THE FISH BOIL-- A DOOR COUNTY MUST HAVE

Sept 27th,

There are 2 food items that are must haves if you want to really get the feel of Wisconsin.  In the Dells, we had Cheese Curds. Never had them, so had to give them a try. They are bits of cheese, deep fried and served with ranch or marinara sauce. Very good. We had so many as an appetizer that we couldn't finish our dinner.  

In Door County, it is the fish boil.  That is because of the huge fishing industry. We went to one last night. It was very good. It isn't just a meal, it is the whole experience. They have a large kettle on an open fire, put in white fish (cod), potatoes and carrots and serve it with lots of melted butter.  We had a lot of fun

They start the fire about an hour before serving

Add potatoes, then carrots and onions, then fish last. It boils for about 1/2 hour. 

Just before it is done, they add oil to the fire. The oil makes it boil over, hence the name, fish boil.

I forgot to take a picture until Denny had already started eating, but this is what it looks like. The plate is completely covered when it is served. 

Views from our table

This bird was standing next to our table. They grow them big in Wisconsin

Tomorrow we travel to Michigan.  This is our most eastern state we will go to. After this, we will head south to go to a couple states we haven't been to yet, Kentucky and Arkansas

DOOR COUNTY

SEPT 25TH-29TH

The 2nd place my parents said was beautiful in Wisconsin was Door County. It is a very narrow peninsula above Green Bay  in the upper most northeast part of the state.  It is only 70 miles long and probably 15 miles at the widest.  When you drive you can always see water on one side or the other. It is beautiful and the fall colors are just coming out.  The east side borders Lake Michigan and the west, Green Bay. 

I keep seeing this guy wherever I go

At the tip there is a ferry to Washington  island.  Beautiful day for a drive

Driving from the Dells to Door County  had a very typical small town Americana feel.  Alot of the barns have  quilt patterns on the side.  We were never able to stop in a good place for me to take a picture. Everywhere was  very picturesque, with town centers, old small  homes and tree lined streets. It harkens you back to another era.  

Our campsite

 Since we started our travels, we have had all kinds of weather. I started out in t shirts and flip flops and then onto sweatshirts and even my down jacket.  Since we have been here, it has been back to t shirts. So Nice!  We are leaving tomorrow and just in time. Next week is suppose to be rainy.  We are chasing good weather. We could easily stay longer in each place,  but fall/winter is approaching. We want to be out of the northern states before the bad weather starts.  Amazing that October is just in a few days.

As we were driving up to the tip, we couldn't get over how many places were so completely decorated for fall with pumpkins, pumpkins and more pumpkins.  Seems like every small business and house was decorated. Very pretty!

CHRISTMAS MOUNTAIN GOLF & RV

Sept 19th-25th

The RV Park we stayed at during our stay at the Dells was one of the best parks we have ever been at.  It was $60 per night, but because it also belonged to one of our camping clubs, we got it for $10 per night.  It had a 27 hole golf course. I had never heard of 27 holes, only 18, but I'm not really into golf.   Also had the largest hot tub we have ever been in.   This is  a ski resort. There aren't any  mountains, only what we would call small hills.  One guy admitted that these ski runs are only for beginners and young families to ski together on.   We went to one of their sales talks, not to join, but they would give us a $150 visa card.  We don't usually do these, but for $150 we did.  They have resorts all over  the world. It costs $32,000 to join. Just about choked on that one!  The RV park is a very small part, it is mostly cabins, and condos.  I will have to admit, they was very nice, but certainly not $32,000  nice.  Just had to show you some pictures

 Notice the good looking guy in the hot tub. I think I'll keep him.

Trees are changing color, beautiful!

WISCONSIN DELLS

Sept. 19th- 24th

My folks always told me that the two most beautiful places in Wisconsin were the Wisconsin Dells  and Door County.
Wish I could ask them more because I never thought we would be here.

