Back when Michelle and I started seriously talking about a goal of showing the kids all fifty states (or at least the lower 48) we knew there’d be a trip (or two!) that wouldn’t be as exciting as the others. When planning our first major trip (ignoring the prior drive to Maine in 2007 and to St. Louis in 2009 which, in retrospect, were pretty major but only one week) we struggled with whether to knock out one of the more boring trips or try and hit the wow! ones first. In the end we realized that we didn’t know how long we could keep the trips up as the kids grew up and had greater responsibilities and it would be best to hit the wow! trips first.
Thus, we set out in 2010 to see the Badlands, Mount Rushmore, Devil’s Tower, Yellowstone, the Tetons, etc. It was magnificent. 2011 I had some difficulty getting really into the planning and kept putting it off until it was too late to bother with flying, renting a car, etc. Thus we decided upon a trip that, while it didn’t hit many new states, showed them a decent chunk of our neighbor to the north (Happy Canada Day!) as well as allowed me to share a place that is very dear to me and was a major part of my youth — our cabin in Camp Sabael in the Adirondacks. 2012 we hit the ground running with our first trip to New Orleans with the kids and another amazing trip, a drive from Seattle to Los Angeles, hitting many coastal and interior sites (Mount Ranier, Olympic, Mount Saint Helens, Astoria, Crater Lake, Redwood, Lassen Volcanic, Yosemite, San Francisco, the Pacific Coast Highway, and of course LA). 2013 found us visiting the desert Southwest and seeing many of the Utah National Parks, rafting in Colorado, visiting Mesa Verde, White Sands, and the Grand Canyon.
2014 was an off year for us due to family issues, though we did manage to visit New Orleans and Baton Rouge again. 2015 we were ready to journey again but the reality was the most exciting parts of the lower 48 were behind us. I planned the trip to the Upper Midwest and, three weeks before intended departure — I had put off planning it so much that I hadn’t even arranged air or rental car, Addison suggested Alaska. I shot it down immediately but it did have a certain appeal… Three weeks later we embarked on our tour of that spectacular state. 2016 was an amazing year of travel but not for seeing the United States. I went to India in January and Genetta studied abroad in Italy in June so of course I had to latch on to that and visit as well!
2017 after another visit to New Orleans (this time with my parents and brother and his family) found us still short five states in the Upper Midwest as well as Oklahoma, Kansas, and Hawaii. Hawaii is intended for 2019 (though maybe just for Michelle and I). That left two not-so-exciting trips to knock out. With the kids at 17 and 20 it was unlikely that it would work out anyhow and, with time short, wouldn’t it be better to scrap this silly plan and just swing for the fences and go to Ireland or Iceland (or both) or something really cool? I proposed scrapping the plan but met resistance from Genetta. Addison was more ambivalence, he wasn’t thrilled about the remaining states nor Europe.
So here we are, staying in Madison, Wisconsin (my 43rd state!), having decided to knock out the trip that would net the largest gain of states (5 vs. 2 for the Lower Plains) just in case 2018 doesn’t happen. I think it’ll be a fun trip. Sure, it’s not Europe or Hawaii, but each part of our country has its own quirks and charms and I’m eager to explore it.
We awoke at about 7a and had some bagels and packed, leaving the house around 10a. Got to the airport at about 10:30a and parked in the nice but not-super-nice extended stay. Literally walked straight up to the check-in counter, straight up to the TSA security checkpoint, etc. RDU was totally deserted! The TSA agent commented that Friday had been busy but I guess by Saturday morning everyone had gone to their Fourth destinations. We ate Char-Grill at the terminal — same fare, definitely inflated price — then headed to A7 for our 1:15p flight on Southwest. Unfortunately Addison was feeling quite under the weather with his nose being stopped up and a slight cough. Boarded at 12:45p, in the air on time. The flight was quite choppy and the landing was a bit rough (I can’t remember the last time I’ve come in that fast). It wasn’t easy on Addison with his cold but he soldiered on.
At Chicago’s Midway airport we got our luggage and headed to get our rental, a Ford Explorer, from Budget. They stated it had a little over 4,000 miles on it asking if it was OK. Kind of snickered as we’ll be nearly doubling that! Beat a hasty retreat out of Chicago. The traffic was a little bad and the drivers definitely a bit on the crazy side in this, the third most populous city in America. Some things didn’t surprise me — the small one-level homes packed on small lots in neatly laid out blocks — but other things did. I didn’t expect all the evergreen trees I saw (expected that further north) nor the copious number of ponds with large swaths of reeds and cat o’ nine tails. Very cool.
