Author: Mary-Ann Knight

Today’s fun outing!  Super cool land & water tour on a Duck.

The DUKW (colloquially known as Duck) is a six-wheel-drive amphibious modification of the 2-ton capacity CCKW trucks used by the U.S. military in World War II. DUKWs are still in use today, as well as purpose-built amphibious tour buses, primarily as tourist transport in many attractions world-wide.  Ducks were used for troop landings. The Ducks most famously played a pivotal role during the Normandy landings. Around 21,000 Ducks were produced between 1942 and 1944. It’s hard to determine how many are left today but we think the number is only around 1000.

Spenser, our tour guide, giving us safety instructions and driving

A way we go   

The Wisconsin River is a tributary of the Mississippi River in the U.S. state of Wisconsin. At approximately 430 miles long, it is the state’s longest river

What makes the Wisconsin River Brown?   Turns out, the amber-brown color of the water comes from tannins. Tannins are the bitter and astringent compounds that come from the wood, bark, and leaves of oak and fruit trees in the area.

Back on dry land

Back in the water; Lake Delton

Dry land, there is a deer in the first photo, I can’t find him either, he was by the tree

It was a fun, unique hour tour.

Alligator Alley Adventure!  You even get to feed them, no, not face to face 🙂

You walk into the alligator room to encounter several alligators one on top of the other in a large aquarium type enclosure.  They seem to be smart enough to be at the entrance looking cool so you’d feed them.  I was concerned about the feeding, it turns out up high they have a tube that feeds into the enclosure.  There is a plunger you use to push the meet from the tube into the enclosure, then the race is on for which one gets it,

Here’s looking at you!

Such a handsome profile 🙂

He’s a big one and Allan’s favourite.

Got anymore meat? 

Tried to get Allan’s photo with his buddy, was not successful.

Hey Kyle, these are for you 🙂

The other residents   

My favourite, think it may be a     

Whatever he is how can you not love this face?

A fun, rainy day!

Another short drive day.  These are kinda fun cause we start the day leisurely have breakfast do the dishes in our new dishwasher and then head out.  I’ve said this before, although this one is the direct replacement I liked the old one better.  More space in the drawer even though by measurements this one is a tiny bit bigger.

Yesterday, we set off to walk a trail we saw when crossing over the Mississippi River from Iowa to Wisconsin.  Turns out the park is closed but we did find this memorial with some surprising, new to us, stats.

A mean helicopter guarding the memorialBack to today and Country Roads Motorhome & RV Park

Site 48 

View from the Captain’s seats   

They have cute names, this is my favourite 

      time

Aug 13th:   Explore the section of Wis-Dells we missed the last time here.

There have been so many radio Culvers radio commercials for ButterBurgers  Allan “I like butter & burgers, gotta have me one!”

Here we are, I’m having a grilled chicken burger, Allan ButterBurgers with the works and sharing fried cheese curds.  First surprise it’s not a we serve you restaurant, it’s McDonald style, order and they will bring you the food.  Their claim to fame is their meat is never frozen and not pre cooked.  It’s all cooked by order.

Food arrives, mine is good, poor Allan’s burger has none of the “works” on it.  He takes it to the counter to get it corrected.  Was it the best burger, hum no.  Does he want another, NO.  At least it’s out of Allan’s system.

We’ll walk to check out this area.  We come across a Ponderosa Steakhouse  Growing up in Montreal we only went out for dinner once or twice a year and it was always to Ponderosa.  The last Canadian location closed in November, 2010. Wonder if now I’ll be the pain in wanting to go for old time sakes. Allan, I know it’s not your favourite but they do have Spotted Cow   Allan did go as a child as well. 

Next stop Moosejaw Pizza & Dells Brewing Co. 

Allan declares the RUSTIC RED  A rustic American red ale made with caramel malt for a sweet, malty finish. (ABV 5%)    Allan likes it 🙂  Mine is a Moosejaw Mary.Allan saying good bye to MJ 

Onward we walk when we see …

What did we buy?

Skill testing question,, where did Allan have this beer, Pretty Good Amber before??

Heading back to Bob still parked at Culvers.  We’ll have to visit when they are openBack to Bailey we go.

