We have finally torn ourselves out of Door County -- only because the weather cooled and clouded today -- or I'm sure we would still be there!
One thing we have noticed all through the Midwest is how tidy the cities and towns are. Whether the neighborhood is working class, middle class, or upper class -- they are all impeccably maintained. Lawns mowed -- even when they are large, which many are, flower beds charming, and houses obviously well tended. A definite pride that is so often lacking in West Coast towns. Even the farms are out of a storybook -- not just here and there, but consistently a pride of ownership makes them all look like they are waiting for "Country Living" to knock on their door.
We're sure that many of you never thought we would make it this long, but we're here to report that this is more fun than we've had since we were kids! Everyday is a great adventure, and we are learning so much. About history, about people, about culture in our country, about why we see things so differently around the country. Here in Wisconsin, Scandinavian reigns supreme, along with a strong fishing heritage, and the Lutherans, mostly conservative, provide a strong influence in the communities.
How do we find the places to go and things to see? The best sources we have found are the Visitors' Information Centers in every town. Whether it is lodging, campgrounds, restaurants, events, attractions, schedules, etc. these locations have it all. We have been very impressed with the Tourist booklets that every state, and locale, puts together. You've just got to be willing to plan on the fly -- we would have missed so much if we had developed a rigid plan ahead of time. The other great source of information is the people you meet -- locals, tourists, it doesn't matter -- everyone has ideas of what you should see or where you should go. Some of our best tips have come from casual conversation waiting, eating, checking in, grocery shopping, doing the laundry -- everything is an opportunity to learn something!
Heading for Milwaukee, we took the scenic route down the coast of Lake Michigan. Really a nice drive. Stopped in Manitowoc at the largest Maritime Museum on the Great Lakes. Toured a sub, and saw how wooden sailing vessels are constructed. Many of the submarines from WWII were made here, even though that wasn't the type of vessels the shipbuilding facility here was used to building. They turned out to be a great shipbuilding town with the infusion of government cash for building subs!
Got only as far as Sheboygan by evening. Wanted to see a couple of things there, so found the Baymont Inn to hole up for the night. We snugged in there and didn't leave til noon the next day! Saw they're pretty Riverwalk area, and took a scenic drive along the Lake - many beautiful old homes and nice parks along the lakeshore. Of course, we had to drive out to Whistling Straits golf course, which was just announced as the 2004 site of the PGA Championship. We thought we were driving up to Bandon Dunes!! Very much the same feel. Beautiful Clubhouse, two very expensive tracks to choose from ($185 & $135). Picked up the cards and info so we can follow along in 2004. They are already out of their initial order of merchandise -- and it was just announced last weekend! Little 2 lane country roads into the place, about 30 minutes from Sheboygan, and not many places to stay -- looks like they have some work to do in the next few years. The locals have said they have already ruled out the idea of putting in a freeway interchange (a few miles away) as too costly - $600,000 (sounds cheap to me). We'll see what happens....
We were then off to the town of Kohler -- as in plumbing fixtures. There is ample evidence that the Kohler family has great influence in this whole area. Around the turn of the century, Kohler bought a large tract of land 3 miles from Sheboygan and moved his factory there. As workers houses started building up willy-nilly, he decided that the area needed some master planning to keep a nice community feel to the area. He hired a planner from the east, and Kohler became one of the first master planned cities in the country. It still has a wonderful feel, and the Kohler's continue to direct much of the development today. The Midwest's only 5 star resort is in Kohler - the American Inn. Lovely old building that was originally housing for the immigrant's brought over to work in the factory. They lived there, went to school to learn English, and learned their skills there and in the factory. The Kohler's continue a tradition of excellence in both their work and the community. The Kohler design center is really impressive and open to everyone--trade and non-trade. The basement museum has examples of all the products over the years -- it is really fun to see some of the stuff from the 40's and 50's. Did you know that the first dishwasher was actually built into a deep sink compartment and was designed and built by Kohler? Kohler has widened their holdings in recent years, buying Bakker Furniture, Ann Saks Tile, Maguire Furniture, and other related high end product lines.
By the time we finished looking around the center, a fierce storm had moved in -- flood warnings, thunder, lightening, and driving rain. Uh-oh, what do we do now. Could hardly see in front of your face, and the thunder and lightening were really intimidating -- very loud and close all around us --and it was raining sideways. Milwaukee is only an hour away -- but in this mess? Back to the Baymont Inn was an easy decision. By 8:00 it was all over, but I think we made a wise choice.
