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The Cruise--Details

I didn't include more details in the prior "The Cruise" post for two reasons. 1)  I didn't think anyone would be interested; and 2)  This trip didn't include much of the normal topics:  good beer, good coffee or John-style travel. But there are details, which may be useful to some people contemplating how such a trip is put together. On the first day of the trip, we drove three hours to pick up my mother in Cedar Rapids, Iowa.  At 85, she isn't comfortable driving for long distances and hadn't flown for many years. We then drove 3 1/2 more hours to Chicago, where we checked into the Wyndham, where you can get a room that includes the cost of parking for up to 12 days.   We were up early on the hotel shuttle to O'Hare, where we then boarded the a non-stop American Airlines flight to New Orleans. Here, we checked into a Hampton Inn near the port.  My mother was pretty tired, so Julia and I went out for a Cajun dinner and live music.   Rememberi...
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One Step Forward, One Step Back

I try to write one blog post per week when I'm not traveling.  That's easy when I'm planning something to do in the future.  All of our future air travel is on hold.  Although Wisconsin private businesses have started opening, public campgrounds have not.  Unlike western states, Wisconsin's opportunities for dispersed camping are very limited. 

I was really excited to learn that the Kickapoo Reserve in southwestern Wisconsin was going to open up for primitive camping without hookups. Then, shortly after Wisconsin citizens started going nuts hanging out at bars and music venues, southwestern Wisconsin had a flare-up of cases.  Kickapoo Reserve has indefinitely called off camping for the summer season. 

The other ball that I need to keep in the air is Justin.  While Allie is doing most of his care, the two sometimes don't get along that well.  There are also certain less pleasant aspects of Justin's care that we typically do for Allie.  Julia and I won't be able to travel together unless we can get Allie on board for doing everything required. 

So...we continue living in the moment. I take my country walks, split my wood, and have an occasional brew at the end of the day.



Vapor Trail IPA


My sourdough bread efforts have produced mixed results.  The pancakes have been outstanding.  Sometimes, the bread is great.  This week, it ended up going straight into the trash.  I guess I need to keep working at it.

Sourdough--It's Alive!

The highlight of the week was a trip to east-central Wisconsin where I did my first biking in over 25 years. I bought my Trek bike in 1983.  It was my first major purchase after college.  For awhile, I was a serious biker.  My friend Dave and I biked across the state of Wisconsin in 1988. On that ride, he met his future wife Ruth.  Dave, Ruth and Julia are still active bikers. 

I dragged my old Trek out of the pole shed last year and had it tuned up by a technician who was younger than the bike.  The higher-end bikes today are lighter, more expensive and supposedly better.  My Trek is steel-sturdy and managed to keep up with the newer bikes of Dave, Ruth and Julia.  We only did 16 miles, but that included some serious hills.  I still prefer hiking/walking, but I have to admit that it felt good to ride fast on the downhills.

Picnic after the Ride.  Dave isn't social distancing from his wife; he just got cold in the shade.

Dave says, "Steel is Real"

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Bill said…
That beer looks like one of the sealable cans from a tap. I tried one the other day at a grocery store of all places. A good porter in a 32 oz can that was poured from a tap into the can and sealed right on the spot. Prior to Covid is was illegal in Nebraska. Likely it will revert back to being illegal again after Covid.
June 1, 2020 at 10:18 PM
John said…
Good eye. That's exactly what it is. They call them crowlers (growlers in a can). We ordered it directly from Vintage brewpub in Sauk City, along with a crowler of root beer and curds. You can order and pay online and then have it brought to your car by a masked server. The brewpub is one of those Wisconsin businesses that is open and not subject to a stay-at-home order. We are glad that they are still offering services to people not ready to socialize on the patio.
June 2, 2020 at 9:00 AM
greg said…
I don't care how much tuning up I do to it, I swear my all-steel Quad-B gets heavier every year. And serious hills? Oh hell no! She insists I get off and push her to the top. And even then, she's pretty unenthusiastic about coasting back down, rolling to a stubborn stop even before we hit the flats at the bottom. . . Admittedly there's a lot of miles on those ridiculously cheap bearings, but if she thinks I'm spending good money on her to replace them she's seriously deluded. (He says while pushing her up yet another little hill. . .)
June 2, 2020 at 1:36 PM
Brewed Journey said…
You’ve got fatter tires on your quad b, which has certain advantages but not going downhill fast. I do see that you’ve got a more comfortable seat than mine. Both Dave and Ruth suggested I get one like yours.
June 3, 2020 at 7:54 PM
greg said…
I think the seat style depends on how much time you put in the saddle. If you ride regularly then the narrow seat has its advantages. If, like me, you ride irregularly but far, that fat seat, which sucks some of my pedaling energy away from the road, makes the ride, and the aftermath, bearable
June 4, 2020 at 10:05 AM
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