Thursday July 9th – Elmo Lake Park Reserve MN
The Wisoncsin countryside has really appealed to us, overall it is very prosperous looking. The barns look immaculate, and with everything looking so green and some hay being made, it is very picturesque.
After talking with Laura last night, she suggested that we take a look at Red Wing, just over the Mississippi in Minessota.
Passed through Menomonie and wandered around the old part of town. While browsing in an antique shop, we were told that it was worth checking out the restored Mabel Tainter theatre. This was built in 1889 by Mabel’s father as a tribute to her. It was like stepping into the past.
A few miles out of town we saw a sign for a cheese factory and shop, and as Marge had only just mentioned the famous Wisconsin cheese shops when we were talking to her last night, decided to visit. Great call. A wonderful shop selling mainly cheeses that were manufactured on site along with beer sticks and other delicacies and Missy and the other 2 ladies were so friendly. We sampled a few different styles, and also their cheese curds. These are made fresh every day when the separate the milk into whey and curd, and they sell packets for snacks. Really tasty. So walked out with a selection of cheeses and beer sticks…wonder how long they will last in the fridge.
Nearby was a Lutheran Church, sitting on a rise surrounded by farmlands, so parked Ruakiwi in the carpark under a tree for a lunch stop, and were entertained by organ music being played through loud speakers. It started at 1 and was still going 15 minutes later when we left, so not sure how long it went on for.
Crossed over the Mississippi to Red Wing, a town named after a famous Indian. The town has also produced pottery under the Red Wing label for many years, and it is now a collectors item. The old part of town with its dark brick buildings has been well preserved and a great place to wander around.
We decided this year to avoid the privately owned campsites which are not only very expensive, but usually squashed in like sardines, and have lots of entertainment going on which is of no interest to us. These are great for families wanting to spend a length of time relaxing, but we only need a campsite for one night. Have found a number of county campgrounds which have been great, so headed north to what I thought was another one, but found that it had no camping. Tried another that I found in the camping guide and it proved to be very good, plenty of space and our site looks out over some fields.
After talking with Laura last night, she suggested that we take a look at Red Wing, just over the Mississippi in Minessota.
Passed through Menomonie and wandered around the old part of town. While browsing in an antique shop, we were told that it was worth checking out the restored Mabel Tainter theatre. This was built in 1889 by Mabel’s father as a tribute to her. It was like stepping into the past.
A few miles out of town we saw a sign for a cheese factory and shop, and as Marge had only just mentioned the famous Wisconsin cheese shops when we were talking to her last night, decided to visit. Great call. A wonderful shop selling mainly cheeses that were manufactured on site along with beer sticks and other delicacies and Missy and the other 2 ladies were so friendly. We sampled a few different styles, and also their cheese curds. These are made fresh every day when the separate the milk into whey and curd, and they sell packets for snacks. Really tasty. So walked out with a selection of cheeses and beer sticks…wonder how long they will last in the fridge.
Nearby was a Lutheran Church, sitting on a rise surrounded by farmlands, so parked Ruakiwi in the carpark under a tree for a lunch stop, and were entertained by organ music being played through loud speakers. It started at 1 and was still going 15 minutes later when we left, so not sure how long it went on for.
Crossed over the Mississippi to Red Wing, a town named after a famous Indian. The town has also produced pottery under the Red Wing label for many years, and it is now a collectors item. The old part of town with its dark brick buildings has been well preserved and a great place to wander around.
We decided this year to avoid the privately owned campsites which are not only very expensive, but usually squashed in like sardines, and have lots of entertainment going on which is of no interest to us. These are great for families wanting to spend a length of time relaxing, but we only need a campsite for one night. Have found a number of county campgrounds which have been great, so headed north to what I thought was another one, but found that it had no camping. Tried another that I found in the camping guide and it proved to be very good, plenty of space and our site looks out over some fields.
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