Tonight I made the meal I created at Dinner by Design a few weeks back. It was beef marinated in Oriental spices and seasonings, beef broth and orange juice. All I had to do was drain the beef from the marinade and saute it. Once it was cooked I just added the rest of the marinate that was in the packet and a ziploc bag full of noodles and peas. The mixture had to simmer until cooked thoroughly. The entire process took just under 25 minutes. And it was really good.
Even so I don't think I will go back for the following reasons:
1. I like to cook.
2. I have most ingredients on hand so that is not an issue.
3. Paying $200 for 12 meals doesn't sound like a great deal.
4. Their menu selections aren't all appealing so I would struggle to make 12 entrees.
I do think this would be a good idea for people who don't cook but it's just not for me.
TEN FIRSTS
1. First Best Friend: Rosemarie Torre who is still a good friend today.
2. First Pet: Blacky, a mutt. Guess what color he was?
3. First Piercing: Ears. I went with my cousin who got hers pierced, I was just supposed to be along for the ride because I was only 10 years old.
4. First high school crush: Craig Vattendahl and he went to South Milwaukee High!
5. First CD: Phil Collins
6. First Car: 1973 Ford Pinto. The ones that blew up if you hit the gas tank.
7. First Love: Craig Vattendahl (puppy love).
8. First Stuffed Animal: Can't remember.
9. First Concert: Elvis Presley - does it get any better than that!
10. First Time Drunk: I don't remember, I must have been too drunk.
NINE LASTS
1. Last Beverage: Coffee.
2. Last Vehicle Ride: Driving in my Santa Fe to work this morning.
3. Last Movie Seen: Beerfest.
4. Last Phone Call: Called Jeff to make sure he has December 9th free.
5. Last CD Played: My homemade pop CD.
6. Last Bubble Bath: May 31, 2004 in a hotel in Niagara falls.
7. Last Time You Cried: This morning in the fitness center.
8. Last Kiss: Last night.
9. Last Concert attended: Pat McCurdy
EIGHT HAVE YOU EVERS
1. Have you ever dated one of your best friends? Nope.
2. Have you ever been arrested: Nope.
3. Have you ever skinny dipped: Yes.
4. Have you ever been on TV: Yes, a few times, somehow the Packers are always involved.
5. Have you ever kissed someone and regretted it: Never.
6. Have you ever had a sex dream about someone you know: Absolutely.
7. Have you ever been sent to the emergency room: Yes, after a car accident.
8. Have you ever been in a fist fight: Yes.
SEVEN THINGS YOU'RE WEARING
1. Black and blue striped blouse.
2. Black skirt.
3. Black tights.
4. Black shoes.
5. Black bra.
6. Silver earrings.
7. My glasses.
SIX THINGS YOU'VE DONE TODAY
1. Cuddled with my kitty.
2. Ran 3 miles.
3. Paid for our December 9th bus trip to Chicago.
4. Called Jeff.
5. Told BJ I would join his fantasy football pool.
6. Edited a newsletter.
FIVE FAVORITE THINGS IN NO ORDER
1. Coffee
2. Summer
3. Flowers
4. My iPod
5. Quilts
FOUR PEOPLE YOU CAN TELL ANYTHING TO
1. Jeff
2. Jeff
3. Jeff
4. Kate (my therapist)
THREE CHOICES
1. Do lunch with friends or go to a meeting. Lunch.
2. Walk to Milwaukee Public Market or Borders at lunchtime. The Market.
3. Water or Diet Coke. Water.
TWO THINGS YOU WANT TO DO BEFORE YOU DIE
1. Run a marathon.
2. See Europe.
ONE THING YOU REGRET
1. 2002
1. First Best Friend: Rosemarie Torre who is still a good friend today.
2. First Pet: Blacky, a mutt. Guess what color he was?
3. First Piercing: Ears. I went with my cousin who got hers pierced, I was just supposed to be along for the ride because I was only 10 years old.
