How I Spent My Summer Vacation

Back in grade school, the first assignment of the new school year was always an essay - "How I Spent My Summer Vacation". Filled with fun summer experiences, travel and lots of popsicle treats, this essay was all about filling those lazy summer days. Our "adult summer" was no different - many days filled with family, road trips and food. Let's get going -

First off, we spent late May through July 16 at Eagle Ridge Campground and RV Park in Lake Hallie, Wisconsin. This was close to family living in the Eau Claire area and was our jumping off point for our summer experience. We hadn't spent much time in the Northwoods in many years and were eager to catch up with

traditional summer activities like Friday fish fries, tubing down the river, driving Wisconsin's "Rustic Roads" and watching storm clouds roll in over the farm fields. Even a little golfing made its way into our weekly itinerary.

We wanted to spend some time with my mother who lived in assisted living nearby and, so, everyday meant a short drive to her comfortable apartment to reminisce, share her favorite ice cream flavor (Shipwreck - a mix of vanilla, salted caramel and candied almonds) and look through pictures and other memorabilia that she had on hand. Sometimes, I went with her to bingo or a special presentation in the center but our favorite was Thursday "Happy Hour" at the Classic (her assisted living center) where we listened to a collection of different performers and song-styles along with a glass of wine or beer. My mom LOVED music and she prided herself on knowing over 100 songs (only counts if she could sing the entire first verse!) and we grew up listening to LP's and the radio and enjoy all genre's of music. My computer was helpful when she couldn't quite recall the tune or the singer since we could enter a portion of a lyric and be able to find a YouTube video that we could share together.

Monday's always saw Bill on the golf course with my sister and her husband Jim. Bill golfed only sporadically since moving to Alaska and he certainly hadn't touched a club on a regular basis in many years. However, he took to it like a duck to water and enjoyed many rounds (which always ended in a beer - hey, it was included in the "senior" 9-hole fee!) on Monday mornings.

We used a publication called "Volume One" which was published bi-weekly and contained all of the activities in the area one might want. From music in the park to theatrical performances to the schedule of Ski Sprites Water Ski Show times, this publication was our go-to to decide what not-to-miss events to put on our calendar. It contained reviews of restaurants and public markets, hours for local museums and interesting articles on local politics and neighborhood concerns. If there is a publication like this in your area, check it out - even if you think you know a place, something interesting to do is always out there!

Our campground gave us a brochure on historic places in the Chippewa Valley and we spent one day traveling to see the Holcombe Indian, the site of the Holcombe logging disaster (in 1905). While driving, we ran into (actually drove on) something called the Yellowstone Trail. Similar to Route 66 back in the 60's, the Yellowstone Trail was established in 1912 and connected

Massachusetts to Washington state, following a northern route across the upper midwest through Yellowstone National Park. Part of the Yellowstone Trail is still drivable (well-marked) in northern Wisconsin. Along the way we stopped at Wisconsin's oldest Orthodox church (with distinctive "onion" dome), a winery in Amish country (with a great charcuterie - our favorite type of meal) and one rather "interesting" historic site. This one, a pulpwood stacker, was certainly easy to spot. Standing 175 feet high, this steel structure was used until 1971 to move pieces of lumber into piles which would them be moved down a sluice to the paper mill to be made into paper. This industry was productive here due to the large supply of hardwood trees and the stacker now stands as a memorial to the heritage of northern Wisconsin.

Speaking of heritage, when Bill and I attend the University of Wisconsin-Eau Claire in the early 1970's, we spent a few (many?) happy hours at the Leinenkugel Brewery in Chippewa Falls, Wisconsin. This June, the brewery celebrated the 16th Annual Family Reunion and a good friend of Bill's drove up from Milwaukee for the event. Everyone attending received a free 24 pack of beer, free food and free drink tickets. There was music and even appearances by the Leinenkugel family, owners of the brewery since 1867.

Food played an important part of our summer vacation. Picnics and drive-ins, for sure, but one highlight was a visit to the Birch Point Resort in Bloomer for an all-you-can-eat prime rib buffet. Included was shrimp (both cocktail and scampi-style), chicken, true northern Wisconsin salad bar complete with cottage cheese and canned peaches (don't ask), baked potatoes, cheesy potatoes, french fries (Wisconsinites do love their starches!) and, the star of the show, big slabs of tender prime rib. The cost? Why only $25!

Speaking of old-fashioneds (yes, the uniquely Wisconsin cocktails), we enjoyed sharing our "up north" traditions with Cori & Bryan Olson, their daughter Kelley and their son Tavyn. Along with a stop at Leinie's Lodge for beer and souvenirs and a supper club visit for steak and cocktails, we "cruised" the Chippewa River on a spectacularly beautiful (warm!) day in early July. Cruise as in tubing. We were shuttled from a local watering hole to the entry point on the river where we connected all of our tubes, including the one dedicated to refreshments, and sat back and enjoyed the beautiful float. Two plus hours of drifting, laughing and enjoying the scenery that only northern Wisconsin can provide. Thanks, Olson's, for sharing the day with us !

We loved sitting on the beach watching the local talent at the Ski Sprite's Water Ski Show, filled with towering pyramids and backwards and barefoot water skiing. So much fun. And they sold orange "push-up" ice cream treats. We went to the Parade of Homes, and visited the University of Wisconsin-Eau Claire campus (both Bill and I attended way back when!). We had breakfast at a small diner that we used to visit when in college. We spent the day at the Northern Wisconsin State Fair where we did the Lambeau Leap and had our picture taken with "virtual" Donald Driver. I learned how

to play Mahjong. We went to a semi-pro baseball game. Bill ran a 5k race and celebrated with food truck paninis. We ended our stay with a concert in the park where my sister and I both decided that we needed to "up" our dancing game ...

Finally, we spent time with family who came out for Bill's 65th birthday party. Celebrated at the campground, our niece and her family procured the campsite next to ours and we shared both sites with for the Saturday picnic. My mom's favorite thing in the world is a picnic with family and we were thrilled that she was able to spend a long day with us. We grilled chicken (three ways) and had peanut butter pie and fresh peach crisp for dessert. We played corn hole on the new Packer-themed boards that Bill made and just enjoyed being together. We knew that summer was coming to an end and, while bittersweet, we knew there would be more memories to be made in the future.