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Starkweather Beer Company

 When I moved back to Madison to attend law school in 1987, we moved to a crappy little apartment near the banks of Starkweather Creek on the unfashionable east side.  Today, the east side is booming, and one of the newer brewpubs is called Starkweather Beer Company. It was Saint Pat's Day.  While Guinness is a decent light-bodied stout, I opted for Starkweather's dry Irish Stout, named "Jamestown Jackdaw." Coming in at 5.9 ABV, it had a malty chewable backbone.  It's a new favorite stout for me.  Julia had Late Winter Haze, a New England IPA that didn't have as much fruitiness as she likes in a hazy.  It was still well-executed. We walked down the street to the Harmony Bar, where Julia enjoyed a complete corn beef and cabbage dinner.  I opted for the Reuben sandwich.  Mine was washed down with an Edmund Fitzgerald porter from Great Lakes Brewing.  Julia enjoyed her Chaos Pattern IPA from 3 Sheeps Brewing.  Both are great beers. Justin update:   After a long h

Summer of Social Distancing

Callie the Cattle Dog:  Social Distancing


I enjoyed my week in northern Wisconsin immensely, but I was under strict orders to be back home for Father's Day weekend.  Last Friday, I hitched up under darkening skies and made it back home just before the storms hit. 

We've had quite a bit of rain over the last few days.  I won't complain because it's kept the weather cool.  Days over 90 during Wisconsin's summers are uncommon. Today, the high nudged just over 70. 

I don't have much planned for extended trips.  This fall, if at all possible, I would like to spend some time in South Dakota, but it's just too early to make any decisions.  Allie is trying to find a job, preferably on the West Coast.  Justin is trying to go back to college this fall.  Julia has unfinished business before her retirement.  I'll be taking things week by week.

Things have started opening up here for camping.  State parks, national forests and the Kickapoo Reserve are all open.  Interestingly, places that take reservations are booking up fast.  I tried to get a mid-week camping reservation at Wildcat State Park.  I was very surprised that much of the summer is booked up already.  Several of Julia's patients have remarked that they recently bought RVs or trailers as part of the effort to be outside and safer this year.  The trick will be finding the hidden gems away from the popular places.

Wisconsin made the news this week when one of our local strip clubs in the Wisconsin Dells had a covid outbreak. I guess they weren't social distancing. 


Comments

MFH said…
Chubby's -- it was inevitable.
greg said…
We've got a couple of deer that don't seem to understand social distancing, especially if I don't toss some deer-pellets quick enough.

The Texas govenor, you know, the one with Trump skid-marks all over his nose, fianally had to acknowledge the sky-rocketing COVID hospitalization numbers since he "opened" the economy and has now pressed the pause button. Not the rewind mind you, just the pause, unless you need a procedure to see if you have cancer or not. Those he stopped altogether.
John said…
I'm afraid that you are correct.
John said…
I was just reading about the Texas situation when your comment came through. Quite a few politicians seem to have lost their minds.
During my walk last night, I would say it's about 50/50.... half wearing masks and being careful about distancing, and the other half oblivious. Fingers crossed were not headed into another shutdown.
John said…
I read something this week in the New York Times that resonated for me. The writer said that the things we need to do aren't difficult. Maintaining soial distance when within six feet or so. Wear a mask when that's not possible. Wash our hands frequently. These aren't hard things; lots of people aren't buying in. Another complete shutdown would really be discouraging.

I really love the photos on your blog and am jealous that your walks are often in Joshua Tree. :-)

On our trip to Canada we dipped down around the Lakes. We enjoyed our few days visiting Wisconsin. Harmony was a fun place along the way.
John said…
Thanks for stopping by and commenting. I'm glad you enjoyed your visit to Wisconsin. I've lived here over 50 years, and I've always called it home no matter where I travel or live. The state lacks mountains and oceans, but has other diverse natural beauty.

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