4. First high school crush: Craig Vattendahl and he went to South Milwaukee High!
5. First CD: Phil Collins
6. First Car: 1973 Ford Pinto. The ones that blew up if you hit the gas tank.
7. First Love: Craig Vattendahl (puppy love).
8. First Stuffed Animal: Can't remember.
9. First Concert: Elvis Presley - does it get any better than that!
10. First Time Drunk: I don't remember, I must have been too drunk.
NINE LASTS
1. Last Beverage: Coffee.
2. Last Vehicle Ride: Driving in my Santa Fe to work this morning.
3. Last Movie Seen: Beerfest.
4. Last Phone Call: Called Jeff to make sure he has December 9th free.
5. Last CD Played: My homemade pop CD.
6. Last Bubble Bath: May 31, 2004 in a hotel in Niagara falls.
7. Last Time You Cried: This morning in the fitness center.
8. Last Kiss: Last night.
9. Last Concert attended: Pat McCurdy
EIGHT HAVE YOU EVERS
1. Have you ever dated one of your best friends? Nope.
2. Have you ever been arrested: Nope.
3. Have you ever skinny dipped: Yes.
4. Have you ever been on TV: Yes, a few times, somehow the Packers are always involved.
5. Have you ever kissed someone and regretted it: Never.
6. Have you ever had a sex dream about someone you know: Absolutely.
7. Have you ever been sent to the emergency room: Yes, after a car accident.
8. Have you ever been in a fist fight: Yes.
SEVEN THINGS YOU'RE WEARING
1. Black and blue striped blouse.
2. Black skirt.
3. Black tights.
4. Black shoes.
5. Black bra.
6. Silver earrings.
7. My glasses.
SIX THINGS YOU'VE DONE TODAY
1. Cuddled with my kitty.
2. Ran 3 miles.
3. Paid for our December 9th bus trip to Chicago.
4. Called Jeff.
5. Told BJ I would join his fantasy football pool.
6. Edited a newsletter.
FIVE FAVORITE THINGS IN NO ORDER
1. Coffee
2. Summer
3. Flowers
4. My iPod
5. Quilts
FOUR PEOPLE YOU CAN TELL ANYTHING TO
1. Jeff
2. Jeff
3. Jeff
4. Kate (my therapist)
THREE CHOICES
1. Do lunch with friends or go to a meeting. Lunch.
2. Walk to Milwaukee Public Market or Borders at lunchtime. The Market.
3. Water or Diet Coke. Water.
TWO THINGS YOU WANT TO DO BEFORE YOU DIE
1. Run a marathon.
2. See Europe.
ONE THING YOU REGRET
1. 2002
My friend Chad sends me a link to this website www.berbee.com and says check out this job I just interviewed for. So I click on the link and it's a company that handles hardware, software, networking services, and support services to other companies. It's just like my company! Oh shit...I'm gonna get fired for looking this up!
He really wanted my input and I told him since he's an IT guy working at a bank he would be better off being an IT guy working for an IT company. Since I knew something about the environment I told him the energy, company philosophy, and the availability of great computer knowledge would inspire him. He would be a techy geek living in a whole world of others like himself. And there's nothing like the common bond of a community of people who share the same passion for techydom as we do. Unlike being the square peg fitting into the banker's circle.
So hopefully he will get the fulfillment he is looking for in this new adventure because if management finds out I visited this link, I might need him to get me a job!
He really wanted my input and I told him since he's an IT guy working at a bank he would be better off being an IT guy working for an IT company. Since I knew something about the environment I told him the energy, company philosophy, and the availability of great computer knowledge would inspire him. He would be a techy geek living in a whole world of others like himself. And there's nothing like the common bond of a community of people who share the same passion for techydom as we do. Unlike being the square peg fitting into the banker's circle.
So hopefully he will get the fulfillment he is looking for in this new adventure because if management finds out I visited this link, I might need him to get me a job!
