38th State: Nebraska - Lake McConaughy (10/10/11)

Lake McConaughy, Ogallala, NE

First I have to say thank you to all my friends, followers and family who helped me get back on the road again… after the set back in September of breaking off a front tooth at the gum line and requiring an emergency root canal, and then the additional expense of realizing my rear tires were falling off the rims, requiring immediate replacement (with used ones for now).

These unplanned expenses left me stranded in SD with no income until 10/20/11.  It didn’t feel good at all.  I tried to get a job. I even painted walls of a stairway to earn a tank of gas.  I tried to sell my story to the paper, I tried making up flyers and handing them out.  I interviewed for a Photoshop job and didn’t get it as the lady was too sick to work with me. 

Then the word got out in the Vandwelling community and through my blog and suddenly gas money began appearing.  I was totally astounded and humbled.  I don’t know what I am doing to deserve such kindnesses, but I can assure you, I will pay it forward to honor all of you.  Thank you, thank you, from the bottom of my heart.

So finally, I got on the road again and then came down with this horrid case of pink eye.  I couldn’t open my eyes for three days but managed to get to an Emergency Room near the lake I hoped to kayak in NE.  And there I stayed while my eyes swelled shut, they tired one med, then another, and finally came up with the right combination and the swelling began going done.  And SOOOOOO…..

I didn’t know if this day would ever arrive after fighting an eye infection for the last three days.  Have been camping in the Hospital Parking Lot in Ogallala NE, because I couldn’t open my eyes to drive.  The awful weather and wind made the stay a little easier on me, but I hate being in the van when I HAVE to be in the van.

My eye, two days ago and then today.


The weather here two days ago and then today.


How’s that saying go, “Anything worth having is worth waiting for!”  On the left is the Banner Health Ogallala Community Hospital.  Monica’s night crew were marvelous to me.  If you are ever in this area and need care, don’t hesitate to go there… and there is lots of room to park… follow the sign that says “Trucks.”  It’s right by the Helipad… never heard an ambulance or a helicopter and only one or two cars.  No trucks. lol 

Had it been necessary for me to see an Ophthalmologist today, they would have arranged for a volunteer from the community to drive me to North Platte and back again.  And they called twice today to make sure I was o.k. Isn’t that sweet?



The dam and reservoir are named for George P. Kingsley, a Minden banker, and C.W. McConaughy, a grain merchant and mayor of Holdrege, two of the leading promoters of the project. Although neither lived to see completion of the project, their leadership and perseverance eventually culminated in a public power and irrigation project that helped Nebraska become one of the nation's leading agricultural states.


This place is wildly popular in season, but I rather had it all to myself today. They do have a Kite and Sand Festival in the summer.. which looks awesome. The weather isn’t going to get any better than this, this week, well, it will be sunny, but the winds are going to pick up again, so I had to kayak it today.


Finally, on Oct. 10, the eyes and the weather both cleared up so that I could go kayak Lake Mac (Lake McConaughy).



Kingsley Dam was built between 1936 and 1941 by pumping sand from the bed of the North Platte River to form its sides while pumping loess soil mixed with water into the center of the structure to from a watertight core. Pumping from the downstream side of f the dam formed Lake Ogallala. Water is prevented from seeping beneath the dam by a solid wall of interlocking steel sheet piling. Varying in depth from 30 to 160 feet, the piling ties into an impervious Brule clay formation.

The winds were probably the lowest today that they have been in days... so I knew I had to go for it. I didn't go far into the lake and it gave me the same feeling of rough wave action as the Monterey Bay does in the California shoreline.

That wave coming toward my kayak is about 1-2 ft tall.
Rough, but not scary. It was a little more than I was ready for having just spend the past three days in bed with my eyes closed.  That would be zinc oxide on my lips… as they don’t seem to be taking kindly to anymore sun.
This is some sort of Grebe... a Western I think??? They didn't fly away, only dove if I got too close. I paddled on out into those trees, but the wave action was just too unpredictable, so I headed back into Martin Bay.
Now, this calm water agrees more with my convalescing state. Can you see the high water mark on the trees? The water is very low right now. Water levels fluctuate, for current lake levels go to www.cnppid.com .
The bay is ringed with clean, fine sand, making for a superb swimming beach. Behind the ring of sand, clusters of trees offer welcome refuge from the hot summer sun and a variety from the sand-water landscape. Modern restrooms and a boat ramp are located at Martin Bay.
Between the dead tree and the live tree you can see a large bird flying? He had been perched on top of the dead tree. I was trying to get my camera out and turned on when he took flight. I'm not sure what it was... large like a Bald Eagle, with a white head, but looked like it had some spots on the white. His head looked pointier than an Eagle????
Another bird.. it was singing and I got some video and audio of this one

This is Martin Bay, far side from where I launched. Took a break. Only other people I saw today were two folks metal detecting.

