Thursday 20th thru Sunday 23rd at Sandy and Jack's

Beautiful morning across the lake. We took a few hours in the morning with the help of Jack to book our campsites and plan our route over to Virginia Beach ready for when we leave them on Monday. We need to book as it will be Memorial Weekend and campsites will be full. After lunch at the harbour bar and as it was a beautiful day we spent an excellent afternoon on the lakes in the pontoon boat, a very leisurely putt around. A drive out in the evening to dinner to Two Lakes (sadly the lakes are no longer there) for their world famous drunken chicken, we had a laugh with them saying we had come all the way from England.
Sandy hung a fish "wind sock" so we could find their house easily

View of lake from S & J's back yard

View from lake of S & J's lovely home

Himself enjoying the lake

Two "old"boys chewing the fat and probably putting the world to right whilst floating about on the lake

Local water tower at the Veteran's Home

Heron in flight.

Friday and it's raining but no sweat, S & J have planned a full day. First stop is the small local cheese factory. Wisconsin is famous for it's cheese and beer brewing. Really interesting tour and our first taste of cheese curds which should if fresh squeak when you eat them. These did as they were only made that morning. Not to Michael's liking. From here to our first wine tasting at a small vineyard. Very informative as it is also a fish hatchery and they try to be as organic as possible. They have 2 sheep to keep the weeds under control between the vines, dogs to chase off the rabbits and varmin and all kinds of other organic ways to deal with pests as with the hatchery they cannot use pesticides. From here to second wine tasting, again small operation with vineyard on site. Needless to say Michael engaged them in wine making conversation while we 3 just tasted !

Sandy and Jack.

Lunch stop at Titletown Brewery, old railroad depot in Green Bay now micro brewery (we all had water !) Michael tried his first ever clam chowder.

After lunch our 3rd and final wine tasting of the day. This was in Green Bay with no vineyard attached, they buy in their grapes and juice. For our taste all 3 vineyards mainly produce wines too sweet for our palette but the first two did have some good dry reds as well and it was fun testing them all !!

Home of the Green Bay Packers. They are the only non-profit, community owned major league professional sports team in the United States

The fans code of conduct

Harley Davidson gathering at the Packers Stadium

We had a great day sight seeing and wine tasting, back to S & J's for a quick shower and out to the traditional Wisconsin Friday Fish Fry at the Moose Inn about 45 mins away but we are told one of the best places. It was delicious.

At the Friday fish fry

Saturday brewery tour

Saturday, dry and cloudy but also warm and we are off for a brewery tour at Stevens Point about an hour away. Good tour, I have never been on a brewery tour so all new to me. Sampling of course !! and today was a special day so free bratwurst too and popcorn. We rounded this off on way home with a yummy ice cream at the ice cream parlour back at the lake. Now for some exercise and a first for me (I had been in the double one in Whitehorse but never in a single) as we took their kayaks out on the lake. I was quite nervous at first as they had only bought them a few weeks ago but I did really well, the only problem being a blister on my thumb !!!!!! We had great fun and really enjoyed the calm waters of the lake.

More new experiences, traditional beer and cheese soup and beer bread with brats before going to the local world premier of the film Mint Julep. this was to raise money for the Gerold Opera House in Weyauwega the next town along from Waupaca when S & J live. Well poor Sandy was mortified as it was a Film Noir and was to us four really awful !! It will be really interesting to see what becomes of the film I have made a note to find out. It starred Angelina Torn and Ian Teal and the lovies all thought it was great. It was written by Kathy Fehl who lives in Weyauwega and is according to Sandy a really lovely person, she reminded me of a very steriotyped librarian. It didn't help that the dvd broke down half way through !! Home after this and some much needed wine and sustenance.

At the brewery

The Waupaca water tower. Poor Jack had to drive down all sorts of side roads so I could get a pic of their town water tower.

Getting the kayaks in the water

I think next step whitewater !!!!!!

Daisy dog enjoying an afternoon on the lake. Sadly Daisy has a tumor in her nose which is inoperable and basically is living on borrowed time. S & J were very happy that she really perked up while we were there. She's a great dog and even sits in the front of Jack when they are out in their kayaks.

Photographic roots

Docking the pontoon boat

We spent Sunday morning at their property over in Oakdale a mile or so away where Jack has as Sandy calls them his "Tonka Houses". These house a big pic up truck, 3 cars circa 1950's in pristine condition complete with white wall tyres, a juke box complete with 45rpm records, a big tractor and farming equipment, a golf cart and various other bits of memorabilia and of course all of the boats in winter. It was really hot and got upto the 90's today but we had a walk through their woods and grounds. Sandy was very excited at finding a morrell mushroom M & I said are you sure it is !!!!! Great afternoon putting about again on the lake, it was hot hot hot and very enjoyable. Day rounded off by a trip out for pizza, then back to sit on the deck with a night cap.

We have had a fabulous time in Wisconsin but tomorrow we must move on.