I got a coupon in one of those valpak things for this place. I had never heard of it before but apparently it's been around and one was opening in Oak Creek in the strip mall less than 2 miles from my house. I went to the Dinner by Design website to figure out what this place was all about. The coupon I had talked about preparing meals ahead of time so they are convenient for you when you need them. The money off was big dollars for your choice of 6 or 12 meals so I assumed it was expensive and time consuming. According to the website you got 12 meals for around $200.
The concept is pretty cool, make an appointment, pick your menu and start your food prep. Label the entrees, take them home and freeze them until you are ready to cook. They generally take half an hour to prepare making it convenient to have around. The website mentioned that the Oak Creek location had an open house where you don't need an appointment and you don't need to buy the 6 or 12 meals listed in the coupon so I thought I would check it out.
I walked in and found a clean and tidy foyer with lots of pamphlets around. There was a woman with short, white hair at a desk helping two women fill out paperwork and pay for their entrees. I stood there for a few minutes when she said to the two women, "I'll be right back, I have to get someone from the back to come out here." She filed past all three of us without another word. (I thought it would have been nice if she would have addressed me and just said that she would be with me in a minute. A little acknowledgement goes a long way, but she didn't.)
In the meantime, a group of three women came in behind me. So now there were six of us standing in the foyer. While waiting, I took a look at the rest of the building. Beyond the entrance where we were standing were stainless steel preparation carts. There were three in a row, back to back with another three on the other side and one on the end, completing a totally walk-around kitchen with many stations to make the different entrees. The walls had stainless steel racks that held storage containers and plastic bags, measuring utensils and bowls, ingredients and mixers for making desserts. The back corners had sinks on either side for the customers to wash their hands and aprons hanging next to the sinks for your use.
A clerk came over from the back room (I'm assuming there are refrigerators full of cold ingredients back there) and addressed the group of three women who came in behind me. She instructed them to fill out the forms she was handing out attached to clipboards. By the time she gave out the second of the three of them, I voiced my opinion. I said in an irritated tone, "Is there someone here who could help me since I was here first?" Just before she went to hand the third clipboard to the third woman, she swiftly turned and handed it to me, as if she planned that stating, "I'm including all of you." (Yeah right, if that were truly the case she would have had 4 clipboards in her hand instead of three.)
Now I felt bad because the third woman in the group who got the afterthought fourth clipboard says, "That's OK, you can come with us." I said, "I can't get waited on in bars either so I should be used to being ignored." They laughed, the clerk said, "No one will be ignored here." At that point she proceeded to send me to wash my hands, pointed in the direction of the sink, and instructed me to put on an apron and she would be right with me. I dutifully went to the sink while she gave out instructions or apologies for my behavior to the group of ladies while I washed. I then stood there waiting while she catered to the group's needs. (I suppose a group of three will bring more profits than just me so I have no real worth here - at least it feels that way.)
The clerk was truly a nice person and she did help. She showed me where the take-home containers were and where the labels with cooking instructions were, directed me towards the whisks, bowls and measuring tools, and told me to take my time picking out the entree I wanted to make. I had already chosen a beef-noodle dish so I was ready to start. She pointed out the workstation where that particular recipe and ingredients were. There is a list of instructions above the ingredients. The first thing to do was to get the bowl, whisk, measuring tools, and containers listed. Then it was time to get prepping. I started down the list of ingredients and discovered some were missing. The clerk rushed in the back and brought more. (I don't understand why this wouldn't be checked out when cleaning up the dirty dishes after the previous customer's preparation time was completed.) I mixed up the marinade, poured a portion of it in the pre-measured container of beef, closed the container, picked up a bag of the pre-made noodles and peas that complete the entree and got a stick-on label for the entire package.
