Archive for October, 2023

Oct 30

October 29 2023

So we had a great time in Albuquerque, lots of good food and good beer. We met some of Marie’s freinds and reacquainted with older ones. We had a room at Marie’s complex which worked out wonderfully. The room was a full apartment and had it’s own washer dryer to clean up our weeks worth of laundry. Being there made it easy to come and go with her. So it was time to leave ABQ and start heading East. I 40 out of Albuquerque through the mountain pass and on to Santa Rosa. Then start heading south southeast through New Mexico grass land and eventually into Texas. West Texas is more agricultural and huge dairy farms. Mostly 2 lane roads through small towns and large grazing fields. As we passed the Texas border was when there was more of the agricultural lands versus the grazing lands. We made our way that day to Lubbock after 5 hours on the road. Home to Texas Tech and Buddy Holly, as well as Mac Davis. We had a great hotel with a nice college pub across the parking lot. So a relaxing night before we hit the road again. We had a nice breakfast in the morning and then continued heading southeast in Texas. On to San Antonio from Lubbock. It is a drive on State highways that are mostly 4 lane with various slowdowns through Texas towns. A big variety of landscape, from flat grazing land to hill top views. Eventually getting south to I 10 Many of us in the midwest and north east are used to seeing mile markers in the interstate that denote where we are. But in Texas the I-10 mile markers go for 880 miles to the Louisiana border. We didn’t do all of that today, but made our way to San Antonio because it was on our list! We landed in San Antonio in late afternoon and checked into our Canopy by Hilton hotel on the riverwalk. They upgraded us to a beautiful room and we cleaned up and it was time for a cocktail! There was a good option next store at the Esquire, advertised as the longest bar in Texas. The meals were good and the drinks quenching. After getting relaxed we took a walk down the riverwalk, taking in the sights and stopping for some music and cocktails. A great start to a couple of nights in San Antonio. A good nights sleep and we took a walk into downtown, finding a restaurant that has been there for a century. Originally a German delicatessen, they now bridge the German and southwest. Our Nephew and family came down from Austin so after breakfast we walked the riverwalk towards the hemifair park to meet up with them. The riverwalk is full of restaurants and bars and also art and flora. We enjoyed it a lot. It happened to be Día de Muertos festival weekend, the hispanic day of the dead celebration. Unknown to all of us the park expected 130,000 for the weekend celebration. But the park is huge and was manageable; finding parking for them and finding each other not as easy. But we had a fun time together and Chris and I are thankful they made the 90 minute drive down from Austin. The costumes and alters in memorium at the festival were impressive. We had fun together and they headed home late afternoon. We made our way back to the hotel to take a break. A little rest and then back out on the riverwalk for a cocktail and bite to eat. A full day put in and a good nights rest. In the morning we opted to sleep in and then head right back to the road. Heading East on I-10 for awhile now. Of course we found road construction across the country, so some detours and slow downs along the way. Looking for about a 5 hour ride we planned our way through Houston and on to Lake Charles Louisiana. Louisiana seems to be cordial to Casino’s so we took a stop at the Golden Nugget in Lake Charles. Lot’s of restaurant choices after parking the car and some gaming available. A good choice. So next a good nights rest and then continue heading East!

 

Sandia Mountains Albuquerque

Great first meal at the Esquire

European history in San Antonio

Flower scultpures river walk

River walk San Antonio

Craig Andria and Evelyn

Andria, Evelyn, and…….

dios de los muertos festival, lots of costumes many elaborate

climbing the bridge into Lake St Charles

Golden Nugget and the bridge into St Charles

 

