip needs as much water as he can drink.  He also needs to increase his feed and get more fat in his diet. Siete Lequas Equine Veterinary Services donated, Blue Lyte, Wormer, and Electolyte Gel.  Cold Spring Co-Op donated 2 buckets of Amplify horse feed.  St. Martin Co-Op donated 2 bags of Stratigy horse feed.  Thank you all for caring for Chip and onegirloneride.  Caring people like you make us go forward.

Abby, Nona, and Halley Hendrickson came to Lynn’s.  Abby and I went swimming and went for paddle boat ride. Hi Abby! Thank you for the donation.

We spent all the rest of the day in the lake.  What a perfect day. No bugs and a lake I am happy.  Lynn and Charlie had a BBQ at their house and everyone of the last few days came to eat and play at the lake.  Bob and Alice Meyers, Caitlin Hemmesch, Jen and Craig Weurts (Kiley and Clay their kids), Carol Ramler (Tom came later), Linda Fisk, The Dockendorfs- Joe, Kendra, and Kelsey, Charlie and Lynn’s son Joe with kids Phillip and Kira, Daughter Vanessa with Bryce and Brandon and us.  It is fun to have a home full of friends.

onegirloneride day 52 Monday July 28 July 28, 2008

We got up at Ben Warnert and Karen Jaeger’s place.  Chip had a good night.  Vanessa helped us to get ready for our day.  Thank you and good luck at the fair.  Your entries are wonderful.  I hpoe you win and come to the state fair! Ben, mom still wants more chips and salsa (not Chip) from Mexican Village. 

We met Lisa Anderson at the Park and Ride that we ended at yeasterday.  Lisa rode with me to Rockville.  It was a hot day.

Rockville

We are at the home of Bob and Alice Mayers.  They have a ranch that is next to family so they can ride all day.  Chip is in the round pen in the front yard.  Bob picked green beans fromthe garden and I helped cut them for dinner.  It was nice to sit on their front patio and talk and relax.

onegirloneride Day 51 July 27 July 27, 2008

Albany

Woke up at Andy and Sherry Binsfeld’s house.  Great night sleep.  Chip is well rested and ready to go. Carol Ramleris going to ride with me today her husband, Tom Ramler is moving the trailer up the road for us.  Thank you Carol and Tom. Officer Suzie DiMaggio-Boom helped us out of town this morning. Thank you Albany Police for your help.

Avon

Posse member Betty Voss joined us in Avon. Her son Aaron and his fiancee Erin moved a trailer for Betty.  Thank you Aaron and Erin!  Carol, Betty, and I talked about different styles of riding and breeds of horses. Even though it was not sunny it was still hot. Potographer Paul Middlestaedt of the St. Cloud Times came and took pictures of us on the trail.

St. Joseph

We came into St. Joseph and Lynn Reichert brought beet pulp, electrolytes, and minerals for Chip.  Tom Ramler, Aaron, and Erin brought the trailers to meet us.  St. Joseph Police Officer Daniel P. Magaard lead us into town.  At the St. Joseph Fire Station we were interviewed by Lina Miller who is a reporter for the St. Cloud Tiimes. Ben Warnert met us at the fire station.  We will be staying with Ben Warnert and Karen Jaeger. Karen has a daughter Vannessa who is 12.  It will be nice to have someone my age around again. Ben’s brother owns the mexican restraunt

onegirloneride Day 50!!!!!! Saturday July 26 July 26, 2008

St. Martin

We got up and Trica made breakfast of farm fresh eggs and pancakes.  I went to see the sheep again.  Dan Schmitz is going to ride with me today.  Dan is on the posse for Sterns County.  I love being on their farm and hope I get invited back.  I played with baby Marty and got ready to go.

 

Melrose

We will trailer from St. Martin to Melrose and started to ride were I stopped yesterday.  Tara, Congresswoman Michele Bachmann’s Representative is going to join us today.  She will ride horse and ride in the truck with mom.  We are headed toward Albany. Dan will be fun to ride with.  He can tell me lots of stories about moving cattle and ridng outwest. Ye Ha!

Albany

Community Service Officer Suzie DiMaggio-Bloom brought us into Albany.  Suzie had horses when she was a girl.  We got some great pictures of her holding the horses.