I decided to walk around the kitchen looking for something else to make. As I moved away from my current station a clerk on the other side knocked over a container of pepper that landed right in front of me. I had to scoot sideways to avoid the barrage of pepper hitting the floor. As she came around to see the damage she seemd annoyed that I was standing in it. (I thought she should have apologized for getting it on me but she didn't.)
Most of the stations were taken as I continued my perusal. I tried to approach a woman to see how many pieces of chicken were in the entree she was making. She was terribly unfriendly and annoyed. (This is getting to be a barrel of fun.) Another station that interested me was occupied by a 12 year old who was clueless and whiney, not to mention impolite and inexperienced in the concepts of food preparation combined with cleanliness. (Between sticking her fingers in everything and her baby fat hanging over the worktable - it was not a pretty scene.) That clinched it, I'm getting out of here. So I took off my apron, washed my hands again, grabbed my entree and purse and headed to the front desk to pay and go. I realized as I was walking by, there was a hamper for dirty aprons. No one explained it, so I missed that. I honestly thought about going back and taking the apron off the hook and throw it in the hamper but I didn't remember which one it was anymore. So it would be futile.
I paid for my entree and headed out. I have mixed emotions about coming back, I won't be sure until I actually cook the concoction I took home. But if I had to decide today, I'm certain I won't be returning anytime soon.
The concept is pretty cool, make an appointment, pick your menu and start your food prep. Label the entrees, take them home and freeze them until you are ready to cook. They generally take half an hour to prepare making it convenient to have around. The website mentioned that the Oak Creek location had an open house where you don't need an appointment and you don't need to buy the 6 or 12 meals listed in the coupon so I thought I would check it out.
I walked in and found a clean and tidy foyer with lots of pamphlets around. There was a woman with short, white hair at a desk helping two women fill out paperwork and pay for their entrees. I stood there for a few minutes when she said to the two women, "I'll be right back, I have to get someone from the back to come out here." She filed past all three of us without another word. (I thought it would have been nice if she would have addressed me and just said that she would be with me in a minute. A little acknowledgement goes a long way, but she didn't.)
In the meantime, a group of three women came in behind me. So now there were six of us standing in the foyer. While waiting, I took a look at the rest of the building. Beyond the entrance where we were standing were stainless steel preparation carts. There were three in a row, back to back with another three on the other side and one on the end, completing a totally walk-around kitchen with many stations to make the different entrees. The walls had stainless steel racks that held storage containers and plastic bags, measuring utensils and bowls, ingredients and mixers for making desserts. The back corners had sinks on either side for the customers to wash their hands and aprons hanging next to the sinks for your use.
A clerk came over from the back room (I'm assuming there are refrigerators full of cold ingredients back there) and addressed the group of three women who came in behind me. She instructed them to fill out the forms she was handing out attached to clipboards. By the time she gave out the second of the three of them, I voiced my opinion. I said in an irritated tone, "Is there someone here who could help me since I was here first?" Just before she went to hand the third clipboard to the third woman, she swiftly turned and handed it to me, as if she planned that stating, "I'm including all of you." (Yeah right, if that were truly the case she would have had 4 clipboards in her hand instead of three.)
Now I felt bad because the third woman in the group who got the afterthought fourth clipboard says, "That's OK, you can come with us." I said, "I can't get waited on in bars either so I should be used to being ignored." They laughed, the clerk said, "No one will be ignored here." At that point she proceeded to send me to wash my hands, pointed in the direction of the sink, and instructed me to put on an apron and she would be right with me. I dutifully went to the sink while she gave out instructions or apologies for my behavior to the group of ladies while I washed. I then stood there waiting while she catered to the group's needs. (I suppose a group of three will bring more profits than just me so I have no real worth here - at least it feels that way.)
