[Ed and I were hospital corpsmen and roommates in Bethesda, MD in 1973]
 |
| Ed (with hat) and me at Great Falls, VA, c. 1973 |
We hadn’t seen Ed and Chris since our Spring 2019 road trip (4,000 miles in 16 days) when we visited them at their home in Natchitoches, LA. They talked about coming to Michigan and after two years of Covid so they did. Breaking free of southern humidity in search of the northern wilds of snowy Michigan, last Friday they pulled into our driveway on Eagle Ridge Court.
After getting unpacked followed by a late lunch we drove over to Meijer Gardens and embraced the new crop of butterflies (a 20-minute wait to get in but well worth it).
 |
| in line waiting for the butterflies |
 |
| cousin Itt? |
 |
| monarch caterpillar |
Saturday.
The four of us piled into our car and we took the back roads out to Lake Michigan to show our guests the Big Lake and drop in to see Patty at her shop (Patricia’s Chocolates) in Grand Haven.
Once back in Grand Rapids we drove to the Public Museum and joined the Great Horde of Families determined to make their kids appreciate the finer points of local culture.
That evening was dinner out at Long Road Distillery where three of us had the fish’n chips (delicious); Chris had a farro mushroom dish which was also a big hit. No wine and no beer so it was cocktail night only! I had a wonderful combination of LR gin with hibiscus and lime juice. Noisy but a good time all around.
 |
| Ed and Chris at Grand Haven State Beach |
 |
| visiting with Patty at Patricia's Chocolates in Grand Haven |
 |
| Grand Rapids Public Museum |
 |
| Long Road for dinner |
Sunday.
We packed our bags, grabbed whatever electronic devises we thought necessary and headed out for the next phase of the Evans’ Northern Adventure, a trip to the Wisconsin Dells. They had reserved a time-share for the four of us at a Wyndham property near the Dells and so off we went. It was snowy/blowy for the first hour or so of the trip but then the sky opened blue and sunny once we passed around Lake Michigan and drove into Indiana. Our little convoy made it as far as the interchange from I-290 to I-90 west of Chicago when we got split up but eventually met up at the lobby of the resort by early afternoon.
After check-in and settle-in we returned to our car and went off exploring. First we drove into Baraboo (old-style town square marred by a grotesque neo-Stalinist city hall in the center) then off to the town of Wisconsin Dells proper. A lovely main street (Broadway) of quaint shops reached only by passing through a strip of road dominated by one hotel/resort complex after another and broken only by attractions promising the adventure of a lifetime climbing ropes, escaping rooms or some other experience to empty your wallet.
Returning to our apartment — and a spacious place it was indeed — we tucked in for the night. For dinner we served up chili I had made earlier in the month while Ed started prepping his gumbo for Monday night’s meal. The plan for Tuesday, our final night in the Dells, was to find a place to eat — easy since there are probably 100 restaurants within a five-mile radius (but the quality??).
 |
| settling in, the apartment in the Dells |
Monday.
The morning dawned gorgeous with a blue sky and cold temps. That didn’t stop Susie and Chris from bundling up and heading out for a brisk walk. Ed and I wisely chose to remain inside. After a leisurely morning we donned our bathing costumes and headed off for one of the four indoor water parks attached to the resort. (Wisconsin Dells touts itself as “Waterpark capitol of the world.” Who knew?)
After a walk down endless hallways and over a skybridge we found ourselves inside the curiously named “Klondike Kavern” waterpark. At 10 am the park officially opened and after grabbing towels we found a table to hang them while we made our way to the Lazy River tubing adventure. Within the hour the place was packed with people of all shapes and sizes packing the tubes and the water.
Still it was plenty of fun.
Ed and Chris opted to try the more daring waterslides while Susie and I watched — for it dawned on me that I could very well lose my glasses and thus place myself into an awkward state of double vision for the foreseeable future. I hadn’t really thought about that before. . . But I did find it fascinating that here were some hundreds of strangers in various states of undress packed together running around acting goofy. A fun time was had by all I’m sure.