We are staying at the home of Andy and Sherry Binsfield.  Chip is in the pasture right next to Sherry’s horses.  He is so relaxed here. Carol and Tom Ramler came over and helped us route our ride for the next 4 days.  Thank you for your help. Andy made steak for dinner (yum).  Thank you for having us stay.

onegirloneride Day 49 July 25 Friday July 25, 2008

Sauk Centre

We got up at the Poepping’s and had breakfast.  Bryan Zollman came over and interviewed me for the Sauk Centre Herald. While he was there we found out that Chuck Wolken the Park Director would not let me ride on the Wobegon Trail.  Snowmobiles are allowed on the trail and can ruin the tar but a horse cannot ride in the grass beside the trail.  Maybe the people in charge of the other trails in Minnesota are just more patriotic than the people in Sterns County that decide who can or cannot ride on the trail.  Everyone in Minnesota has helped me to ride as safe as I can.  Only Stern County Parks has told my mom to make other arrangements for our ride.  She then called the Sheriff’s office and was told that Sheriff John Sanner was not in and talked to Lt. Nohner.  Lt. Nohner told my mom that they would not assist us. We spent hours trying to find a safe way to get from Sauk Centre to Melrose and to see if someone could help us get on the trail.  All the normal people Amy Poepping and my mom talked to could not believe that Sterns would act that way about a ride for our Military.  But some people just do not care. It really hurt my feelings.  I think that they will try and  say it’s in the rules.  But they made the rules. Snowmobiles can be on the trail so they could have made a rule that horses could be allowed in the grass on the side too!  When I was at the Wobegon Trail later today I did not see one person walking or riding a bike on the trail. Who was I going to bother? But I can tell you that alot of Blue Star Moms care about this ride. I would not like to be you when moms get mad.

To every Sheriff’ of every county, the Posse of every county, the Police of every city and town, the State Patrol, Mayors, and city official in Minnesota that have helped onegirloneride go forward.  Thank you, E’leese and Chip (the wonder horse).

Carol Ramler took alot of time planning for me to stay and ride with Blue Star Mothers, the posse in Sterns County, and to follow the Trail. I know that they are glad to ride with me and keep me safe.  The posse has always been there. I don’t think that Sheriff John Sanner would turn us away.  He would have helped us.

Sauk Centre Police Chief Bryon Friedrichs lead us (Gabrielle Poepping, her friend and me) through town and down the road.  Thank you for caring and helping us!

Melrose

Melrose rocks!  My mom called the Melrose police and officer Judy Weber answered.  She is the mom of a daughter who is a marine. Who Raw.  Judy told the officers that we were coming down the road and they came to greet us and bring us in.  Big thank you to Police Officers Chris Swanson and John Jensen.  They told me that they were proud of me.  I am proud of you and to know you.

Dan and Trica Schmitz came to greet us and bring us to their place in St. Martin.  OK imagine this….. you drive through the country and see wheat fields, corn fields and all kinds of fields as far as you can see.  Then they turn down a long gravel driveway and you see the biggest white barn and 3 tall silos. Everything is green and beautiful.  Minnesota is great!  Chip is in a lush pasture and rolled 2 times.  Lucky is playing with the largest German Sheppard I have ever seen. I saw sheep, Guinea Hens, cattle, cats, chickens, and a rooster.  What a night.  Trica made a great dinner and I like baby Marty.    

NEWS FLASH……….. Congresswoman Michele Bachmann called me today and she told me how proud she is of me and the ride.  She knows that it has been hard out here but also told me that she knows how wonderful the people of Minnesota are.  She told me that she is going to be at the Capitol in St. Paul on the 31st of August.  She talked about onegirloneride on the floor of Congress.  And awarded me a Congressional Flag to fly at “The Ranch”.  Michele believes the ranch should be built for our Military and that they deserve the best. I am proud of you Congresswoman Michele Bachmann for caring about our Military and for your support. You ROCK!