The clerk was truly a nice person and she did help. She showed me where the take-home containers were and where the labels with cooking instructions were, directed me towards the whisks, bowls and measuring tools, and told me to take my time picking out the entree I wanted to make. I had already chosen a beef-noodle dish so I was ready to start. She pointed out the workstation where that particular recipe and ingredients were. There is a list of instructions above the ingredients. The first thing to do was to get the bowl, whisk, measuring tools, and containers listed. Then it was time to get prepping. I started down the list of ingredients and discovered some were missing. The clerk rushed in the back and brought more. (I don't understand why this wouldn't be checked out when cleaning up the dirty dishes after the previous customer's preparation time was completed.) I mixed up the marinade, poured a portion of it in the pre-measured container of beef, closed the container, picked up a bag of the pre-made noodles and peas that complete the entree and got a stick-on label for the entire package.
I decided to walk around the kitchen looking for something else to make. As I moved away from my current station a clerk on the other side knocked over a container of pepper that landed right in front of me. I had to scoot sideways to avoid the barrage of pepper hitting the floor. As she came around to see the damage she seemd annoyed that I was standing in it. (I thought she should have apologized for getting it on me but she didn't.)
Most of the stations were taken as I continued my perusal. I tried to approach a woman to see how many pieces of chicken were in the entree she was making. She was terribly unfriendly and annoyed. (This is getting to be a barrel of fun.) Another station that interested me was occupied by a 12 year old who was clueless and whiney, not to mention impolite and inexperienced in the concepts of food preparation combined with cleanliness. (Between sticking her fingers in everything and her baby fat hanging over the worktable - it was not a pretty scene.) That clinched it, I'm getting out of here. So I took off my apron, washed my hands again, grabbed my entree and purse and headed to the front desk to pay and go. I realized as I was walking by, there was a hamper for dirty aprons. No one explained it, so I missed that. I honestly thought about going back and taking the apron off the hook and throw it in the hamper but I didn't remember which one it was anymore. So it would be futile.
I paid for my entree and headed out. I have mixed emotions about coming back, I won't be sure until I actually cook the concoction I took home. But if I had to decide today, I'm certain I won't be returning anytime soon.
It's election day and as I go out to vote I am reminded of what is really important. Staying away from the television and reading all the informtion on the voting records and any other information about the candidates, especially statistics. It's hard to lie about statistics or put a spin on them although I do believe that Freakonomics does quite an interesting job of making stats much more interesting than they usually are.
I'm thinking about a race in my area between a Democrat contender, Jeff Plale and the Republican candidate, Dimity Grabowski. Jeff Plale is an interesting mix of liberal conservatism, or what Republicans would call, a hipocrate. Albeit they leave little room to speak.
It’s widely accepted that State Senator Jeff Plale is in a Democratic stronghold. He represents the liberal east side, the socially moderate area of Bay View and the socially conservative areas of Cudahy and South Milwaukee. Plale is a social conservative and his positions on issues such as abortion have more than miffed the liberal east side.
What’s more, Bay View is becoming increasingly affluent and many are calling it “the other east side” as educated white collar workers stake their claim to this blue collar neighborhood. While Milwaukee’s Bay View neighborhood has long been a Democratic stronghold, it has had a strong catholic base and with that base it has been socially conservative. That is changing.
Plale showed strength and courage last year when he stood against TABOR and voted to sustain Governor Jim Doyle’s veto of the GOP led legislature. Although Plale has a predisposition to wanting to please fringe groups like CRG and to occasionally agree with right-wing talk show hosts, many Democrats now know that when it comes down to pushing and shoving, Plale will be with them on some key issues.
Plale has earned admirers for more that just casting a vote to sustain Doyle’s veto — he won admirers for standing up to CRG under intense heat. When it came down to two votes that the GOP needed to override the TABOR vote, Carpenter caved in and sided with the Republicans putting even more pressure on Plale.
