Start of the Great Lakes Tour

For the next 6 weeks we are in the states of Wisconsin and Michigan to sample the shores of the western Great Lakes and the North Country. Our beautiful weather (finally) is continuing with lots of sunshine and cooler than normal temps - just like we ordered.

We are beginning with the city of Madison, and a visit with our Jojoba Hills buddies, Don and Sara Schultz. They spend Jojoba's hottest months here in the Wisconsin capital getting a grandkids fix, and also in the Minneapolis area to visit their older daughter. For now, we are joining them at a very nice county park within the city limits of Madison. After spending more than thirty years as teachers in this area, Don and Sara have a bunch to show us.



Although Madison is the state capital, in its heart it is really a college town. I was so busy listening to Don and Sara's narrative and gawking at the huge U of W campus that I didn't take a single picture until we took a breath for dinner at Paisan's, one of the city's favorite restaurants (and a Schultz must for visiting friends) overlooking one of the city lakes.


 







For the next few days we were taken on a grand tour of the Madison area - an artist colony (where the real pro photographer goes off on his own search,) the rolling hills of their old neighborhood (we saw the apple orchard,) and the amazing campus of an information technology company called Epic, which develops and markets, successfully, (it's in nearly every medical office in the country) patient tracking and billing software.














Then a tasty lunch at the Bavaria Sausage House. Don gave us lesson on the proper method for preparing real Wisconsin brats. Can't wait to try it when we get home.

 The next day we walked the downtown streets and the Capitol building. They were getting set up for an evening concert on the green there, but that didn't stop us from touring the grounds. Finished it off with some ice cream.









Thanks, you guys. Had a great time, and look forward to more when we get to Minneapolis.

Goodbye to Old Haunts - Hello to New

So far our 2014 trip has been like so many previous, seeing familiar ground (except for Big Bend NP) and familiar places. But now we head for uncharted territory - well, actually, it's pretty well charted - up the middle of the USA, ultimately to the Northwoods, to meet up with friends, old and new.

We did overnights in Guthrie, OK and Lyndon Station, KS (see the storm shelter we would have had to use here,) with heavy rains and severe weather ahead and behind, before spending a few days in the middle of it in the Kansas City, MO area, specifically in the city of Independence.


Many, many churches in Independence, the most spectacular of which is the temple of the Community of Christ, a movement originally part of the LDS church, which also has multiple temples in the city. There are also plenty of Catholic and Protestant denominations represented.

Independence was also one of the Truman's summer White Houses (the other being in Key West.) After leaving the Presidency, he and Bess spent the rest of their days here as well.

After one more stop in the middle of what was once a few hundred-acre corn field in Amana Colonies, Iowa (and another storm-filled night,) we arrived in Belvidere, IL for a week - our intention, to visit our daughter, Shannon's, future mother-in-law and sister-in-law in the suburb of Roselle and also to spend a couple of days in the city of Chicago (45 miles away.) But with no mass transit routes into the city from the Rockford/Belvidere area - shoulda checked that out beforehand - we postponed the Chicago touring for another trip to the area.

But we had a great visit with Jean (Mom) and Shere (Sis). We had met Shere a few Christmases ago at Shannon and Bill's in Oxnard/Channel Islands, but we were new to Jean. Both are super people, so easy to be with and relaxing to visit.


Went out to eat together and spent the whole afternoon, but wish it had been longer. We can't wait till the next time. Who knows...there might even be a wedding involved.

New Times with Old Friends

We're off to pay another visit to our good friends from our previous life (back in the rat-race of careers,) Rick and Vicky Bartosek in the Dallas suburb of Grand Prairie. When in this area, we like to stay at a Texas State Park on Joe Pool Lake in nearby Cedar Hill. Unlike Medina Lake that we just left, Joe Pool is within inches of its normal level. It's not only a difference in local rainfall, but also the fact that Joe Pool is way down the list of water sources for the Metroplex. So even with a population of 6.5 million, the dozen or more reservoirs in the area seem to provide ample water for metropolitan needs.

Rick and Vicky have been in their beautiful home so long that they have retired the mortgage. We have remained close and dear friends even though our lifestyles are polar opposites (perhaps as much by life's happenstance as by choice,) and they are making the most theirs by spending tons of time with three generations of family - four, including themselves - Vicky's mom, Millie, in her nineties, their daughter, Kelly, in her thirties, and their two-year old granddaughter, Riley - what a cutie!. Oh yeah, and their two shelties, Scout and LD.   

So great to spend time with them - so relaxing and comfortable, even after more than 23 years since our working-together days. And good cooking by both Rick and Dickie's BBQ.