The Lake is known for it's fine-grained sand, clear water, and a wide variety of game fish. This is some of the smallest-grain sand I have ever seen.
And they there are the humans who have to muck/yuk up everything.
And leave bits of themselves behind as if marking their territory. This is a lump of commercial charcoal.
It's hard to believe that Martin Bay can be so very calm while the Lake itself is a bit un-nerving to be on. But I sure enjoyed the Bay.
313 species of birds have been identified on or near the shores of the Lake. The larger birds like this Great Blue Heron (I think) were very shy and I never got close to a single one.  One place I got within four paddle strokes before it took flight.
Did a little beachcombing and found some nice pieces of bark. Fun to get out and walk along a pretty clean beach... in general.

Break time... on the calm Bay. Can you see how calm the water is?
Another Grebe and a couple of gulls. There were small fish jumping out of the water and then slapping down... sounded like little snaps. I kept trying to catch them in a photo and this was the best I could get... the ripples in the water between the camera and the gulls are the little phishes.



A beautiful fall day.  Returning to shore... see how clean the water is? It was a good paddle. Next time I come to Nebraska I plan to spend about a month exploring the state. There is sure more to see. It would probably take a couple months just explore this whole lake... 35,000 acres.

I came, I saw, I conquered Nebraska.  Look out Colorado, here come Swankie and SwankieWheels.

Yes, tonight I am indeed in Colorado and may paddle here tomorrow.  I just love it when I can do that… two states in a day or within 24 hrs.  Makes me feel like SuperGrannie.

(will be adding some links here)
Things to see next time:

South Dakota Stranded Status (Oct. 1, 2011)

Well, if that don’t beat all… about the time I’m getting a bit of a handle on this darned situation, I realize my AAA coverage expired in Aug. 2011… I been out on the road with no road coverage.  Geez.  O.K. now I’ll ask for help… it’s about $100.00 or at least that was what it was in TX.  I’m going to check here in Brookings SD on Monday and see what it costs.

I might have a job here for a jewelry doing Photoshop work.  I will know about that at noon Sunday (Oct. 2, 2011).  It won’t be much, but right now every $ helps. 

I made up a flyer regarding seeking work… but don’t have the ink to print it.  A cartridge is $10… for black and I’m going to risk buying it though I only had $30 in the bank last time I checked.  Flyer below:

Retiree Kayaking America
NOW Stranded in SD

Due to an emergency root canal, I have run out of gasoline funds and am now stranded here in SD. I am trying to raise funds to continue my trip to Arizona. Not seeking donations, just work. I have many skills:

Ø 25 years of administrative/clerical work

Ø Advanced experience with Photoshop and Photo Restoration

Ø I am a portrait artist

Ø I paint walls (just did a stairway in Iowa)

Ø Professional Genealogist for DAR

Ø Professional Webmaster

Willing to accept any honest job and will work by the hour but probably better for you if I work by the task/job. Not as fast as I used to be, but I am very good. Will barter for parking place and electric hookup.

Email me at: Charlene.swankie@gmail.com

See samples of my artwork at: http://swankiewheels.blogspot.com/2011/09/recent-art-work-sketches-for-gasoline.html

End of Flyer.

I also plan to go to VFW and see if they can help a Navy widow with a parking spot with electric.  That way I can plug in my small heater at night and sleep better.  Maybe even get a shower in the deal? I will offer to do some work in exchange.

My mail package has returned from OH and is waiting down the road for me… but I don’t have the gas to get there yet.  She will send it up here (from Madison SD to Brookings SD) to Gen. Delivery if I want her to and pay for the cost, since it was her error.  My friend in OH had to pay to ship it back, and the Madison mail service who screwed this up in the first place is sending her a check for her postage.  I will need the package soon as my meds are in it.

I have faith that things will work out… but if anyone can help me with the AAA insurance, I’ll pay it back over the winter, or pay it forward as you please.   I am grateful and thank you in advance.

Like Brenda, I am getting a lot of flack for choosing this lifestyle without a huge nest egg… but just know, I had one before I rushed to be with my sister in FL who had cancer and was doing chemo… with a 13-yr. old son giving her fits.  By the time I left there (five months last winter) I was very low on funds… unfortunately, due to the emergency root canal I had to have the day after the Sept. payday… my funds could not get me through to Oct. payday.  So, please, I don’t need any more flack… I’m still hurting from the root canal (no root, no pain, RIGHTTTTTT!!!!) and my face and body(?) are all puffy from it???

Can anyone think of anything else I can try?

Thanks, friends.

37th State: Iowa - Then got stranded in SD (Sep. 28, 2011).

 

 Sunset after my Iowa paddle.

As I was loading up my kayak, a young man came to me and asked to borrow a wrench.  Then he began talking to me about my kayaking adventure.  He noted I also had a bike.  He helped push the kayak into the trailer… then he said “Do you mind if I ask how old you are?”  He was genuinely flabbergasted that I am 67 years old.  So I told him about not being able to walk in 2004… and all that I had gone through to get this freedom and do all I do today.  He wanted to know if I’d be in the area awhile… I think he was going to “show off” his find. 

