Last Fall, our Elderberries traveled south, and beat the hurricane season by a few days after our travels. This time we went north, and beat the snow by a couple of hours after arriving home. Took in parts of Wisconsin and Iowa that were absolutely gorgeous in their fall foliage splendor, saw birds we had never been able to come close to before, and learned all kinds of neat stuff.
We began our journey in Baraboo, WI arriving after an all day bus trip. Stayed at a beachfront hotel on Lake Delton, went to Walnut Hill Bible Church the next morning for services, and wonderfully friendly church people. Then on to Wisconsin Opry Dinner and Show, in a big barn, next to a Victorian farmhouse. The barn was cold (because it had turned chilly and rainy), but our spirits were warmed up, with great food and fabulous Opry show. We all bought sweatshirts and layered them on, and great CDs. They have a website so if you want to learn more about this group, go to www.wisconsinopry.com Then we went back to the hotel on the beach, where we got to do a walkabout the lake for a bit, before an outdoor weiny roast, including beer braised brats, hamburgers, all kinds of salads, and marshmallow roast around the campfire, with a professional musician. Once more the weather was chilly and rainy, but hey, we are Elderberries so that doesn't daunt us...too much. So we took a trip on the Ducks, amphibious vehicles from WWII, and toured Lake Delton and lower Dells. In the rain, but hey, we had canopies. And were on the water anyway.
Next day we had sunshine, great for touring the International Crane Foundation. There we got face to face with the most awesome birds, CRANES, all 15 species in the whole world. We learned all about their environment and the struggle to save them from extermination all over the world. Then lunch time, at River's Edge Restaurant, where we dined amongst stuffed and carved wildlife, aquariums with giant fish of the area, and the best fried chicken I have ever had--ever!!! Back on the bus for a train ride, yes a really neat old steam engine train ride to an abandoned mining area, where we got out to watch the process of switching engines and recoupling, and got to pick up ore samples right off the ground. Being a beader I was fascinated by the rock I picked up--Pink Lady Quartzite.
After the train ride, we ended up in Tomah, WI, where we checked into this nifty hotel called the Cranberry Lodge. All the furniture and decor was done in rustic peeled log style, and it really felt like a lodge way up north. Had dinner at the European Cafe, and of course got to shop in their stores built around the cafe.
Next day out to the cranberry marshes and bogs. WOW, pouring down rain now, and cold and windy--brrrr! But the harvest must go on, so there were all these tractors and beaters out in the bogs working up the beds of berries. We toured a warehouse where we learned so much about cranberries, and all went home with boxes of freshly picked berries, and some in liquid form too (wine!). We visited the Wisconsin Cranberry Discovery Center, museum, gift shop (of course), and restaurant, and ate the absolutely most delicious cranberry pie I have ever eaten. Got the recipe in their cookbook and intend to make it with my freshly picked berries now. Another stop, this time at a cheese store, where we became instant cheeseheads, sampling their cheeses and stocking up for the road.
On our way south to Iowa, we stopped at Dickeyville WI, where there is a grotto and shrine, next to a church, and all built by a Catholic priest back in the early 1900's, by hand. Amazing! Storm clouds were gathering so we hustled back onto the bus, and departed for Dubuque, IA. Stayed over at the downtown Holiday Inn, really nicely renovated, and had a nice sunny day for seeing the city sights of Dubuque, even traveling up onto the bluffs overlooking the city, and then out to the countryside where we stopped at an apple orchard on one of the highest points of land around Dubuque. Just gorgeous scenery! And great apples. Then on further out to this neat little community of Luxembourgers who settled in the area years ago, and visited churches and graveyards, then Kalmas restaurant for supper.
Next morning we all had to rise by 4 am. Yes, I said 4 am, because we checked out of the hotel and boarded the bus to go to the Mississippi River levy and then board the Celebration Belle. It didn't start raining until we boarded, and it never stopped. We were on board the whole day, traveling down the river to Moline, IL, our port, and despite the rain, we watched barge traffic, eagle traffic, lock and dam traffic, and dined all day on great food, had great entertainment, and the constant river rolling along. Every time we go on this boat, I think about Mark Twain and his Life on the Mississippi, a journal of his river travels as a pilot. Got a picture of the pilot house on Celebration Belle too! Nothing Mark Twain would ever recognize.
Landed at Moline, traveled on to Iowa, and the Amana Colonies. Began the next and last day with breakfast at Brikhaus restaurant, and then tried to walk it all off on the streets of Amana, shopping of course at all the neat places like the Chocolate Haus, bead and jewelry places, quilt shop and on and on. Back on the bus and homeward bound!
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