Cheryl Colwell's Blog, page 3

The Real Sword in the Stone

While I was touring Tuscany, a local merchant asked if I had seen the sword in the stone located less than fifteen kilometers away. He gave directions to a hill called Montesiepi and the next day my husband and I visited the most enchanting place I’ve ever been: the Abbey of San Galgano.

The roofless abbey is spectacular and hosts concerts and weddings in this century of its life. But its past is even more gripping.

We hiked past a vineyard up to the chapel of San Galgano – named for Galgano Guidotti, a wayward knight. In a vision, the archangel Michael told Galgano to cease his violent ways, the knight replied that would be as easy as plunging his sword into the stone at his feet. He later said the stone melted like butter as his sword entered. No one has been able to pull it out.

This event happened a year before this story appeared in the King Arthur tales. Hmm.

Galgano became a hermit on the hilltop of Montesiepi, which soon became a Catholic pilgrimage. Galgano was sainted and the chapel built around the sword.

A beautiful Cistercian abbey followed, built in the fertile land below.

Its current history is also fascinating. A few years ago, vandals broke off and stole the hilt of the sword. It was recovered, the metal tested, and guess what? It is definitely an 11th-century sword.

This story plays a big part in my novel, “The Proof,” yet in a way I didn’t expect. It adds richness to the story. Where history was silent, I added a few vivid details.

For more info and pics, visit: http://www.italiantourism.com/news03.htm

East Glacier Grandeur - Wow!

This gorgeous lodge was built in East Glacier by the Great Northern Railway to entice travel to the western end of the railway. The amazing structure was finished in 1912 and is kept in pristine condition. From the windows or the grounds, the view of the mountains is breathtaking. Inside, tall timbers give guests the feeling of being in a forest. I found solitude in a side lobby to write on my next book. Heaven! See more pics under "RV Adventure" tab at top of page

Chapel in the Hills, Rapid City, South Dakota

This beautiful replica of the Borgund stavkirke  was built in 1969. The original structure is the most completely preserved stave church still standing in Norway. While we were there, the outdoor area was being set for a wedding later in the day. This is a breath-taking, peaceful place to visit.

Impressive Mount Rushmore

Although I'd seen plenty of pictures of Mount Rushmore, the story behind it was even more impressive. 

Rushmore's creator, John Borglum, held this vision. "Hence, let us place there, carved high, as close to heaven as we can, the works of our leaders, their faces, to show posterity what manner of men they were. Then breathe a prayer that these records will endure until the wind and the rain alone shall wear them away."

Borglum believed in addition to the carvings, their significance should be recorded on the mountain. Funds and time ran out for that endeavor, but there is a room carved behind the head of Abraham Lincoln to hold the history of the United States. (See more about this under the "RV Adventures" tab on this website, Day 9.)

The hope was to proclaim what the United States had been, should our union and civilization cease and only the faces be left. Sobering thought. It has happened to many great civilizations before us. With the increasing destructive onslaught against our democratic process, this idea does not seemed so far-fetched. These four presidents were chosen to testify to the greatness of the nation through the greatness of its leaders:
George Washington was chosen because he was the father of our country and represents our struggle for independence, our constitution and our liberty.​ Thomas Jefferson wrote the Declaration of Independence and greatly expanded our country through the Louisiana Purchase. Abraham Lincoln preserved the Union and fought for the ideals of freedom and equality for all.
Quote:
"A house divided against itself cannot stand. I believe this government cannot endure, permanently half slave and half free. I do not expect the Union to be dissolved - I do not expect the house to fall - but I do expect it will cease to be divided. It will become all of one thing or all the other."
Theodore Roosevelt enact a series of conservation programs United States Forest Service, signed into law the creation of five National Parks, and signed the 1906 Antiquities Act, under which he proclaimed 18 new U.S. National Monuments. He also completed the Panama Canal, linking the oceans and opening the connecting waters of the East and the West. 
​Quote:
"The first requisite of a good citizen in this Republic of ours is that he shall be able and willing to pull his weight; that he shall not be a mere passenger, but shall do his share in the work that each generation of us finds ready to hand; and, furthermore, that in doing his work he shall show, not only the capacity for sturdy self-help, but also self-respecting regard for the rights of others." Nov 11, 1902

​I added many of Roosevelt's memorable quotes to my Facebook Page. He was a man of uncommonly good common sense.
​

Rapid City, South Dakota - great town!

John had traveled through Rapid City with America by Bicycle. He and his riding buds stopped in for dinner at the Firehouse Brewery in 2013 and John wanted to share the experience with me. We had the most outrageous artichoke dip with parmesan-crusted black bread slices for starters. I also munched down one of their famous buffalo burgers. It tasted as good as they say. John says, "Here's to you, Ian, Jim, Fred, and Terry."
​
Our campsite was located by a beautiful lake made by a small dam on the Wind River that runs through the city. Several parks and a golf course follow through the city. Here's one of the small ponds.