Plale stood firm. The override came down to one vote. If Plale caved, local governments in Wisconsin could have faced the crippling financial crisis which gripped TABOR constricted Oklahoma which has consequently suffered from failing schools and crumbling public infrastructure. (taken from Watchdog Milwaukee, December 2005)
Dimity Grabowski has absolutely no credentials for politics. Her Republican asiprations are probably a result from the mega-lottery win her family incurred some years back. Not from the pull yourself up by the bootstraps and take care of your own business stance that most Republicans like to make claim to. Speaking of hipocrates.
So let's take a look at her bio....
SPIN: Dimity Grabowski was born, raised and educated in Sydney, Australia. (OK, not really spin but you get the point.)
REALITY: Not American born but thinks she should be in American politics, who does she think she is, Arnold Schwarzenegger?
SPIN: After her husband Darin received an Honorable Discharge from the U.S. Army, the couple , in 1992 moved to Oak Creek, WI.
REALITY: She wants to play up the veteran thing but it's hard to do since she's not actually a veteran herself so she will hang on to her husband's only decent attribute. In fact, ask her what her husband does for a living.
SPIN: As alderwoman, she has been very active and successful in her promotion of storm water management controls, homeowners' property rights, and balanced budgets, and has strongly supported residential and business growth. Additionally, Dimity's work on behalf of the 27th Street Corridor has been very important to her. A known consensus builder, Dimity has earned substantial support from the business community and her constituents.
REALITY: I bet she has support from the business community, residents didn't want a Target, Ace Hardware, or any of the other new strip malls in their neighborhood but they got them anyway, thanks Dimity. And have you been down 27th Street? The Franklin side is bustling no thanks to Dimity, the Oak Creek alderwoman. The Oak Creek side is as barren as the Iraqi desert.
SPIN: As Alderwoman she formed the Citizens for Happy Holidays Committee.
REALITY: I live in Oak Creek and I've never heard of this. What does it mean?
SPIN: Dimity is a business college graduate and is currently pursuing a certificate in Public Administration at the University of Wisconsin - Milwaukee.
REALITY: What business college? One is Sydney? If she has a degree then say Bachelor's of whatever so I'm guessing she really doesn't have a degree. And pursuing a certificate? Those programs have no tests or grades, you show up to a seminar-like forum and if you stay all day you get your certificate. Big whoop-de-doo.
Anybody know any Marquette University graduates with Bachelor's degrees in something like say....public relations who have some real insight and experience in American politics? Jeff Plale.
SPIN: This information is not the responsibility of Jeff Plale and he has no prior knowledge of it.
REALITY: This is my blog and I can say whatever I want. This is America and I have a right to my opinion and the freedom to say what I want to say so there.
I'm thinking about a race in my area between a Democrat contender, Jeff Plale and the Republican candidate, Dimity Grabowski. Jeff Plale is an interesting mix of liberal conservatism, or what Republicans would call, a hipocrate. Albeit they leave little room to speak.
It’s widely accepted that State Senator Jeff Plale is in a Democratic stronghold. He represents the liberal east side, the socially moderate area of Bay View and the socially conservative areas of Cudahy and South Milwaukee. Plale is a social conservative and his positions on issues such as abortion have more than miffed the liberal east side.
What’s more, Bay View is becoming increasingly affluent and many are calling it “the other east side” as educated white collar workers stake their claim to this blue collar neighborhood. While Milwaukee’s Bay View neighborhood has long been a Democratic stronghold, it has had a strong catholic base and with that base it has been socially conservative. That is changing.
Plale showed strength and courage last year when he stood against TABOR and voted to sustain Governor Jim Doyle’s veto of the GOP led legislature. Although Plale has a predisposition to wanting to please fringe groups like CRG and to occasionally agree with right-wing talk show hosts, many Democrats now know that when it comes down to pushing and shoving, Plale will be with them on some key issues.
Plale has earned admirers for more that just casting a vote to sustain Doyle’s veto — he won admirers for standing up to CRG under intense heat. When it came down to two votes that the GOP needed to override the TABOR vote, Carpenter caved in and sided with the Republicans putting even more pressure on Plale.