Returning to the room, we showered/dressed and enjoyed a late lunch in the apartment. Although we had packed sandwich fixins’, wine and dinner grub for two nights of our stay, a quick trip to the local grocery was necessary for a few ingredients.
In the afternoon we headed back out — the sun beckoned. First off we headed south out of town stopping at a cheese shop (it is Wisconsin after all) and continued south just a few miles to Mirror Lake where we caught a glimpse of at least two people ice fishing. From there we headed back north and tried to find Stand Rock overlooking the Wisconsin River, which runs right through the Dells. Being barred by a signed and gated dirt road warning of prosecution, we made our way back into town. We parked just off of the main street and found our way to the quarter-mile long Riverwalk, a lovely path with historical markers along the bluffs overlooking the (yep) Wisconsin River. We even caught a glimpse of one of the river tour boats coming back into town.
Back to the Wyndham and we settled in for the evening —refusing an apron, Ed slaved over the stove making supper while the three of us lounged around and did little but read and relax until it was Gumbo time! Poured over white rice it was worth the wait. As Andy would say, “Ummmmm good, Aunt Bea!” Seconds all ‘round!
After food was put away (mostly) it was 13 rounds of Mexican Train and then off to bed.
 |
| one of four indoor waterparks attached to the resort |
 |
| iced over Mirror Lake |
 |
| note the two ice fisherman in the far distance |
 |
| in Wisconsin Dells (the town) |
 |
| Wizard Quest on the main street (Broadway) next to the beginning of the Riverwalk (just to the left) |
 |
| boat cruise on the Wisconsin River |
 |
| the Wisconsin River |
Tuesday.
Cloudy morning and cold. Again Chris and Susan, this time joined by Ed, suited up and left the apartment for a walk. I bravely remained home to protect our valuables. . .
We had hoped to take one of the boat tours on the Wisconsin River in order to get off and stroll through Witches’ Gulch and see Stand Rock close up but no landings yet for the season due to ice. So we opted for an indoor attraction: Cave of the Mounds.
Located about an hour’s drive south of the Dells, the Cave was opened in 1940. Discovered purely by chance, this underground treasure boasts an average temperature of 50 F year-round and some truly dramatic rock formations. We all thought this to be one of the best attractions so far.
From the cave we returned to the apartment for a late lunch and to relax until suppertime.
That evening we chose to eat out at Hu Hot (the name sounded cool). Touted as a Mongolian grill (corporate HQ Missoula, MT), this place certainly had an interesting approach to dining: One takes a bowl and proceeds to a long help-yourself bar of ingredients followed by a stop at the sauce bar. Then it's queueing to hand your bowl to one of several cooks working at an enormous circular grill and in just a few minutes, voila!
It was back to the apartment for four rounds of Kings in the Corner (thanks to D & D for the inspiration) and off to bed.
 |
| beginning of the Cave of the Mounds tour |
 |
| river running through the cave system |
 |
| dinner at Hu Hot |
Wednesday.
The idea was to leave the Dells and head back south spending a night near Elgin, IL, where we would rendezvous with my brother Greg and his wife Joyce. But then you know the old adage, the best laid plans. . . Well, I woke up with a serious sore throat and nasty cough so we decided to head home instead. Ed and Chris got off to an early start for LA (they were home by 10 pm that evening) while for us a trip that should’ve taken just barely 5-and-a-half hours turned into nearly seven-and-a-half thanks to a continual downpour that lasted from when we first entered Illinois until we got home. That and maneuvering around the I-80-90-94 nexus of wall-to-wall trucks was nerve-wracking to say the least.
But splitting the driving worked well and we were home just into time to unpack, prepare dinner and then for me a shower and to bed.
An interesting trip to be sure — but a good preparation for THE BIG ONE coming up next month.
Stay tuned!
Oh and by way of a postscript: Thursday morning I used one of our USPS-delivered free COVID rapid-test kits and it was negative. So far so good.