Jewel Cave in South Dakota's Black Hills

Jewel Cave is the third longest cave in the world - over 181 mapped miles, with much more exploration opportunities available. There are several tours offered, (one which I mentioned on Day 8 - 11 under the "RV Adventure" tab on this website.)

Outside the Jewel Cave National Monument building sits this little torture chamber (if you don't like tight places). The crazier tours are four hours or more, but the cave gets so small, you have to fit through this space before joining the tour to make sure you don't get stuck in the cave. No thanks! This space is 8 1/2 inches high by 24 inches wide. You must be able to wriggle your body through this space to go on some of the cave exploration tours. Visions like the one below, however, are highly motivational.

Stav Kirke - the Chapel in the Hills

Located above the Wind River in Rapid City is this beautiful replica of a Norwegian Lutheran church. It is patterned after famous Borgund stavkirke, of Laerdal, Norway which was built around 1150 and is considered the most completely preserved stave church still standing in Norway. John in the entrance where a relief representing the battle of good and evil.  
John and Jim took the time to ride up to Chapel on the Hill above this lake area. It is a replica of a 1540
Norwegian Lutheran church that was built in Rapid City in 1976. Peace pervades the area. Services are every evening and it is a favorite place for weddings.

Finding fine art in Dubois, Wyoming

John came through Dubois in 2013 on his bicycle trip across the U.S. He discovered that the original name for this town was "Never Sweat" because the wind blew all the time. The U.S. Post Office disagreed and named it Dubois, with a French pronunciation. Being the independent-minded folks they are, the residents pronounce it "Dooboys" to this day. Gary Keimig in his gallery among his breath-taking paintings. I walked into a gallery on the main street and fell in love with these paintings. I told the caretaker how much I enjoyed them and he introduced himself as the artist, Gary Keimig. He grew up in a pioneering family int he area. It was a pleasure meeting him. (He says this is the spot all the tourists have him stand.)

John and Cheryl hanging out in Gary's studio. You can see our RV park in the background of Buddy's Bar-B-Q. It was the Wind River KOA and has a wonderful river flowing through it. While we were there, it was over the bank with water and rushing swiftly along its way. Outside of Dubois, the landscape became so dramatic, we had to stop and take pics.

Preparing for our Travel Adventure - Food!

Since this is a travel AND mystery blog, I wanted to share moments from our six week trip from Oregon, to Arizona, Utah, Wyoming, South Dakota, North Dakota, Montana, Washington and back home. 

Perhaps we will run into mysteries along the way. If we do, I'll let you know!
Many of you are experienced RVers and have your meal preparations all worked out. However, this is the first long trip we've ever taken in our fifth wheel, so I wanted to be prepared. Three days before our trip, I shopped for seven hours. Two days before we left, I cooked for 13 hours. The result of all this prep: meals were so dang easy! I kept the meat in the freezer in small bags and reheated as needed. Meal prep was quick and I had no greasy stove or counters to clean up.

I'll share some of the meals that worked great. Maybe they will work for you as well (even at home).

For our six-week trek, I planned to have Chinese Chicken Salad three times. I figured how much chicken John and I would use and sauteed it with salt and pepper. After it cooled, I bagged it in 3 baggies and labeled each.

The ingredients you see above include lettuce, mandarin oranges, sliced almonds, and Chinese noodles (it came with a plastic lid so would store well for all three meals). I also like to add cilantro and chopped green onions. I purchased Chinese Chicken salad dressing and it was delicious. The result: quick, delicious Chinese Chicken Salad
Driving all day took away our need for a lot of calories, but not for good eating. The crunchy sliced almonds, fresh tasting Mandarin oranges and chicken provided a satisfying meal. Small bread sticks, unfrozen and toasted just before eating, limited the carbs.

Robert Frost in Bennington, Vermont

My husband, a passionate bike rider, decided to ride from Astoria, Oregon to the Atlantic coast. The trip took over two months and gave him a wonderful adventure and great new friends.

I flew out and joined him at Niagara Falls for a couple of days. The bike group left and I rented a car to loosely follow them. 

I say loosely because I am forever taken over by my curiosity. That is how I ended up at this cemetery in Bennington, Vermont. And that is how I came upon the grave of this famous author, Robert Lee Frost. 

It's a beautiful gravestone and includs his other family members. Many people travel there on purpose. I consider my visit a happy accident.

For more photos of intriguing gravestones, please visit my website at cherylcolwell.com and look under NEWS/TRAVEL.