"Happy"?

After spending several hours "touring" in Mitchell ... we departed for Chamberlain SD to camp that night. The appeal to that night's campground was the "full hook-ups, bath house and full laundry facilities" listing. Happy Campers Campground had recently added fifteen new full hook-up pads ... which was our choice that night. New area was pretty much out in the open, no new plantings, etc., but having the luxury of full hook-ups offset the surroundings. It had become very windy and had begun to look stormy ... but we stayed toasty warm in our "humble" abode.

The next morning Larry whipped up a "breakfast skillet" (minus the skillet) for each of us using the rest of our eggs, potatoes, sausage ... yummy ...

The "Corn Palace"

 

When Larry retired "the last time" he received a gift of a book - America's Roadside Attractions. It's become as important as the atlas when packing up a vehicle for a road trip. As we progressed through this trip we referred to it for important stuff we needed to see along the way. We discovered the Corn Palace in Mitchell SD! So ... into Mitchell we went ... lucky us they had designated parking for RV's and campers!

My first and only previous visit was with my mother when the girls were very young, I don't think Melissa had even started school yet! (that's a "couple" of years ago!)

I don't believe that on my previous visit that we went into gym area or if there was even a gym. But this was way cool ... gym with a stage! Good use of space ...

 

I loved the corn murals on the walls. I think that this area was just a big open area when I last visited?

There was a looping video being shown in concourse/gift shop/food court area that explained how corn was planted, selected and adhered to wall. Most interesting...don't think it will be anything I will try anytime soon. As we left building heading back to vehicle we noticed bins outside where sorting and cutting (with a table saw) was happening. They are always replacing corn that refuses to stay adhered to the building. Talk about job security!



Onward ...

We camped two nights at Derge Park. Rain was in the forecast for the following day. We prepared, we put everything away, anticipating a wet departure the next morning. In hindsight we should have also hooked up to pickup! Wisconsin forecasters were correct ... it began raining around midnight. Not a downpour but a steady patter on the roof ... nice sleeping weather! We awoke to a misty overcast morning - weather report was that it would be an off and on occurrence rest of day. We had a leisurely breakfast, cleaned up and prepared for our departure.

Our plan for the day was to head out, going northeast and heading into Minnesota on I-90. For a Sunday morning traffic was very heavy and it continued to rain most of the morning. As we passed the Wisconsin Dells exits I remembered attending the "Tommy Bartlett Show" as a child. The area now is a lot like Branson ... very commercial and catering to tourists. The sisters and I did the "drive-thru" tourist-y thing in 2008 -- before a storm drained the lake that Bartlett preformed on. I guess every region has their "to go" place.

Our stop for the night was Albert Lea, MN, Myre-Big Island State Park campground. It as a beautiful park and very well maintained.

 Lake Albert Lea - saw flock of pelicans

Tree Canopy

Infamous Cicada

Our Campsite (site next to us was vacating)

 

After setting up camp the campground host stopped by to welcome us and to offer us firewood. Seems as though all parks are asking that firewood not be brought in because of bug infestation. An interesting gentleman ... obviously retired and very chatty! We learned that the this portion of the lake was only about four feet deep, no boating, but had very good fishing!

 

This was a very good park to stay at. Very peaceful and "facilities" were small, but clean.

 

 



 

Beaver Dam Lake

No, this isn't the Hoover Dam ...

it's the Beaver Dam dam!

Fish amongst the rocks at the flood gate ...

 (dark shadows ... ripples in water made by fish)

View from the dam looking toward the "swimming beach"

(in center along shoreline)

Williams Free Library ...

The most beautiful building in Beaver Dam! This is the original home of the city library. For whatever reason it was "retired" and a new "more modern" facility was built. It now houses the county historical society.

 

I remember my grandmother taking me to the library. We would spend h-o-u-r-s perusing the shelves looking for reading materials. I remember the smells, the dark woodwork, the tables and chairs, the staircase, and all those shelves full of books!

 

What a wonderful way to spend an afternoon ... checking out 4-5 books ... head home ... and cozying up with a good book!

Schultz Cheese Haus - Beaver Dam WI

There's sausage and then there's Wisconsin sausage. Being the "dairy state" where else would you purchase cheese, but in Wisconsin! The best place ever to find either of them is at Schultz's Cheese Haus on Hwy. 151 southwest of Beaver Dam. We never ever go to Wisconsin and not make a stop there! This trip we bought a garlic beef sausage and three different types of cheeses - Ghost Habanero, mild cheddar and an apple flavored cheese - AND a bottle of wine (a sweet grape flavor). A box of crackers and our evening meal was in hand!

"Pyramid Club"

This interesting landmark is a former popular "night spot" outside of Beaver Dam WI established in the mid 60's. It was the go to place for the "privileged". That was probably it's downfall. Beaver Dam at that time was a small town of about 10,000 with many of the residents working in the factories ... Green Giant, Monarch Range, or running a dairy farm, etc. Blue collar jobs ... folks that could not realistically afford to go to the "supper club"!

It opened with great fanfare ... those that were members were ecstatic ... those who were not were wondering what a pyramid was doing in the middle of dairy country? As with any new obscure venture, it failed. Ownership changed and it opened to the public and survived for a few years. But then, the economy took a dump ... many owners later and here it sits. Over the years the second floor was converted to owner quarters ... ground level sits empty ... and there is a very faded worn realtor "for sale" yard at highway entrance.

Kind of sad to see ... but you do have to wonder why a "Pyramid"?