The Dells are in Southern Wisconsin.  It is a very touristy place, the largest waterpark region in the world.  It has 7 waterparks with over 200 slides, many theme parks with regular rides and 5 mini golf courses.  Of course, we weren't here for any of that, just the beautiful  area    Dells are  really just the Wisconsin River and its banks.  Not sure why they are called the Dells.  My folks were right, they are beautiful. You have to take a boat ride to see the beauty.

Two good looking people out for a cruise

Views of the Dells

Many rock formations along the banks.  Every line of rocks represents 500 years

Amazing how trees grow right out of the rocks

Our boat

The dog on the right  formation is going to jump across and back. In the late 1800's a photographer took a picture like that and it became world famous and made people want to come to the  Dells.

Notice I  was able to get the dog at the exact moment he jumped over. I was very pleased with myself. Not many people were able to get it at just the exact moment

We stopped at a canyon and walked in about  1 mile.

 I'm glad the walkway was stable. Didn't want to look down in some places

Scary

I took over 100 pictures, can't show them all,  you would  certainly groan if I put so many up,  but these give you the overall beauty of the Dells.

TRAVELING TIDBITS

Sept 21st

There are a few pictures I wanted to show you about our travels, but forgot when I was typing my blog

When we first started traveling with our new 5th wheel, we rarely saw one as big as ours.  It is 35' with 4 slide outs.  This year,  it is quite common to see 4 slide outs. In fact, we saw one with 5 slides and 2 doors.  Trailers usually have 2 doors, but never 5th wheels.  We were amazed to see this. 

We saw this RV in Jamestown, ND. Some people have to bring all their play toys with them. This toy hauler is the biggest we have seen.  Together it seems so long to pull.  When those toy haulers open up, we have seen ATVs, cars and motorcycles in them.  Most people bring one,  but some bring everything. Looks like there is a lot in this one. 

Since Denny lived on a farm in Nebraska when he was 10-16 years old, we run across lots of old equipment he has used. 

He remembers his mother using this washing machine. Hard for me to imagine. How 'bout you?

This thrashing machine is just like one he used 

This is our first Moose sighting. I'm glad he seems oblivious to us. We were close, hate to see him charging us. This is Duluth, MN, right in our campground. Scary!

When we were in Medora, North Dakota, visiting Theodore Roosevelt Park, we saw this bus in the parking lot. I have heard of this bus, traveling all over the world. They are visiting places and geocaching along the way.  

Notice all the places they have been on their trip

The shore of Lake Superior is made of volcanic rock.  Never read anything about a volcano, but because of this, the shoreline never erodes or recedes. 

I'm done taking you back and forth between all the states we've been to. Sorry about everything out of order.  We are certainly having fun and enjoying seeing all the places we have never been.

Sorry about all the different fonts and sizes. Having a little trouble

LAKE SUPERIOR

Sept  17th -18th

Everyone we talked to about what to do in Minnesota said the must see thing is travel along the North Shore of Lake Superior.  We traveled to Duluth yesterday  and went  a long the North Shore today. They were certainly right, it is an amazing sight.   Lake Superior is the largest Lake in the world.  it covers 31,700 miles.  If you go on the complete circle of the Lake it  is 1300 miles around and takes you into 3 states, Minnesota, Wisconsin, Michigan and into Canada. It has a volume of  3 quadrillion gallons of water, can't  imagine how many zero's that is.  I know I sound like a guidebook.  I read somewhere that the Lake is big enough  that every person in the world could sit  in a space  with a 12'x 12' blanket.  Seems  hard to believe.  It is big enough to see the curvature of the earth.  You usually only see that in the ocean.   We saw beautiful, large  old mansions  along the shore in Duluth.  I'm sure they were for the very rich.  It was only 50 degrees today. Notice how rough the water is.  BURRRR.....

Views of Lake Superior

These are views from the restaurant we had lunch at.    We ordered the fresh fish sandwich, thinking it would be some local fish.  NO, it was salmon.  It was very good, but SALMON, not what we were thinking it would be.  Denny had a  beer made in Duluth,  but they didn't have any Minnesota wine. Mine was from Spain.  Amazes me when we go places and they don't serve local  wine. There are 27 wineries in Minnesota.