Plale stood firm. The override came down to one vote. If Plale caved, local governments in Wisconsin could have faced the crippling financial crisis which gripped TABOR constricted Oklahoma which has consequently suffered from failing schools and crumbling public infrastructure. (taken from Watchdog Milwaukee, December 2005)
Dimity Grabowski has absolutely no credentials for politics. Her Republican asiprations are probably a result from the mega-lottery win her family incurred some years back. Not from the pull yourself up by the bootstraps and take care of your own business stance that most Republicans like to make claim to. Speaking of hipocrates.
So let's take a look at her bio....
SPIN: Dimity Grabowski was born, raised and educated in Sydney, Australia. (OK, not really spin but you get the point.)
REALITY: Not American born but thinks she should be in American politics, who does she think she is, Arnold Schwarzenegger?
SPIN: After her husband Darin received an Honorable Discharge from the U.S. Army, the couple , in 1992 moved to Oak Creek, WI.
REALITY: She wants to play up the veteran thing but it's hard to do since she's not actually a veteran herself so she will hang on to her husband's only decent attribute. In fact, ask her what her husband does for a living.
SPIN: As alderwoman, she has been very active and successful in her promotion of storm water management controls, homeowners' property rights, and balanced budgets, and has strongly supported residential and business growth. Additionally, Dimity's work on behalf of the 27th Street Corridor has been very important to her. A known consensus builder, Dimity has earned substantial support from the business community and her constituents.
REALITY: I bet she has support from the business community, residents didn't want a Target, Ace Hardware, or any of the other new strip malls in their neighborhood but they got them anyway, thanks Dimity. And have you been down 27th Street? The Franklin side is bustling no thanks to Dimity, the Oak Creek alderwoman. The Oak Creek side is as barren as the Iraqi desert.
SPIN: As Alderwoman she formed the Citizens for Happy Holidays Committee.
REALITY: I live in Oak Creek and I've never heard of this. What does it mean?
SPIN: Dimity is a business college graduate and is currently pursuing a certificate in Public Administration at the University of Wisconsin - Milwaukee.
REALITY: What business college? One is Sydney? If she has a degree then say Bachelor's of whatever so I'm guessing she really doesn't have a degree. And pursuing a certificate? Those programs have no tests or grades, you show up to a seminar-like forum and if you stay all day you get your certificate. Big whoop-de-doo.
Anybody know any Marquette University graduates with Bachelor's degrees in something like say....public relations who have some real insight and experience in American politics? Jeff Plale.
SPIN: This information is not the responsibility of Jeff Plale and he has no prior knowledge of it.
REALITY: This is my blog and I can say whatever I want. This is America and I have a right to my opinion and the freedom to say what I want to say so there.
I remember exactly where I was. I wasn't working at the time, but I kept a very strict routine so I didn't waste my days away. Get up and get Jeff off to work in the morning, go for a run, make a pot of coffee, get ready for classes. I attended MATC at the time through a program offered by the Wisconsin Department of Unemployment Compensation. I got to attend classes full time free of charge while drawing unemployment compensation, I felt like I won the lottery.
It was a Tuesday so I had my visual basic class that was held at 11. I had plenty of time to get some housework done and putz around if I so chose. It was 8:50 when Jeff called. He knew I never watched television and he told me to turn on MSNBC because something bad had just happened. He said a plane accidentally hit the World Trade Center in New York City. As we chatted I turned the TV on to see the gaping black hole in the side of the building, smoke billowing out as the news reporters speculated on what happened. Since this occurred minutes earlier, it was too soon to really know what happened.
All of a sudden you could hear the sound of another plane. It was a familiar sound of rapid decent. Since I've lived by Mitchell Airport my entire life I know that sound. Airplane noise is so familiar I don't really hear it sometimes but on the television I recognized it. The cameraman filming the burning building caught it live, a second plane crashed into the other Trade Center tower. I instantly dropped to my knees. I don't know if it was the gravity of what just took place, the fact that it was live and I saw it happen, the knowledge that this was obviously not a tragic accident, or maybe all these things felt like a sucker punch.
