20030908                  Open new window with today’s pictures.

September 08, 2003
Monday


Start:   KOA, Hayward WI
End:     Twin Springs Camping Resort, Menomonie WI
Miles:   111
Hi Temp: 93.9
Lo Temp: 55.2


Before we got out of the campground, the temperature was above 75.

We went through Hayward and then southwest on US-63, going through Trego and Spooner. As we crossed into Barron County, the village of Barronette popped up, and we saw a Scandinavian store in it.  We stopped and found some neat things.  We bought some of them for us and some for gifts.  Very friendly place named "Oddens Norsk Husfild" (the owners are of Norwegian descent).

We continued on US-63 through Cumberland and Comstock (where my grandmother's family farmed) to Turtle Lake (where they're buried). Then we went south on county road "K" into Dunn County and passed into familiar country where both my parents were born.

We continued south on WI-79 from Connorsville, past the old Carlson farm where I spent several summers as a teenager, and on into Menomonie.  Our first shock there was that the old "Bolo" restaurant and motel complex that's been there forever, and where we've stayed many times, is gone!  There's a big grocery and liquor store there now.

Then we headed for the campground. Enroute, we came to understand why the KOA in Menomonie is no longer in the directory - there's a strip mall where it was. We went two miles east from there to the campground noted above. We pulled in and chatted a while with the owner about how dry the country looked (no rain since mid-July, says he). Then he asked if we were with the ski group.  Dolores said "No" and I said "It's a little early in the season." Then he assigned us a site, and led us to it.  We pulled into our site and set up.  We never did find out what the thing about the ski group was all about. It was hot by this time, so we turned on the A/C in the trailer even before we put down the jacks.

We had a light lunch and sat for a bit.  Then we got back into the truck and wandered around Menomonie.  I showed Dolores the two houses my grandparents owned here. The one on 14th has been much modified over the years and looks very nice. The older one on 13th isn't in very good condition. We took pictures of both.

We went around past St Paul's Lutheran on 9th and out to the cemetery, where I found the grandparents graves and took pictures.

The tour of the town continued, to see what else had changed (couldn't find the book store we used last time here). It looked much the same in downtown, but the north end has expanded quite a bit.

We went back to the trailer and cooled off, then went to Wendy's and satisfied that urge. 

Then we drove out to Jim & Jo Utphall's farm, Chimney Rock Farm, just north of the old Carlson farm.  Their daughter Julie and Julie's husband Matt, plus one of their nephews (Bill) were there and in and out.  We had a good chat about who's doing what and what's been happening.  Probably the biggest things were that Jo has just started work for Habitat for Humanities as a regional coordinator, based in Eau Claire. Julie works in Eau Claire also, in ad design and layout for the Press.  Julie and Matt, who live on the old Carlson place, have shoved their mobile home to the front of the house site so the builders can put up their new house. Jim is back to full-time farming, but no milk cows.  Bob (Jim's brother) and Judy's son Bill was there, but had to leave; he committed to have Bob & Judy home tomorrow night so we could see them. Everyone looks to be doing quite well. 

We left at an appropriate time, since they all work hard.  The campground was quiet when we pulled in, so if there's a ski group here, they're quiet.  Tomorrow, we'll continue making the rounds.
 

20030909                   Open new window with today’s pictures.

September 09, 2003
Tuesday


Start:   Twin Springs Camping Resort, Menomonie WI
End:     same
Miles:   0
Hi Temp: missed it
Lo Temp: missed it


We made the rounds today of places I remembered from childhood and later trips.

First, we drove past my grandparents cottage on Upper Tainter Lake.  It's about as I remember it, but the yard is all screwed up and needs work.  The "White Pine Lodge" sign has been taken down.

Then we drove to Wheeler and cruised through town (30 seconds or so) and out to the Lutheran Cemetery there. We found Aunt Elsie's (and Uncle Tom's) headstones and took pictures.

We continued west to Boyceville and the Tiffany Cemetery, where we took pictures of the Carlson grandparents headstones and Aunt Anne's and Uncle Ed's.

Then we took off to the north and went to Ridgeland. We stopped at Frank Handorf's house (he married my cousin Jean, now deceased) to say hello.  I thought I saw movement in the house, but no one answered the door. We drove on and went to the New Hope Lutheran Church Cemetery on Pine Creek and took pictures of the headstones of Jean and my uncle Glenn.

Then we came back to the trailer and took it easy for a while. Time got away from us, so we had something quick in the Perkins restaurant so we could go on to Bob & Judy's farm.  Their son Bill had arranged that they'd be there at 7:00pm.

We got to Bob & Judy's farm a little after 7:00pm but no one was there.  Not knowing what was going on, we headed toward Menomonie.

As we passed Uncle Ed's old farm, we saw Matt & Julie walking in the yard. We turned around, went in, and chatted with them for a while.  They're doing nice things with the old place, besides preparing to build their house. The gardens look good.

Finally, we headed back to the trailer and settled in for the night.


 

20030910                   Open new window with today’s pictures.

September 10, 2003
Wednesday


Start:   Twin Springs Camping Resort, Menomonie WI
End:     same
Miles:   0
Hi Temp: 85.8
Lo Temp: 58.3


We loafed the morning away.  I went in to the Country Kitchen to use the pay phone there (my cell phone has no coverage here) and called John.  John gave me Frank's phone number in Ridgeland. No one home. Gave up on the idea of stopping there.

John had lost some headstone photographs, so we went to New Hope Cemetery to take them for him.  Then back to Connersville to the Town of New Haven Cemetery for more pictures.  We also shot the stone house my great grandfather erected way back when.

Then we went into Connorsville.  We stopped at the bar for a beer and wine and said hi to Jamie.  Then we walked across the street to the creamery and bought cheese for us and for John.

We drove back to Menomonie and fueled up for tomorrow, then bought groceries (including some beer John wanted). We took that to the trailer and stored it.

Shortly afterward, we got dressed up and went south to Downsville to "The Creamery Inn and Restaurant". We pawed through the gift shop but saw nothing of interest.  Then we went out onto the deck to dine.  We had cocktails. Then Dolores had crab cakes followed by chicken soup, then lamb chops.  I had cheese and sausage for an appetizer, then soup, followed by chicken in puff pastry.  Everything was very nice, except we had to kill a few flies that made pests of themselves. The breeze was just right for outside dining.

We came back to the little house afterward and we're getting ready to move again tomorrow.  Then we'll settle in for the night.