I have to go to bed.  Thank you to everyone who helped me get this blog done tonight.  It is as big as the one about Camp Ripley. Hey, Lt. Toole!

onegirloneride day 48 7/24 Thursday July 24, 2008

Long Prairie

Stayed at Harley and Wendy Van Ruler home last night.  Mom and Wendy Stayed up half the night trying to load pictures into the blog sight.  We got up and Wendy had to go to work.  We said goodbye to her.  Wendy your great!  Donna came to get Trista and Haley and made breakfast for us.  We had to go and meet the posse at the fair grounds. Marilyn Kahlert and Lee Vogt were our posse today. and Alicia Gorka and Nicole Borchert of the 4H came along too. We said goodbye to Harley.  Love you Harley.  Long Prairie Police Chief, Chuck Eldred lead us out of town.  Thank you. 

Sauk Centre

It was a long 23 mile ride to Sauk Centre.  Chief of Police Bryon Friedrichs brought us into Sauk Centre. Marilyn, Lee, and I were hot and tired.  But when we got to town the Blue Star Mothers were there to meet us!  Also a group of very young children all waving American flags. Judy, Jerry, Sherry, Debi, Joan, Dorthy (President), and Merina, Blue Star Moms thank you for coming to see me, for my sweat shirts, and for gas money.

We met Amy Poepping and Gemma and Marita.  They showed us the way to their home.  Amy made dinner while Mara, mom, and I returned to the park and said goodbye to our posse.  Thank you Marilyn Kahlert and Lee Vogt.  You rock! Mara’s husband Jay came over to join us for dinner. Gabrielle said she would ride wth me tomorrow.  When Eugene Poepping got home we watched the news report that was made in Long Prairie.  It is funny to watch yourself on TV. The Poepping Family is a really fun, nice family.

onegirloneride 7/23 Wednesday day 47 July 23, 2008

Browerville

We all got up….. Linda and Pete let everyone sleep over last night.  I had such a fun time.  We ate breakfast. The Posse Linda and Pete Bleess and Kevin and Becky Boyer, with Trista riding her pony, Haley, Courtney,  and Donna rode with my mom. 

Long Prairie

We rode into Long Prairie.  Haley Piotrowski got out and carried the flag.  Sheriff Peter Mikkelson and Police Chief Chuck Eldred lead us in.

Harley Van Ruler (he is a member of the Patriot Guard) was there to meet us. And we got interviewed by the media.  I met Mayor Don Rasmussen.  It was a great day.

Harley and Wendy Van Ruler invited us to stay at their home last night.  Wendy and Harley are so nice.  They let me have a sleep over with Trista and Harley.  They made it just like I was their girl.  Wendy let us help make the pies for dinner.  Then Karen and (friends of Harley and Wendy) came over dinner.  Wendy made a roast, corn on the cob, and baked potatoes. We were stuffed.  Then Harley took us swimming in Lake Sharlott.  My mom went swimming there when she was a girl. Then we went to the Dairy Queen and had Blizzards.  We played Bryer horses and made a tent.  It was fun just to play.  Thank you Wendy and Harley.

onegirloneride Day 46 7/22 Tuesday July 22, 2008

Canp Ripley

I rode out of Camp Ripley and went to Randall.  It was very hard to leave Camp Ripley today.  It means so much to me that they all were proud of me and want me to succeed.  Even more that they know that all Americans love their Military.

Rrandall

I rode into Randall today.

The Todd County Posse ( Becky Boyer and her daughter Trista, Linda Bleess, and Laureen Braaten) met us in Randall with Sheriff Peter Mikkelson and rode us 18 miles to Linda and Pete Bless’s Ranch in Browerville, it is the most beautiful place.  The Ranch is spotless and everything is in it’s place.  The pastures are big and lush.  Chip got to be in a big beautiful round pen and be right next to Linda and Pete’s horses so he was not lonely.  Haley Piotrowski, Courney and Trista Boyer, and I got to go swimming in Browerville.  Donna Boyer drove us and after we went swimming we went  to Linda and Pete’s home and had dinner.  One of my mom’s favorites, sloppy Joes.  Mom had everyone try Avocado and I thought that they would throw up.  Everyone hated it.  I love Avocados. Then we went back to swim some more and went to Dairy Queen and then Donna showed my mom Long Prairie.  My mom came to Long Prairie when she was a little girl and she loved going back.  It is the reason we are going to Long Prairie. She wanted to show me one of the best times of her life.  

Todd County