Oct 24

October 23, 2023

After a great night in Des Moines we had an easy ride down to Kansas City to visit old friends Steve and Nancee. They welcomed us in even though we were battling colds! It was a nice night to stay in and catch up, and share a few beers. They treated us to a perfect dinner and more conversation. After a super rest we were treated a a wonderful breakfast, how good is that! So then on the road from Kearny MO and head into Kansas. A long road across Kansas seeing lot’s of fields being harvested as we had in Wisconsin and Iowa. When we plan a trip we check on where the Love’s travel stops are on our way. Restrooms cleaned every hour and well taken care of is even better than the 10 cents off a gallon with the app. So west on I 70 for some hours then start heading south to Dodge City Kansas. Well, we are heading southwest so why not? For some of us of a certain age we saw plenty of Western movies and TV shows and Dodge City often played a part. Wyatt Earp, Bat Masterson and his brothers, Miss Kitty? We had planned on two nights so we could arrive after the drive and spend some time touring the next day. We arrived in town and decided on Dodge City Brewing for supper, good decision. Well done beers and good selection, and a very tasty thin crust pizza with personable bartenders. Welcome to town. I took a growler back to the room and we gave our colds a rest. Have to drink your fluids you know. We slept in the next morning and skipped the hotel free breakfast to walk to a local coffee shop that was another nice find. A good start to the day. A little rest and then walked to visitor center and to the boot hill museum. The museum is very well done and full of information. Did you know there were probably 30 million bison across the US before the Europeans started to slaughter them for the hides? The bison population was taken down to less than 1000. In the 1860’s and 1870’s bison hunters brought their many hides to Dodge City, as the cattle drives from the south came in to the rail lines. Most of the famous history came in a decade. The early 1870’s were crazy in Dodge City, by the end of the decade Texas cattle drives weren’t allowed in Kansas and Kansas was on the verge of declaring prohibition. Buffalo hunters were running out of targets and were picking up bones to send back East as uses were found for the skeletons covering the prairie. So many facts and things to learn about Dodge City and the people that formed it. It was an informative afternoon after which we took another break. By then the Boot Hill Distillery was open and time for a tasting! They need some more aging but are doing some nice things and cocktails that were worth the stop. Started by someone owning a large wheat farm 50 miles out of Dodge City who found a fun use for his home grown products. Straight down the hill (really straight down) was back to Dodge City Brewing for a taste and dinner for the night. The next morning we actually warmed up some pizza from the night before for breakfast. Then we were headed south on our way to Raton, New Mexico. A long way through Kansas agriculture, then praire land, and into Oklahoma then into New Mexico. A quiet but interesting drive. We landed in Raton before our room was ready and took in the Raton Museum. Then checked in and relaxed. A good Best Western with a bar and restaurant included. So a good night of rest before Sunday morning came. We took an easy ride south and stopped in the old plaza of Sante Fe. Very busy but we had a nice walk through the plaza and talked with some of the Native American artisans. Around the old plaza in Sante Fe and Albuquerque are areas set of for the local artisans to sell their crafts and jewelry. A nice coffee on a nice cool morning around the square and then back on the road again. An hour further south to Albuquerque and to see Marie. So we are here now. Good to be back in New Mexico. The colorful mountains after the plains of Kansas. We have been to a couple of local breweries and walked Old Town plaza in Albuquerque. So a few more nights and then start heading East.

 

Doc Holiday welcomes you in

Matt Dillon

James Arness was a big guy!

Those wagons were big!

And this wagon was not the big one to cross the prairie

Thanks to the Longhorns, seven million who came to town

Museum street

Had a beer at the Longbranch Saloon

A well done distillery and locally grown

Old Town in Albuquerque

Story of the church on the plaza

Sisters shopping

Sunset and rain on the Mesa

 

Oct 18

2023 October

September was mostly a good weather month in Wisconsin. We had some cold mornings to let us know it was fall, but overall we still had warm days. Golf continued to be fun although I decided the 40’s was too cold to get started. We were able to attend the revival of the Enders Octoberfest and see old friends. Happy Birthday Noel. I was able to attend the Packer-Saints game and see a comeback win in the 4th quarter. I have missed a few years, because our only options were in cold weather! Good to be back with the boys again. We also made it to Chicago for Jeff and Donna’s daughters wedding. Then we had our trip to Washington Island to take over the Sunset Resort and celebrate Janet and Steve’s anniversary.
After unpacking from the Island we were back into packing for our next trip. 40 degree temperatures on the Island so it must be time to head south. We left Oshkosh on a Monday. A lot to do to prep the apartment for 7 months gone so no hurry in the morning. Take batteries out of everything we can think of, take cable equipment to UPS, pack the car and clean toilets. So an easy plan for the first day to head to New Glarus Wisconsin. A favorite place Chris has gone to since her Swiss grandmother would take her there. Now still Swiss and we love stopping at New Glarus brewery. Only sold in Wisconsin, we watched the video from Deb Carey telling how she ushered the Anheuser Busch reps out because that was not in her and Dan’s plans. They wanted to be profitable be able to treat employees well, which by all accounts they have been able to stick to. So had a couple of beers and the tour, and then headed into town to check in and head to a favorite local bar. Had a nice Weinerschintzel meal and good nights rest. Then across southwest Wisconsin and into Iowa, ending in Des Moines Iowa. A great hotel at Staybridge Suites East town, we walked to the capitol house and took a tour. Beautiful. All the craftsmanship that went into these older buildings and Iowa doing a great job of keeping things maintained. Also found the Iowa Taproom which features 99 Iowa beers, a great selection. A relaxing and enjoyable start to our trip.

 

fog on the golf course

that far from hole in one

Tailgate in Style

Lambeau Field

Pindel Wedding

Door County sunset with rain showers

Statehouse under refurbishment

Iowa statehouse library, note the stairs

Iowa taproom