From Belvidere to Chippewa Falls, Wisconsin - 9/18 to 9/24

From Belvidere we traveled to Mequon, WI for a two-night visit at the home of friends who formerly owned a GMC motorhome. Oddly, this was our second time there this year. Though Marlys was away for a reunion we got to visit with Jim at their river-front cabin.

While in Mequon, we drove to the Wisconsin campus of Concordia University.

The campus sits high above a bluff overlooking the western shores of Lake Michigan.

The Garmin’s live along the Milwaukee River. This photo of a blue heron

was taken one sunny afternoon. The bird is in the very center

where he seems to be disguised among the garden sculptures.

Not far from Mequon is the Village of Menomonee Falls. It is

north and west of downtown Milwaukee. This is the view of the

city park bordering the river.

The actual falls of Menomonee Falls have been altered by the

dam which has been refurbished in recent years. It provides a

central focus to the park which is open to the public.

On Sunday morning we attended the worship service of a Methodist church which is meeting in a relatively new sanctuary. The service was a “blended” service featuring a small choir, a small vocal ensemble, a pianist, and a percussionist. The service music included some familiar hymns as well as some newer songs that are now referred to as “praise songs.”

Later in the afternoon we traveled on to the Wisconsin Dells area after watching a good bit of a Green Bay Packers game. (When in Rome, do as the Romans.)

Our campground of choice in the Dells was a Resort Parks International campground called Arrowhead Resort. It sits off the main road by a good bit though it is just south of the Wisconsin Dells Speedway.

If you’re not aware, Wisconsin Dells is a city in south-central Wisconsin, with a population of 2,500 or so. It does remind us of a water-themed Gatlinburg except that it covers a greater land mass with more hotels that one would care to count. Therefore, it is a Midwestern tourist destination (which translates to lots of places willing to take your money). The city takes its name from the dells of the Wisconsin River, a scenic, glacially formed gorge that features contrasting sandstone formations along the banks of the Wisconsin River. Together with nearby Lake Delton, the city forms an area known as “the Dells.” The Dells area has an estimated five million annual visitors. That explains the reasons for the many hotels.

The Dells area has many indoor and outdoor watermarks and proclaims itself as the Waterpark Capital of the World. There are other attractions including a Ripley’s Believe It or Not museum. (No tourist trap is complete without a Ripley’s). One of the eating establishments features a G gauge train that delivers your order to the end of your table. Two, separate rail lines are set up in one of the dining rooms for this purpose.

Martha picks up her sandwich order from one of the rail cars. By looking closely

one of the diesel locomotives can be seen to the left of her tray.

Since we were in Wisconsin we did get to purchase some Wisconsin cheese from a cheese shop. Since it was September the number of visitors in the vicinity were relatively few so service at any facility was prompt.

The prettiest, natural thing we saw while staying at Arrowhead Resort

was this maple tree in the midst of other conifers. A farm wagon

was stored just in front.

The next stop on our trip was Chippewa Falls in the northwester portion of Wisconsin. We were on our way to the fall convention of GMC Motorhomes International, a motorhome club of owners or former owners of the classic GMC recreational vehicle built between 1973 and 1978. One of the things Byron does for the organization is to supply their theme graphic for the convention. The next blog will pick up where this one leaves off; at the GMCMI Oktoberfest.