My first 'Mom' visit to Platteville

Today I drove across the state with Matthew to visit Cassie. I was fortified with gifts of cookies, mugs, t-shirts, pastries and chocolate from our trip to the UP and my kitchen. It was everything a helicopter mom needs to take on an inspection visit. I even provided cookies to Dave and Matthew along with a 21st birthday 4 pack of birch beer (soda) for Dave. :)
We went out for brunch and then went to worship at the local United Methodist church. This day the church was celebrating it's 175th anniversary, YES!!! 175 years in Platteville. The Bishop was even there to give the message. This was quite a celebration.
The pic above is of me with Dave. He was an intern this Summer at work specializing in computer software applications and now is back in school for another 2 years. He is renting the house behind us with a few of his friends. [The land lord has been painting the house and had just finished the blue. It looks like he will get it done by Winter.]
The pics below are of happy happy Cassie and Matthew, in her dorm room and in front of her dorm building.

The yearly bush trimming

Last year at this time a car was pushed into the other side of the Spirea. I trimmed out @ 1/2 of it. This year 's car aimed at the other side of the bush. It took out a stop sign. This just happened about an hour ago. I am not sure how each of the two cars ended up where they are. Soooo next year it may be the other side of the bush, or the fire hydrant.

25 years road trip VIII

This is the only posting I have of the Lake Michigan side of the U.P. This is Menomonie, Michigan. During the days Wisconsin outlawed yellow coloring in margarine people would head for the border to buy it by the case. My Grandmother would head for Marinette/Menomonie or would place an order with whoever she heard was going there.

I found my way to the marina and took an hour to enjoy the crisp Autumn weather. Unlike Munising Bay Menomonie is a man made shelter from the open water of Lake Michigan. This structure allowed me to view the marina from a number of sides.

Click on this picture to see the boat pulling out of the marina. It was choppy.
This is a view to the South. The beach allows swimming at your own risk. The day was September 10, 2007. It rained from Green Bay South that day. See the clouds in the distance?

25 years road trip VII

There are back roads to hiking paths in the Pictured Rocks National Forest. They are not wheel chair accessible. They cannot be driven had highway speeds and expect to keep your support system in tact. They are worth the hike. SLOWLY is a good way to hike. The trails have wooden bridges over the swampiest parts, sometimes. Most of the paths are a combination of roots, leaves, sand and pine needles. The mileage seems to be as the crow flies. 1.3 miles is from my front door to Greenfield Park on paved sidewalks. The 1.3 miles in the National park did not include the 45 degree hills and the zig zag paths up and down the hills. The photos do not do justice to the changing elevations on the hikes.
Larry is puddle hopping above the Mosquito Falls on Mosquito River.
Mosquito River Falls.
This is how we got to Mosquito Falls on the Mosquito River. It was a cool day that allowed me to wear long sleeves. Otherwise I may have also had an opportunity to have a first hand experience with the Mosquito River's namesake.
As with the lake tour, these colors are true to the day.

25 years road trip VI

The waterfall is called bridal veil falls. Notice the clouds. A front came through on the later part of the tour with clouds and the cooler weather expected in the Fall. The rest of the pics, except Larry's intrigue with the wake of the boat are of the sunset. It was cold and beautiful.

25 years road trip V

25 years road trip IV

Munising bay is protected by Grand Island. This is located in the middle of the bay. It is what keeps the bay one of the safest on Lake Superior. Above is a light house. It is maintained by people who have Summer homes on the Island. One of the light house workers lived there with his family of 12 children.
Pictured Rocks is a National park of ~ 12 1/2 miles long. From the harbor you see a tree lined ridge. You have to get onto the lake to see the cliffs.
The bedrock is colored by the minerals that seep through with the water escaping the water table of the surrounding land. It is higher than the lake. Black is formed by the manganese and tannin of the forest. The green/tourquoise is from the copper. The white is from Calcium. The reds are from the iron deposits.


Some of the areas were deep enough for the boat to go right up to the cliff. In one area we went into a tight alcove that rose above the top deck of the boat. Some areas the water was only 2 feet deep next to the cliffs.