Week 2

August 12 - Madison WI area

Today's travels have us heading east to continue our Lake Michigan area attractions.

First stop is Waukesha, birthplace of Les Paul.   Gibson Guitar is credited with its acclaimed GuitarTown arts project, the 10' tall model guitars.

Next stop - Milwaukee

Miller Park - home of the Milwaukee Brewers

Captain Frederick Pabst Mansion - built in 1892 for the founder of Pabst Brewery.

Some of the many architectural buildings we spotted in Milwaukee.

The North Point Lighthouse - ca. 1888

The Tall Ship, S/V Denis Sullivan, a 137' three-masted Great Lakes schooner, docked at Pier Wisconsin.

Basilica of St. Josaphat, built in 1901 in the Romanesque style of architecture, is patterned after the Basilica of Saint Peter in Rome.  This truly is a place to experience the beauty of artistic expression and divine inspiration.  This is Wisconsin's first basilica and the largest church in Milwaukee.  To enjoy the magnificent beauty, architecture and spirituality you must see this place in person!

Leaving Milwaukee, we spotted these old cars probably headed to a car show somewhere!

Next stop, Racine and home to the Wind Point Lighthouse, built in 1880 and is one of the oldest and tallest lighthouses still in active service on the Great Lakes.

Views of Lake Michigan from the lighthouse property.

Next stop, Kenosha, home to the Southport Lighthouse, ca. 1866.

Kenosha Harbor Lightstation

Lake Michigan

Heading back for the evening, we had to get to the Madison State Capitol Building before we leave this area.  This was a difficult state capitol to photograph as it consisted of many wings extending from the central area.  I'm always amazed at the beauty and the differences of each state capitol we visit.

There were four of these different wings.

August 13 - Madison to Black River Falls

Our travels today have us leaving the Madison area and heading somewhat west and north to Black River Falls.

First stop is Spring Green, home to the famous architect, Frank Lloyd Wright.  We'll get to his house next.  The House on the Rock was built on the top of a 60' rock tower by what some call an idiosyncratic architect, Alex Jordan.  We opted not to go on the tour because it seemed too weird for us!

 Here we were sitting at the overlook when we got the call from my cousin letting us know her husband had passed.  A very, very sad day.  Then low and behold I spot this beautiful bird just a singing in the trees!

 Some of the strange art leading to the House on the Rock.

 Next stop Taliesin, Frank Lloyd Wright's Wisconsin home built in the early 1900's

The main house

 Barns

 We spent nearly a whole week in Madison and never got a picture of the many signs we saw.  So figured we better get one quick.  Madison streets are very popular across the US.  Our granddaughter gets a kick out of seeing her name on street signs.

 Beautiful country farms

 Next stop, Grandad Bluff high over LaCrosse with views of the Mississippi River.

 Mississippi River looking southward

 Mississippi River looking northward

 Being from an Amoco family...

 Next stop was to the historic McGilvray Bridges within the Van Loon Wildlife Area in Holmen.  Out of seven we crossed over three before heading back.

We did actually see some wildlife.  These little frogs kept jumping across our path scaring me with every hop!

This bee was busy!

Indigo Bunting

 A double winged dragon fly

 Last stop of the day was the Tempealeau NWR and this beautiful shot of the Mississippi River.

Headed back to Black River Falls where we are staying at an Indian Casino for a few days.

August 14 - Black River Falls Area

You know how some days just don't pan out the way you expected?  Well that was today.  Everything we were anticipating was pretty much a bust.  With the exception of the Wisconsin Dairy State Cheese Company.  You can't go to Wisconsin without eating some cheese, right?  The cheese-making process and store.  The prices were great!

 Our last stop of the day was the Necedah NWR.  Here we had hopes of seeing all kinds of wildlife but guess it's just the wrong time of year and my camera is just not powerful enough to see what these birds were.  It was a gorgeous cool day anyway!  I believe the two taller birds in this picture are Sandhill Cranes.

August 15 - Black River Falls to Appleton

Our travels today have us heading back east to Appleton where we'll stay for a few days.  On our way our first stop was to see the Montello's quarry falls.  While in Montello, an arts and crafts fair was going on with a old car show.  Car show pictures following the weekly blog.

 Next stop is Ripon, birthplace of the Republican Party.

 Clydesdales outside of Ripon on private farm.

 Kelly's Country Creamery outside Fond du Lac.  Since we couldn't get Blue Bell, this was the next best thing.

 Fond du Lac's Lakeside Park and Lighthouse on the south end of Lake Winnebago, one of the country's largest inland lakes.  Lakeside Lighthouse, ca. 1932

 Views atop the lighthouse looking north.

 Heading west around Lake Winnebago in Oshkosh is the Rockwell Lighthouse built in 1909 and privately owned.

 Further north around Lake Winnebago in Neenah is the Kimberly Point-Neenah Lighthouse built in 1945.

August 16 - Appleton Area

Today's travels have us heading to Green Bay and Door County, which is the peninsula on the far eastern side of Wisconsin and surrounded by Green Bay on the west and Lake Michigan on the east.  First stop, Lambeau Field, home to the Green Bay Packers.

 Statue of  the great Vince Lombardi

 Statue of Earl Lambeau, founder of the Green Bay Packers in 1919.

 Heading up the western side of the peninsula these are views of Green Bay from the Potawatomi State Park Tower.

 Someone's private island!!

 Next stop is the Sherwood Point Lighthouse off of Sturgeon Bay, ca. 1883

 Then on further north to the Peninsula State Park, home to the Eagle Bluff Lighthouse at Fish Creek, ca. 1868.

 Views from Peninsula SP

 This is were the road ended.  To go further you'd have to take a ferry to Washington Island.  This is a shot of the Plum Island Rear Range Lighthouse on Washington Island, ca. 1897.

 And views of the Pilot Island Lighthouse on Washington Island, ca. 1858.

 Beautiful lake views on our southern trek back down the peninsula.

 The last lighthouse of the day is the Bailey's Harbor Lighthouse and is privately owned, ca. 1852.

 Our last stop of the day was to Whitefish Dunes State Park.  The dunes are now covered in vegetation.  There was a 2.8 mile hike to more dunes, but due to it being late in the day and pretty exhausted, we decided to forego that hike.  We were told that much of the dunes, like the pix below, are somewhat covered in more vegetation.

August 17 - Appleton, WI to Elkhart, IN

Since we have decided to end our Midwest Adventure and head to Virginia for cousin Ben's Memorial Service on the 29th, we will slowly make our way to the east coast of Virginia.

Passing though the "windy" city, Chicago.

August 18 - Elkhart area

While we waited for an RV tour at the Jayco factory, Larry dropped me off at the Shipshewana Flea Market for some retail therapy.  We had been here before.  The Kettle Corn I bought was mmm mmm good!!  No photos were allowed during the tour,  We spotted this old Amoco station in town.

More of Wisconsin's natural beauty.

The "perfect" Christmas tree

More of Wisconsin Barn Quilts

Old Cars

Till next week...