Next leg.. 

We’re in the correct spot, for now, Winnebago County, turn for Winnebago Road in our Winnebago

Although it was a short trip it was mostly a single lane each way and SUPER bumpy!                                            Even in town, Galena, WI wicked sky

      We’re here!

Someone has a sense of humour.  They do say speed limits are enforced

We stop   

Rustic Barn Campsite Site 18.  Site is not long enough to have Bob here

Site is not level, hard to see on the photo but Bailey’s front passenger tire is in the air.  We normally do not need the extra step, and we’ve never needed it at its max.  Plus the ground around it isn’t level.  Hoping neither of us break an ankle!

Our view out the side of the windshield

This is the rustic barn, I thought we may see farm animals, wrong       A chapel on site

Oh deer! 

Who’s that with the cow?  Yes, it’s me all wrapped up cause it’s super windy-feels like Lethbridge 🙁Look closely to see the cows in the gulleyWind died down, it’s fire time

Tomorrow is dishwasher replacement day at Sunny Island RV.  Will it fit as the measurements of the replacement is slightly off.  We did ask on a Winnebago info site and someone answered he replaced it with the unit we have ordered so feeling a bit relieved.

Back at the “Concrete Jungle”   

Chilling tonight waiting for tomorrow’s appointment

Aug 07th:  We’re here in our “regular” spot, Brad, our tech is opening the box 🙂

We have hours to kill; first stop McDonalds for breakfast, next Costco for fuel, next we see a mall on Google map close by.  Sadly, it only still had about 4 stores open the balance are all shuttered.  Next a Walmart; if there were folks watching surveillance cameras they would have been wondering what the heck we are doing.  i still get at least 10k steps/day so we just walked up and down the aisles.  Where to next… OK Prairie Street Brewery for Allan’s favourite, Altbier Amber Beer, wine for me and a snack.

Love it here Even the Canada Geese aren’t going home.

Then they say “Giant German Style Pretzel” they aren’t kidding.Half way through this delight, Allan’s cell rings!  Bailey is done, that means the new dishwasher fit 🙂                    Old                                                        New

 Next stop, around the corner a propane fill, we only use propane for our cook top. Last time we filled was 2ish years ago.  The tank been showing a half forever, fill was $20ish. Will be good for another couple of years.

Allan figuring out the dish racks. Shouldn’t be this hard!

Allan figured it out, the last dishwasher was more user friendly .  I want the old one back, maybe not as it didn’t work 🙂

Spending the night at Sunny Island Concrete Jungle then back on the road tomorrow

We have been at Badgerland Campground for a week.  Today is our last full day, despite the calls for rain we deem it “fire day”.  We didn’t want to put the wood in Bailey or Bob because of bugs so burn, burn burn.  Here is what we are starting with at 1148am.  Let’s see how this goes. 1153 burning nicely   

  101 pile is a little smaller

Let’s take a fire break to get some steps, take the garbage and stuff

500p  back at it 

     512, and then were were 3

And then there were none!  We did it!  Lovely fire day!!

Aug 06th:  Back to Sunny Island we go.  Hope the dishwasher replacement goes well 

Today’s outing is to Fort Atkinson with our first stop. Mr. Brew’s Taphouse.  We’re in Wisconsin, of course, our snack has to be fried cheese curds.  Delicious.  Allan say’s his amber is pretty good.   Actually, it’s called Pretty Good Amber, Allan says it’s deliciousThen off we head, it’s a cute town rather quiet on a Sunday but we liked being here.  Guess I should get used to clock towers actually having the correct time.   

Back at the campground we encounter these fellows on our walk

Badgerland is a nice campground with spacious spots, a bar, fug n activities, water, and 50amp power.  The one thing they don’t have is a sewer hook-up.  Chris, the owner comes by twice a week and empties you on Thursday & Sunday.

We’ll take advantage of today’s empty by doing 3 more loads of laundry.  All toll in this tank there are 5 loads, then we each shower.  Allan is just finishing when Chris arrives.  First time we’ve been emptied in this manner, Allan has always done so himself.