Flattering, really. But, believe it or not, my paycheck of 9/21 didn’t even stretch to the end of September… and I thought this was the month I could finally begin saving a bit of money and make it to Arizona in time to take classes in jewelry making (turning my rocks into something profitable).  Ha! 

I fell in Monterey CA a couple years ago (April 2008 I think) and messed up my face and broke several new crowns off… almost knocked a tooth out of my head… all resulting in thousands of dollars of bills not covered by my dental insurance.  Well, it turns out I broke another tooth off at the gum line when I fell in Monterey and broke my face(literally)... it just didn't fall out until I bumped it getting out of the kayak in TN.  Then it was sensitive.  I had two posts put in the tooth... and the crown glued back on, but there was nothing really to glue it to.  So last week it fell out again and the only fix was a root canal, a build up for crown prep, and prepping the tooth under the gum line to receive the temp crown.

Before                                                  After

Looks pretty good, but I'm really really sore, my eyes are swollen, and gums hurt... think I'm fighting an infection there.  Insurance paid 80% of the root canal, but nothing on the crown prep build up????   So that cost was over $350.  That was my gas money to Arizona.

Stranded in South Dakota Then yesterday (9/28/11) morning I realized my rear tires were loosing air... and that large chunks of rubber were falling off the tread.  Well, after what happened to co-vandweller Brenda (who rolled and totaled her van last week), I had to fix that too... so I got two used tires, balanced and mounted for $110.00 total.  I could not have bought one new tire for that and it will at least get me to AZ.  That was my food money for the next three weeks. I'm glad I'm not buying gas this winter while I’m parked in AZ taking classes.  What has made matters worse is getting here to my SD mail drop to pick up my mail and learning in spite of the HOLD on the mail forwarding order... two days earlier, she mailed my stuff to the address I was at in OH a couple months ago. 

Really discouraging... meds, new checks, my tabs for my van which expire 10/1... and new orders for sketches with cash and checks enclosed.  And I thought the Sept payday was gonna get me to AZ!  I guess I forgot about the sneaker plans of mice and men!!! But the gal at my mail drop has been really nice.  Then she had to rush off and teach a class... and directed me to a place she thought I could park for the night.  I told her I could not afford a campground.  So we parted with the plan to meet later today (9/29/11) to see about details of getting my SD drivers license.   I went off to check the place she told me about only to find it inadequate for my rig... too small.  Scouted out the area and found a public park, parked and began doing email. 

Then she called me up, said she had come looking for me and where was I?  I told her, she came and got me and took me to the State Park she uses (here you have to have a receipt from a motel or the park in order to prove intent to become a resident to get D.L.) and this morning she will call the Park and make sure they write the receipt out the right way so it will work for DMV.   She mentioned it only costing a few dollars for a tent site, but when we got here she paid for me to have a spot with electric next to a bathroom... on the water.   Right on the water and it's too dammed windy to kayak.  Nice and calm and sunny yesterday but too late to put in when I got here. 

So that's another $18.00 out of her pocket.  She really feels bad over all this... especially since I've been sending her customers... a new one just yesterday. Then I will have to drive another 30 miles to do that – get the Driver’s License.   But there is a Super Wal-Mart there and I believe I can park there until the mail returns from OH. So very frustrating.  I told her the only reason I drove this far north from the Iowa paddle was to pick up my mail and get the auto tabs, and get the D.L. etc.  So, no meds, sore mouth, no art work to work on... just a couple I have already been paid for that I need to finish.  Have plenty of food on board. 

Have a half sister and three nieces about 130 miles away... but haven't heard from them yet about my situation.  At the very worst I will have to stay put until 10/20... and then beeline it to AZ... the bad part of that is  missing three weeks worth of classes. And someone just sent me a $5 donation through this site to PayPal.  Thank you to him, and to anyone else who can help me head south.  I promise I will pay it forward.  My goal this winter is to learn as much as I can about turning my rocks into saleable items… and SAVE money so I don’t have situations like this in the future.

Today I will be looking for work on Craig's List, listing my services, getting my Driver’s License, checking local bulletin boards for odd jobs, checking with newspapers for the possibility of selling my story/???  Just following through with anything I can think of to get out of this jam and trying not to ask for help.

Photographic Restoration Services

I grew up watching my grandmother retouch photo and negatives and color tint black and white photos.  She was very very good.  Later in life I learned to do the same work only with technology… Photoshop.  Here are some samples of my work.  If anyone has photos they would like to have restored, I’ll send you a pricelist.  Another way I might get the funds to head south again.

See samples : http://www.digroots.com/portfolio/a_pages/sample_scrolling.htm#minorenhance

Thank you.