We met up and had a ride around some of the local roads through pleasant green farmland with fields of soya bean and corn. All around us were lakes, small to large dotted throughout the whole area.

We arrived at Delano where the nearest dealer was situated. A couple of the guys sussed out parts they wanted to get sent on while I arranged to get a new rear tyre fitted. This was to take an hour so we had plenty time to browse. There were two advantages to this dealer. Firstly they had a sale on and secondly there is no sales tax on clothes in Minnesota. That with the last minute need to spend money meant a few items were purchased.

We left my bike to get a new rear tyre and then went into Dalano and ate at a bar next to The Town Tavern which apparently stars in a film. The bar had excellent beer and food and the service to the 19 sudden customers was spot on. We ate and drank and then headed off back to the dealer before returning to the hotel.

The loading of the bikes was the prelude to a party at Ron's shed to which he had invited many of his local friends to meet his overseas friends. We arrived at the shed to find the trailer hooked up to Russ's truck and just in time to push the first bike on. Just before this we had a glass of beer, Newcastle Brown to be exact and in a keg. This was something of a revolution and totally alien to John Natrass who comes from Newcastle.

Newkie Bewkie is NEVER sold in anything but pint bottles in his home city and then its drunk by pouring it a little at a time into a half pint glass. Draught Newcastle has, up until now, not been available.

The next revelation to us Brits was the deep fried turkey! Since we'd arrived a big pot half full of peanut oil had been heating on a gas stove. When it got to temperature a whole turkey was submerged in the boiling cauldron and covered. The time allowed was 3 minutes per pound and after 33 minutes the turkey was rescued, perfectly cooked with moist flesh and delicious crispy skin. In addition there was some great home cooking and enough food and beer for twice as many people as were there.

We ate and drank our fill and socialised with our friends both old and new. Michelle tried a couple of new experiences. The first was to drive Russ's pickup truck up and down the drive, loving the automatic gears. Later she tried "tailgating" with John Natrass and Brenda, sitting on the tailgate and being driven around the yard.