On the Road with "Frolie"

Last week we wandered around central and east central Wisconsin during some pretty hot days. Fortunately, with plenty of shade at the campsites and a couple of fans in the trailer, we were comfortable.
   
Even though we've used Rick's '65 Frolic for weekend campouts, this was our first week-long trip that we took with the trailer we've nicknamed "Frolie." The name comes from the way the guy who sold the trailer to Rick advertised it on Craig's List last summer. 

Note the "noodles" that cover the lines that secure the awning poles. Rick's idea.

Our first stop was Green Lake. Hattie Sherwood Campground was a city park as near as we could figure. No one on duty. I felt sorry for the camper who answered everyone's questions much like a camp host would have done.  Dinner was at Adam's Rib across from the Green Lake dam.

Adams is the last name of the family that owns the restaurant. Good food.

The next two nights were spent at Big Eau Pleine Park, in Marathon County, not too far from Mosinee. Only one other family was camping at our location.  

New meaning for "deer camp." We came upon this couple in another section of the park.

We ventured up Rib Mountain while we were in central Wisconsin. Camping is no longer available at this state park. Apparently it was underused so the park is just for day use now.

One of the rock formations on Rib Mountain.
What we see is quartzite, not granite. So why
is the ski area called Granite Peak?    

This may be the highest point on the "mountain"
but the highest point in Wisconsin is Timm's Hill
in Ogema (north of Wausau) at 1915.5 feet.

We headed east at the middle of week ending up in Waupaca. We met friends for dinner - at Rick's favorite place, Weasel's. This night he didn't have his usual lamb shish kabob but tried a steak that was recommended by our neighbors at the Waupaca Camping Park. He was satisfied.
   
The next day we spent a few hours at the Iola Old Car Show. This year we didn't "exhibit" so didn't have a place for respite like we've had in past years.

I can't tell a Ford from a Chevy so it was fun to see how various models compared in the theme tent.

Ford and Chevy vans side by side.

I prefer the older models of the Ford and Chevy sports cars. More elegant.

How can you go wrong with this T-bird?

The Corvettes of the 1950s had nice lines.

Not too many foreign cars in evidence at the Iola Show.

Still have a soft spot in my heart for a VW camper. Rick had one that remains
 in the family now that his son owns it. 

Cars of today just don't have the detail of the classics. 

What an elegant hood ornament!

When one is getting money from an ATM, it's probably a good idea that one has privacy. This outhouse design at the show gave us all a chuckle.

The next two nights were spent on the east side of Lake Winnebago at the Calumet County Park. Our campsite was right on the lake. We couldn't have asked for more beautiful sunsets each night. 

A placid lake in the evening. . .

both evenings we were there.

Again, very few campers in the park until Friday night. I joked with one of our neighbors that Rick uses the light on the top of the trailer to signal the "mother ship." 

And wouldn't you know, his signal worked and attracted an alien visitor!

One attraction in Hilbert, near our campground, that we didn't want to miss was the Corner Cupboard.

The owner of the Hilbert store also has the Gibbsville General Store.

Supper clubs are so Wisconsin and we like to stop in for dinner whenever we find one near where we are vacationing. 

The food at Roepke's did not disappoint. The salad bar was especially delicious.

Our vacation week ended in Sheboygan where we once again driveway camped at Rick's son and daughter-in-law's home. It was the occasion of grandson #2's first birthday. Always a joy to see the boys and a fun way to end our vacation.

Celebrating Independence Day

Independence Day has just been celebrated this week across America. One of the best places to celebrate is in a small town.
   
On the 4th of July we were in Knowles - in Dodge County. Knowles is so small that it's not even an unincorporated "census designated place." 

But the people came from miles around for the Independence Day parade that made its way down the main street (and only one of three streets) of Knowles for 75 minutes. 

People were lined up three and four deep along the parade route. We had
a great view from the front porch of the home of our friends Amanda and Troy.    

The Knowles Fire Department started the parade. This department was joined by all the others in the area with their various tankers and hook and ladder trucks. Good thing the volunteer firefighters weren't needed to put out any fires considering that there are more fires on July 4 than any other day of the year. But then, those fires probably occur in the evening when fireworks are shot off.
   

The Lomira High School band was the only musical unit
in the parade.

These kids deserve a lot of credit for sticking around
for the 4th of July rather than going to the beach.

Veteran parade watchers know that LOTS of candy is thrown out by people riding on the "floats." Kids bring their bags and probably collect more of the sweet stuff in a little over than hour than they do at Halloween. And they don't even have to dress in costumes!

The candy throwers start at a young age.  

A few of the units in the parade moved on their own power. Most were pulled by either a truck or a tractor.

An educational message from a company that cleans up after a fire.

Fire seemed to be the theme of the parade. 

First, the Fire Queen.

Next, the Princess.

Finally, the next generation.

It wouldn't be a small town parade without the tractors. 

One of two Minneapolis Moline tractors in the parade.

Not many red tractors. Most were green John Deeres.

The horses brought up the rear as they do in most parades.

But there were no street sweepers to clean up.

We stopped by the Pike Lake House for a late lunch.

Rick and I both had the Texas Reuben - beef brisket, pepper jack cheese, cole slaw, and barbecue sauce. 

Tasty but very messy!

Rhythm & Booms has been a Madison tradition for 21 years. I've seen the fireworks across Lake Mendota in years past but this was the first year I had an unobstructed view at Warner Park on the north side of the lake. I was a guest of Wegner CPAs. Because of the cloud cover, the smoke from the fireworks didn't dissipate very quickly. By the end of the 30-minute display, the area looked like it was covered in a thick fog.

Ground action.

Some of the "booms" in the foggy finale.

Our greatest happiness does not depend on the condition of life in which chance has placed us, but is always the result of a good conscience, good health, occupation and freedom in all just pursuits. ~Thomas Jefferson (author of the Declaration of Independence)