8,000 MILE ROAD TRIP

WE ARE SAFELY BACK IN THE WHITE MOUNTAINS OF ARIZONA AFTER OUR 8,000 MILE, AND 42 DAY ROAD TRIP BACK TO WISCONSIN. WE HAD LOTS OF PEOPLE AND PLACES ON THE LIST, BUT UNFORTUNATELY NOT EVERYONE AND EVERY PLACE MADE OUR SCHEDULE.

FOR YOU PRIUS FANS OUT THERE, THE LITTLE WHITE CAR GOT 55.2 MPG ON THE TOTAL TRIP. THE CHEAPEST GAS WAS ONE DAY IN WAUKON, IOWA AT $2.13/GALLON.

NOW WE'RE GOING TO REST UP FOR A MONTH BEFORE WE START PACKING FOR OUR ANNUAL TRIP TO SOUTH PADRE ISLAND TEXAS FOR SOME BEACH TIME.

"SUNNY & 91" ON THE MOUNTAIN TODAY.

THE WOOD PILE

IT'S A TRADITION WHEN YOU VISIT CABLE LAKE TO WORK ON THE WOOD PILE.

WE CARRIED ENOUGH WOOD FOR NEXT WINTER FROM THE WOOD PILE TO THE HOUSE, AND THEN WE SPLIT SOME BIG STUFF (RED OAK) LEFT OVER FROM A PREVIOUS YEAR, AND SOME FRESH CUT PINE.

UNFORTUNATELY IT WAS "SUNNY & 80" AND WE HAD TO SWEAT............

Family

It all started on Monday afternoon.....

My son Dave and his girlfriend Jamie came to La Crosse.  We started out showing him the beautiful city of La Crosse from Granddad Bluff.  Just so happens that there is a bar at the bottom of the bluff.  So we decided to stop there and have a beverage.  Next it was on to the Old Style Inn to meet up with Chad after work.  After we had a late lunch, Dave expressed interest in see the bars that his Dad had owned in La Crosse.  So off we went and the next thing you know we were on a "pub crawl".  Funny thing was that at each place more and more people showed up.  I think that by the end of the night we had over 15 people around, mostly relatives and frankly some were relatives that I had forgotten about.  I don't think anyone made it to work on Tuesday and some didn't get out of bed until 4 PM.

Dave, Jamie, Chad, Marissa, Heather, and Mary.

Tuesday evening, my future grandson-in-law put on a spectacular fish fry.  That also attracted a lot of people!  Again, family I had not seen in 15 plus years.  It was amazing.  Evan fried fish that was caught on the last fishing trip to South Padre Island, Texas.  I think he said that he fried 120 filets! 

And I think he looks adorable in my sunflower apron!

My grandson RJ.

Lots of chit chatting!

Also a lot of dogs!

Was a wild three days!!  Thanks for coming Dave and Jamie!

Springfield

Last week we crossed off something from our bucket list.  We went to the Lincoln Museum and Presidential Library in Springfield, IL.

This is the only home that Abe and Mary Lincoln ever owned.  They lived in it for 17 years.  A two block section is preserved so you get a real feel of the neighborhood they lived in.

 We also visited the tomb where they are buried.  It is customary to rub Lincoln's nose.  As you can see, his nose is pretty shiny!

This is a shot of the outside of his tomb.  It is very impressive.

The headstone of where he is buried.  

 This is a the presidential family when they were in the White House.  They had already lost one of their four sons at this time.

This statue is amazing and Abe/s hat is actually taller than the building entrance.  This is the entrance to the museum.

A bonus in Springfield is the Dana-Thomas House.  One of the largest home ever designed and built by Frank Lloyd Wright.  It is breathtaking and worth touring.

Of course, since we were so close we decided to stop in Le Claire IA. to check out Antique Archaeology.  We were disappointed, it seems to be mostly a souvenir shop for expensive t-shirts and key chains!  But I do have to say the little town of Le Claire was delightful.  Very clean and pretty.

PDC

THANKS MIKEY FOR A GREAT VISIT TO PRAIRIE DU CHEIN !!! THE STEAKS AND COMPANY WERE FANTASTIC !!!

OF COURSE WE DID WHAT WE DO BEST WITH MIKEY AND ENJOYED A ROADTRIP THAT RAN SOUTH FROM PRAIRIE ON THE WISCONSIN SIDE OF THE RIVER.

WYALUSING STATE PARK, BAGLEY, CASSVILLE, AND PATCH GROVE WERE JUST A FEW OF THE STOPS.

   "SUNNY & 80"