Wednesday, July 4, 2018, Madison, WI

Our stay at Ho-Chunk Casino in Baraboo, WI, was as close as we would be to the capital of Wisconsin for a while, so we drove into Madison for the day.

We started out early with the intention of visiting the Olbrich Botanical Gardens before the heat of the day. It opened at 9:00 and it was already muggy. It wasn't very long ago I was wearing jeans and a sweatshirt to be comfortable. The gardens were beautiful with such a variety of color and blooms, so narrowing hundreds of pictures down to a few favorites was not easy.

The guy below serenaded us as we walked along the pathway (or maybe he was telling us we were in his spot, I'm not sure). 

I thought the bloom below looked like a bouquet of flowers inside a flower. The bee was enjoying the warm day and the short commute - the gardens included hives on the grounds.

We crossed Starkweather Creek to reach the Thai Pavilion and Gardens. I was puzzled how there could be so many varieties of plants and flowers in Wisconsin where you would not think the winters could possibly allow them to survive. By the time I saw someone to ask it had slipped my mind, so I remain puzzled.

The pavilion was a gift from the Thai government and the Thai Chapter of the Wisconsin Alumni Association to the University of Wisconsin-Madison.

The pathway below was appropriately named the Birch Walk. I might have sat on a bench for a while and listened to the breeze rustling the leaves, but I was afraid if I stopped moving the mosquitoes would take that as an invitation to dine and they were already aggressive enough.

Joani did not notice she was being watched! Mr. Toad was keeping a wary eye on us as well.

The Alliums were finished blooming, but they seemed the perfect visual for the Fourth of July.

Inside the Bolz Conservatory, we found exotic flowers from around the world. I am absolutely fascinated by orchids, but the Pitcher plant takes the prize.

Pitcher Plant 

Nepenthes “Lieutenant R. B. Pring” Nepenthaceae

This bloom opens at night and is the size of a dinner plate.

Variegated Clerodendrum

Clerodendrum thomsoniae “Variegata” Lamiaceae

Cochliostema

Cochliostema odoratissimum Commelinaceae Ecuador

We probably could have spent all day in the gardens, but we needed to move along. Everything was close in Madison - it was not a really large city - but what I noticed most was how deserted the streets were. Then Joani reminded me it was the Fourth of July and everyone was probably getting ready for picnics and BBQ's.

I just want to start by saying that Wisconsin probably has the nicest capitol building in the US and that is said without having seen even half of them yet. It was their third capitol building (Wisconsin became a state in 1849) and maybe that had some bearing on the scale and grandeur of the building. It is taller than the US Capitol and it has a cruciform design creating fours wings attached to a central rotunda instead of the usual two.

As we entered the capitol, the view below greeted us - no guards or metal detectors, just one of many beautiful entryways spread around the building. We arrived with only a few minutes wait for the next guided tour.

In the rotunda, it was a dizzying 203 feet up to the mural on the ceiling. There were exotic stones, rich woods and 22-carat gold leaf everywhere.

Wisconsin is known as the Badger State. Someone likened early miners to badgers and the name stuck. Around town, Buckys are decorated and on display. I tried and failed to recreate the Bucky pose.

Bucky titled: Sconnie B. Goode 

Artist: Michael Roberts

(Bucky's the one on the right)

Steve, our docent, flooded us with history of the Native Americans in the area, early settlers and the development and growth of the State of Wisconsin. The building included stone from 43 sites around the world.

Ammonoid: North wing, second floor, north hearing room

It would be fun to hunt for all of the known fossils in the capitol's stone.

With 40,000 light bulbs in 10,000 light fixtures, bulbs burn out at a rate of 80 to 100 a day. The Capitol was wired for electricity from the beginning. Skylights throughout the building help bring in natural light.

We were surprised when we found we could access an observation deck above the fourth floor. The higher we climbed the narrower the stairs until the last 11 steps were on a metal spiral staircase.

A little less than half way down from the top of this photo, you see a group of statues ("Strength" Southwest facing W Washington Avenue). You can see the observation deck (just below the statues) that encircles the dome .

Outside, from the observation deck, we were treated to a panoramic view of Madison and the four major lakes that surround the city - Lake Mendota, Lake Monona, Lake Waubesa and Lake Wingra.

Looking north towards Wisconsin Avenue.

Looking east towards East Washington Avenue

There was a group of statuary in each of four directions (carved by Karl Bitter) symbolizing Faith to the southeast, Prosperity and Abundance to the northwest, Strength to the southwest and Knowledge to the northeast.

Faith

Southeast overlooking Martin Luther King Jr. Boulevard

Prosperity and Abundance

Northwest overlooking Wisconsin Avenue

Tuesday, July 3, 2018, Move to Baraboo, WI

We had a short drive today with just a little excitement. Thirty seconds into our drive Joani looked at the map and said, "we missed our turn". We were confused since there had been no turns since we left the campground. She quickly realized she had mapped our route while we were having breakfast out so the starting point was the restaurant a couple miles north of the campground. We pulled over, found a new route to get us back on track and only lost a few minutes in the process. The rest of our 89.5 miles (87,931.9 total) drive to Ho-Chunk Casino in Baraboo, WI, was uneventful.