It was supposed to rain but it’s just cloudy, let’s go explore downtown Stoughton, WI with our rain coats.

I love a clock tower that actually displays the correct time as this one does. 

Fun but short walk!  Downtowns just aren’t what they used to be in smaller towns but we continue to visit.

Back to Bailey we decide to walk the other part of the park with an adult Kirkland freezie!  Yum yum   It’s nice on this side and even quieter than our side with mostly seasonal sites.   More bugs as more trees     

Catch and release pond

Got a chuckle of this trailer sign 

Walking along side of us, OK, I’m exaggerating a bit, but he’s right there

After dinner it’s fire & Yahtzee time under a cool sky

I have to brag cause I “almost” never win our Yahtzee games.  I made up for it with this game We feel a scattering of rain drops, “I’m going inside” Allan says; “There are only a few drops I’ll wait it out” says Me.  With that the sky opens up and it’s pouring….and so ends another day

Bailey and coffee to start the day.  What’s broken now?  The coffee maker 🙁  It made a few cups then shut off, I turned it back on it made a bit more.  Had to turn on 4 times.  We need a few one, we’ll pick it up after breakfast cause there is a Walmart right there.

Allan’s choice for an eat out meal: breakfast at Pancake Café in Stoughton, IL a 12 minute drive.  Forgot food photos, oh well.   Think this is the first restaurant we’ve been in that has a swing.  Sign behind Allan reads “Welcome to the Good Life”

Our Swinger! 

We need a pot with a thermal carafe.  None at Walmart, next stops Aldi’s, Ace Hardware, Pick & Save, another store who’s name escapes me.  In this store, when we asked another customer said Macy in Madison.  We would have never thought of there.

A flower bed @ Pick & Save

Home to search online.  Shouldn’t be doing this on Allan’s birthday but what if the coffee pot totally craps out?   Search & search and finally find one on Amazon.  Hoping ours holds out till we pick up in Madison.  Scheduled delivery Friday.

We spent a quiet day just hanging out and playing, what? Of course Kings Cribbage until it’s fire time!

Hope everyone had a great “Allan’s Birthday” Day!!   

07/29:  Because there is always something new breaking…. Today’s installment, the dishwasher.  Allan takes it apart as best he can, noise still there.We’ll have Sunny Island look at it when we go back for the W&D installed.  Fires make everything better, let’s have one.

07/30:  What else can break?  Our bathroom scale!  Gotta get that replaced.

We’re back at Sunny Island RV for the reinstallation of the clothes washer & dryer.   Here we are                                              Here are the appliances 🙂

After dropping Bailey, it was a productive morning, I got a pedicure-Allan a hair cut.  No, not at the same place 🙂

Our self improvement chores done it lunch time at Prairie Street Brewery.  The food is delicious and Allan loves their Altbier, amber beer.  They do can their beers so we’ll buy some.  Love the wrench taps.

Just Allan’s luck, no they don’t have any of Altbier canned.  Boohoo

After lunch we head back to Sunny Island.  Much to our surprise Bailey’s slides were closed indicating she was done or they gave up.  They are installed and back hiding behind the cabinet.

We’re overnighting in the “Concrete Jungle” across the street for zero dollars. Allan says “should we run a load to test the machine”  I say “No, Steve (the Service Manager) said they tested and all works, we’ll do a load at the campground tomorrow.”

The campground is only an hour from Sunny Island chosen because we’ve ordered a replacement dishwasher and it will be here Friday (we hope) so we’ll be back to SI

We had to jury–rig the dishwasher cause after SI looked at it, the lock doesn’t work.  We’re ingenious, place the chair against the dishwasher and back it with our yoga mat against the dining room table.    SPOILER alert; it worked, d/w didn’t open.

We’re here 

Love our site, it’s pretty large

A walk around the grounds, there’s a mini beach

   Still loving our sign & Dancy

Laundry time, yahoo!! Load it up, add detergent, push the start button and no lights, no spinning, no nothing!  Should have listened to Allan and did a load yesterday. Super hero Allan springs into action in short order electricity to unit is back.  12 minutes till our first wash is done!

Of course our day ends, whenever possible with a fire.  Notice our wood stack?