Day 50 - Eagle Grove, Iowa

We spent a very pleasant day doing something we have done a lot of -- tromping through old cemeteries looking for ancestor headstones. In addition to that, we roamed around the beautiful countryside near Eagle Grove, Iowa, looking for the farmsteads that Gary's great grandparents (several sets) owned in past years. We also walked around charming Eagle Grove and went to the Wright County Fair currently running at the fairgrounds. It was a perfect day for weather, and we found almost everything we were looking for.

I took a large number of photos, too numerous to post here, but the one of the barn probably built by Gary's great grandfather is one I will post, and also the one of Gary in a pose near this barn mimicking the pose his grandfather had when photographed as a boy, holding his recently caught fish.

I will also post a photo of the main street in downtown Eagle Grove - a thriving town of about 4,000, bustling with farm product activity, on a major rail line with lovely residential areas. The photos of the headstones we found will reside on a different Web site at a later date. We were highly successful, thanks to the wonderful genealogy research of Betty McMurry, Gary's cousin, previously pictured here.

Day 48 - Last day in Wisconsin Dells

We decided to take the Original Ducks tour in the Dells. These amphibious vehicles are World War II vintage or replicas and take tourists on the Wisconsin River and on the roads used by Ducks only to see the forested areas. We were skeptical when we started, to say the least. But by the end we were very glad we did this. We really did get to see what can't be seen otherwise, and we did get an overview of the history of the area and a better appreciation for what is still naturally here in spite of so much human tampering.

The sandstone was formed 500 million years ago. Even though glaciers covered much of the Midwest, they did not cover the Dells area. As the glaciers receded a huge lake was formed, covering most of central Wisconsin. When a big ice dam melted 14,000 years ago, a very large amount of water was released. The powerful stream cut a passage through the soft sandstone which is now the Wisconsin River channel.

Day 47 - Wisconsin Dells July 4th & a new photo

I had the disposable camera developed at Walmart with the photos taken at the reunion with my college room mate, Marilyn. The quality is not what I would have liked, but I am so happy to have a photo of the two of us together (this one was by far the best of the four we took).

Gary and I walked around Wisconsin Dells yesterday. This is not only the water playground capital (of the world, they claim), it is also the tacky souvenir shops capital in downtown Wisconsin Dells. What was once an area of natural beauty is now built over by amusement parks, souvenir shops and hotels of all kinds. We haven't taken our Duck Boat ride yet, so the final word has not been said.

We went to an open parking lot last night for so-so fireworks. There were other displays going on - we counted at least 4 other fireworks shows at some of the resort hotels that were a little visible to us from our watching point, so the 4th passed here with the usual fanfare.

Day 46 - Milwaukee, WI

Drove in to Milwaukee from the Dells (long drive) for a Milwaukee Brewers/Cincinnati Reds baseball game at Miller Park. This is a new (2000) park with a retractable dome, which was retracted today - weather was warm. It's a lovely park! The attendance was over 31,000, and the Brewers rewarded the fans with an 8 - 7 win, scoring two runs in the bottom of the ninth. It was a really good game!

I particularly liked seeing the many fans enjoying the tailgating in the parking lot. Gary and I can't remember ever seeing such a large pre-game crowd out grilling everything from brats to corn to steaks and hamburgers.

Here is a view of the stadium. This photo makes the stadium look smaller than it really is.

Day 45 - Wisconsin Dells, WI

We are camped at a park right in the heart of the Wisconsin Dells. Wow, this place is amazing. There are so many water parks, amusement parks, and general summer attractions with lots of families roaming around. The Web says this is the capital of water parks! I believe it.

A college room mate of mine and I reconnected after over 40 years of not seeing each other but staying in touch by the annual Christmas card and letter. We rendezvous'ed at a restaurant in the Dells (she lives in Madison and drove an hour to be here). We had a wonderful visit, catching up on each other's lives and mutual friends from college. I discovered, to my dismay, that I had forgotten my camera, so there are no photos. I did buy a disposable (non-digital) camera and we took a few snapshots, but nothing can be posted at this time. Marilyn, it was wonderful to be with you. Come and visit us!

Day 44 - Chicago Botanic Gardens and Ravinia

This was a fabulous day. Good friends of ours in Santa Rosa had recommended that we visit the Chicago Botanic Gardens, so we drove in to Highland Park and did that. What a wonderful place!! Every garden, pathway, border, field, fountain or sculpture is in perfect condition. The pathways wind around through a profusion of plantings, done in a natural way with particular emphasis on native plants to Illinois. It is different from Butchart Gardens on Vancouver Island, Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew, in London or the gardens at the Huntington Museum in S. California in its natural look and modern blend of colors and textures. The other notable display within the Gardens is the model train exhibit which we thought was the best we had ever seen. Photographs don't do it justice - the attention to detail, the natural materials used in the construction of the buildings and bridges, the variety of trains (all G gauge), the way the beautiful plantings are woven into the various displays for each town or National Park setting for the trains make this a destination for anyone with children and the young at heart. I have selected just two of about 20 photos I took of the model train exhibit. By the way, I have recently discovered that you can click on any photo to expand it.

In the evening we went to Ravinia for a Chicago Symphony concert in this lovely, old outdoor venue. We picnicked first on the lawn, renting the needed chairs and a little table. We had purchased tickets for the pavilion seating and it was wonderful. On this July 1st, the concert was "An American Celebration" with a mix of pops and light classical. Very enjoyable. Ravinia does not allow cameras on the grounds, so no photos could be taken.