We arrived early and couldn't check in right away so I couldn't connect to shore power. That meant no A/C and it was starting to get warm. One of the maintenance guys stopped by to compliment us on our parking coordination - he thought we had it really figured out (five and a half years of practice has certainly helped). He also unlocked the post so we could connect our power and start cooling the coach without waiting for check-in. That was quite fortuitous since the desk that told us to come back at noon told us at 12:05 to come back at 1:30. We would have melted with no A/C by then.

This casino was the most up-scale facility we have seen since we were in Las Vegas! The lobby had a huge waterfall diorama complete with an eagle in flight clutching a salmon in the painted sky overhead.

The campground was also extremely up-scale. Large sites, plenty of lush grass and a laundry and shower facility that might set the standard for all others to be measured against. As guests in the campground, we were given a key to the pool and exercise areas. I did take advantage of the whirlpool. I could just say it was big, but I will add that the maximum capacity was 51 persons. I don't think I have ever been in a spa that would hold 51 people - it was nice.

If this had been a regular campground, it probably would have cost $50 a night. The casino made it a tempting deal at just $26.50 plus tax. That's a little pricey compared to most casinos, but then most casinos do not provide this level of luxury. We were ready for a little luxury! Like many casinos, when we signed up for players cards they gave us some free play cash ($10/each). We played their $20 in the slots and walked out with $7.56 - good thing we didn't start with our money.

Monday, July 2, 2018, Experimental Aircraft Association, Oshkosh, WI

It was time to say goodbye to Wisconsin's Door County as we made our way to Oshkosh, WI, a short 139.9 miles (87,842.4 total). Like the UP in Michigan, we were sure this drive would be enhanced by the fall color, but then the crowds might be enough to spoil it - I suspect it will be worth the return trip someday.

Oshkosh is famous for two things (that I can remember) - Oshkosh B'gosh kids wear and the Oshkosh Experimental Aircraft Association (EAA) AirVenture fly-in. We were not here for kid's clothes. Joani chose our campground, Osh Vegas Palms Resort, for its proximity to the EAA - about 3 miles.

Hardly a resort, but the perfect location and he accepted Passport America (so, half price).

It was readily apparent the Experimental Aircraft Association (EAA) facility was maintained and operated by volunteers who love their museum. Every display was meticulously restored and spotless. Every hands-on demonstration was operational.

Experimental Aircraft Association Museum participates in the ASTC Travel Passport Program.

The many aircraft were beautiful! Many of them were hand-built from kits.

There were powered hang gliders and gyrocopters, bi-planes and the really wild - Rutan's crazy aircraft that was the first to fly around the world, non-stop, without refueling.

Airship One (or at least a mock-up) was there. A short documentary featuring the pilot who first took it into space and back described the experience. He took along a package of M and M's and released a handful when he achieved free fall (weightlessness) so he could see them floating around.

I had to suit up before taking a flight in one of the F-22's. Wait, that was just a cut out in front of a picture of an F-22. I'm pretty sure I would not have "the right stuff" to fly in one of those things.

There was a wing of the museum devoted to combat aircraft. The P-38 Lightning looked like it was fresh off of the production line ready for action.

There were a lot of WWII nose art recreations along with some history. Sweet Lorraine, below, decorated the boot cowl of a 1942 Stinson AT-19. When it was returned after the war the remnants of the painting were noticed and preserved.  With a little imagination, you can see Lorraine on the original metalwork and in the replica beneath it.

Another of my favorites was Surprise Attack inspired by Gil Elvgren's pin-up entitled Double Exposure (the original pin-up included a mirror behind her).

There were 37 different pieces of nose art on display, each well documented with its history and inspiration.  This was my favorite exhibit, it was fascinating!

Outside, a shuttle took us over to historic hangers filled with even more aircraft. The airplane, in the lower-left corner below, was limited to pilots shorter than the white sign at the lower right, about 3 feet, so I was excluded from the experience.

In one hanger, the museum had a replica of Lindbergh's Spirit of St. Louis. Personally, I think he was crazy crossing the Atlantic Ocean in that thing with no more instrumentation than he had at the time.

For a modest fee (I believe it was $75) you can take a ride in an authentic biplane. I might have to consider that the next time we visit.

Sunday, July 1, 2018, Ephraim, Door County

Today we headed south from Hy-Land RV Campground to explore more of Door County, WI. We were told Ephraim was the most happening little burg along Highway 42. What we found was not happening by any stretch of the imagination, but then it was early on a Sunday and most everything was opening later.

The Hardy Gallery building was a work of art in itself. The siding was covered with graffiti commemorating dockside visitors from days gone by. Quite a few of the buildings were on the National Register of Historic Places because of their significance in the early settlement of the area.

We encountered several folks looking for the names they placed on the building as youngsters or newlyweds many years ago.

Oh, so close!

Caught Sam in mid-lick (that is the underside of his tongue)

A gaggle of geese sailed by and I just barely noticed the 10 or 11 babies leading the pack. Another group behind them probably put the total count around 30 or so. They were on their way to make a nasty mess somewhere.

The pottery shop below had some of the most interesting glazes. A lot of chemistry goes into the magic of firing and finishing clay. If we had the room, we might have brought home a unique souvenir.

Wilson's missed their chance to feed us when they refused to let Sam sit with us outdoors on the deck. I'm sure it would have been good, but they just didn't understand Sam is people too and we couldn't leave him behind.