This week, we drove up to Little Chute, Wisconsin to celebrate the birthday of Bob, who is my step father-in-law.
When
Bob and Berla married many years ago, a few eyebrows raised over the
difference in their ages. Bob was significantly older and had a history
of heart problems. He spent freely (and generously). He liked his
evening Manhattans. As things turned out, Bob outlived Berla (Julia’s
mother) and celebrated his 90th birthday with…..a Manhattan party. A
large sign at the party described what goes into a Manhattan. (one third
vermouth, one third cherry juice and one third whisky, along with
bitters and a maraschino cherry as garnish.
Traditionally, during visits to Bob and Berla, Bob would always make
me one of his special Manhattans, served in a large glass. While very
good, the drink was also very strong. Bob confided to me that one
wasn’t enough, two was perfect, and three was too much. One was usually
enough for me, especially the way he made them.
While my blog is not intended to glorify the consumption of alcohol,
there’s definitely something remarkable about a guy who lived life fully
on his own terms and made it to 90. You will notice that there is a
modest-sized Manhattan in Bob’s right hand.
After
all of this excitement, I decided to go camping by myself for a few
days. Too much social activity sucks away the energy from us introverts. Unfortunately, there weren’t many camping options without
reservations for Saturday night. I kept at it on Wisconsin’s new
camping reservation system and found a campsite available at Mill Bluff
State Park near Tomah, Wisconsin.
I’ve never been to this state park, despite passing its sign on
Interstate 90/94 many times. The available site had no hookups, which
meant no air conditioning. While I can brave actual temperatures below
zero during Wisconsin’s winters, I am a wimp when it comes to hot, humid
weather.. The weather forecast warned of heat index readings of about
100 for Friday night.
This park is deserving of a review, but just a short one. The State
of Wisconsin protected this lovely piece of property with a very cool
bluff overlooking the surrounding countryside. That’s the good news.
The bad news is that the State of Wisconsin then built a busy interstate
and railroad tracks all around it. This is a great park for people who
want to get away from it all but miss the constant sounds of trucks,
cars and trains.
Then it was hot. Really hot. And buggy. The mosquitoes were eating
me alive. Callie, who is closer to ground level, attracted dozens of
flies that were into her ears, eyes and the back of her head. We got
our hiking and climbing done, retreating to the heat of the trailer. It
was so hot that the Class B van from Nevada across from my campsite
kept its engine running with the AC going from the time that I arrived
until after I went to bed.
On Sunday morning, we got the heck out of the park and headed to the
Driftless area of Wisconsin. The original plan was to boondock at the
Kickapoo Reserve, but the predicted storms and heat changed my mind. We
found a little town with an inexpensive campground and electrical
hookups for $20/night. I’m perched on top of a hill, watching the
storms sweep across the valley.
This campsite is a winner.
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