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PHIL-OSOPHIES
People in the Mid-West are so friendly! Everywhere we go, people are very extending. They are easy to talk to, friendly, have a good sense on humor. We'll see if that holds true when we get to some of the bigger cities like Chicago, Detroit, etc.
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Off to Madison on our way to Spring Green to see the Frank Lloyd Wright house, Taliesin, and further south, The House on the Rock -- another famous house, not designed by Wright.
Madison is built around two good sized lakes and the University snakes its way between the two. There is not much to the town besides the Capitol and the UW. Saw a sign that said "Oregon - 7 miles" so, of course, we had to check that out. It was fun hearing people actually pronounce it correctly! Everyone back here says Or-e-GONE.
Well, you all know by now that the Frank Lloyd Wright House was not meant to be! Phil assures me we WILL get back there. He was such a character, and I love his Architectural style. Hopefully, I'll be getting around well enough by the time we come back to see the Dr. after Labor Day, that we can go back there then. Dr. Holub was wonderful. A young guy, graduated Med. School in '92, is an Orthopedic man, specializing in hands and feet, with a specialty in Sports Medicine. I really have a lot of confidence in him -- he seemed to have the latest techniques and wanted to try letting it heal without surgery -- he said most of this type of break will take care of itself. -- Let's hope. He said Dr.s don't like to move patients around like we need, but he jumped right in when he heard what we were doing -- and said we'd figure out a way to make it work. After coming back to make sure it is healing OK, he is sending all my X-Rays, his notes, and his action plan with us to give to some unknown Dr. down the line -- should be interesting. He was going to check to see if there was anyone he could refer us to -- we gave him our itinerary, and said we could modify as needed. Let's hope it will work!
Right now, we're off to Chicago to explore that city (probably mostly by car!) and to see the Bears play at Soldier Field. Haven't decided whether I'll be able to do that or not -- Phil may have to try to sell the ticket there...
Everyone told us it was 2 1/2 to 3 hours to Chicago -- 6 hours later we reached our hotel!! An accident that stopped us cold for about 30 minutes (but I had a nice conversation with Megan, who called while we were stuck in traffic--good timing!). Then we didn't factor in Friday traffic (by now the rush hour was starting to develop), and finally, because of all the delays, we were now stuck in traffic going to Soldier Field for the game -- and of course, we made reservations at a hotel within walking distance of the field -- seemed logical at the time! When we got to the hotel, the parking was all in a parking garage that accommodated up to 7' high vehicles -- we're 8'6"!! Fortunately at $20 bill slipped to the garage attendant, allowed us to park in the loading zone in front of the hotel -- all night! We weren't sure we'd have a vehicle in the morning -- or if we did, whether it would have wheels! Since we were so much later getting in - Phil really had to hustle to the game -- I got to order dinner from a nearby restaurant that delivered to the hotel -- Chinese and the newspaper made a nice quiet evening!
One of the things we wanted to see in Chicago (we dumped the idea of the Architectural Walking Tour!) was the T. Rex named Sue that was discovered in S. Dakota in the Black Hills in 1990. The Field Museum paid $8.4M at Auction for her from the farmer whose land she was found on. The woman who discovered her -- named Sue Hendrickson - hence the name, got nothing out of the deal - doesn't seem quite fair!) She is the largest, and most complete T. Rex ever found. She is absolutely awesome! 42' long, 12' tall at the hip, and weighed about 7 tons alive -- she fossilized bones weigh more than 3,000 pounds. They couldn't mount the actual skull due to it's weight - it is displayed separately with a cast head mounted with the rest of the actual skeleton. Her teeth range from 8 to 12 inches long -- it was really wonderful to see her. We didn't spend much time looking at the other things in the museum, but a family could spend a full day there, no problem. So much to see and do.
We seem to have a hard time in large cities. The traffic is so fast and confusing that we really don't enjoy them like we could. Add to that my new limited mobility, and you have a recipe that says -- get outta town now! We both agreed we'll come back some time -- fly in, get a downtown hotel, and really see the sites.
Off to Michigan as our week comes to an end. We're anxious to get there as I'm 2 days from being out of my hormone pills -- there hasn't been a Rite Aid since Idaho. We knew it was going to be close making it from Idaho to Michigan, but we really didn't want to move the prescription to another Pharmacy, then try to move it back. Too much chance for a problem. There are Rite Aids most everywhere from here on out. It really is slick, you can get a refill anywhere - their computer systems are actually networked together, so they can see all your prescriptions, no matter which store you go into! Neat, huh?