Lake in northern Illinois, they sure do love their boats up here!
Beautiful Illinois farmland
Agonizingly close to the Wisconsin border — really, less than a mile! — we stopped for dinner at a place called “Red’s”. It looked a little sketchy on the outside but we took a chance. Ended up being a solid place with a very friendly wait staff. We had mozzarella cheese sticks and fried mushrooms for appetizers. Genetta had a blue cheese stuffed burger, Michelle pulled pork on garlic bread with sweet potato fries (which she liked greatly), Addison a 16oz ribeye, and myself beef brisket on garlic bread. Michelle and I both liked our BBQ but they did put a bit too much tomato-based sauce on it. They also brought out homemade cheddar as well as Swiss almond cheese. Though they had the consistency of butter they were very tasty and sharper than most cheese we are used to.
Headed out from dinner, finally crossing into our first new state, Wisconsin. Yay! Two things about their roads. First, they use that crazy letter naming scheme for county roads that we previously saw in Missouri (maybe it is a Midwest thing) and second they aren’t shy about letting a road by 70mph, even a non-interstate one. That’ll come in handy!
Made it to Lake Geneva around 6:30p. It was quite crowded with many pedestrians wandering around particularly at the lakefront. We drove by what I *think* was Gary Gygax’s childhood home. Who is he? He came up with the world’s first role-playing game, Dungeons & Dragons. Next we drove by Horticultural Hall, the place he rented out for $50 in the late 60s and put on the first GenCon (now in its 50th year the largest roleplaying convention in the world). A beautiful German-styled building among beautiful landscaping and evergreens. As there was some sort of event being held there I just snapped a couple of pictures and we moved on to the lakefront.
Welcome to Lake Geneva, Wisconsin, birthplace of D&D
Horticultural Hall, where the very first GenCon was held fifty years ago
Despite the crowd we managed to find a fairly convenient spot next to a park not far from the lakefront. The lake was blue and quite clear, we could see the rocky bottom and lake weeds. The surface teemed with boats of all shapes, sizes, and types. Pontoon boats, jet skis, sail boats, power boats with skiers, and even a few old-timey passenger ferry vessels. A historic Victorian hotel built in 1885 overlooked the lake and was very striking.
Baker House Victorian mansion turned hotel in Lake Geneva, Wisconsin
We walked toward the docks where the passenger ferries were moored and checked out the pavers near a fountain in front of a small shopping arcade. There we found the one dedicated to the memory of Gygax. It depicted a dragon curled atop a d20 (which was naturally showing a 20). Very neat (if a bit nerdy!)
Plaque dedicated to the memory of E. Gary Gygax, creator of D&D
Passenger ferry at Lake Geneva marina
Driehaus Family Fountain near the memorial paver
A look back at Lake Geneva’s Riviera, its pier area
Lake Geneva’s marina
Oh, the temperature was marvelous! Low humidity and barely 80. It was an easy and very pleasant walk back to the car. We left Lake Geneva heading west for Janesville at just short of 8p. I had entertained hopes of visiting and shopping at Noble Knight, a very large gaming store. With the time as late as it was and them closing at 8p I knew this wasn’t going to happen. I was still determined to visit, however, even if I couldn’t shop!
Another view of Lake Geneva’s Baker House
Lake Geneva boats and docks
I loved the reflection of the red boat as well as the duckies!
So many beautiful flowers and plants and an amazing lake as well!
On the way we saw many farms, some quite large. Humongous stretches of crops with only a clump of trees and a silo or two cracking the canopy. We made the mistake of not recycling our air and got a long whiff of the all-natural fertilizer the farms were using. If ya know what I mean. Just shy of Janesville we passed a small concert and fair with a Ferris wheel. We saw this guy do a standing hurdle over a chest high fence — amazing.
After stopping at Noble Knight and taking a few pictures of the sign we drove the remainder of the way to our destination for the night, the Holiday Inn in West Madison. Nice room, too late to swim though. That was just as well — Addison need not get in the water with his cold and we were all tired. They turned in while I blogged.
Sign for Noble Knight Games of Janeville, Wisconsin
Route for July 1, 2017