I was glued to the television. Sometime during the series of events I hung up from my call with Jeff but I have no recollection of when. I tried to shake it off and recover from what I just witnessed but I knew it would be with me forever. As the newscasters became increasingly emotional, describing the devastation and destruction, things got even worse. The tower came crashing down. The impact and the flames pushed it to the breaking point and it crumbled into rubble in an instant. All on live television. People were running, including the cameraman filming the event. It looked like the city had turned into a wild west dust town within moments. Even though I couldn't turn it off, I had to walk away from the TV.
I set my mind on the 11:00 class. I packed up my book bag and headed out the door. Sitting in class was unsettling. Instead of the usual chit-chat that goes on before the class starts, everyone was silent. The instructor walked in, everyone faced him and he said, "I've never had to stand in front of a class and teach on the day that my country is attacked. I don't know what to say."
So we engaged in conversation about it for the first half-hour of class. After that he announced that it's time to get back to business so we don't get behind. I was thinking good call. I need to move this to the back of my brain since I was already suffering from emotional exhaustion.
That afternoon I headed to my church. They were having their semi-annual blood drive and I always try to donate. The blood drive started at 2 and ended at 7. I thought I would go early before the after-work rush. It was a little after 2 when I got there and the place was crazy. They usually get 30-40 pints within their allotted 5-hour time period and today there were probably more people than that waiting to donate already. Carole, the blood drive coordinator was already starting to panic. With the volume of people already coming, she knew she was going to be extremely busy.
I waited 45 minutes for my turn. During that time people strolled in to pray. The grocery store across the street donated platters of food when they heard about the number of people wanting to donate blood. This was a way for those of us who were feeling helpless to do something. We really thought this was necessary as all those people who were injured by this event would need it. Little did we know that there would be very few survivors, no one left in the rubble to help. It was something which felt better than doing nothing.
The next day I had my web design class. My instructor started the class with a discussion on the previous day's events. He stated that when he flew into New York City, the magnificent towers were the first thing you saw before your plane even landed. He felt like a piece of our American heritage's greatness was now gone and traveling there would never be the same without those buildings. His statement made me feel that I had truly missed something spectacular since by that time, I had never been to NYC.
The world will never be the same after this terrible time in our history and we have to accept that. I've always wanted to travel to foreign countries and now I'm not so sure anymore. I have traveled to NYC since the 9/11 tragedy and I cannot express in words how difficult it is to stand at what is now called Ground Zero.
It's an emotional experience that brings so many mixed feelings of sadness and grief, anger and frustration, hope and faith.
Labor Day weekend was quickly approaching and I had extended the long weekend by scheduling the Friday before and the Tuesday after the holiday as vacation days. I would be just as content turning the days into a celebration of domestication and spend the time quilting, canning, or just hanging out at home with a good novel. But Jeff had other ideas. This was an opportunity for a new adventure even though we had no idea exactly where to start. After a conversation with an acquaintance that spent some vacation time by Lake Superior, Jeff started to reminisce about his drive around the lake when he went ice fishing in Canada a few years back. So after a little research, I brought up the idea of the Lake Superior Circle Tour. I already calculated the miles which would total somewhere around 1600 depending on our exact route. To my surprise Jeff didn’t bat an eye; he thought it would be a great idea. So the planning began.
I immediately ordered maps from AAA then went to the Lake Superior Circle Tour website to order informational brochures and maps. According to the information, we would travel 1,300 miles to go entirely around the lake. It’s the largest of the Great Lakes, the coldest, and the deepest. The lake holds 10% of the world’s surface fresh water. The first decision would be to pick a city on the lake as the starting point. Since we had to go a few hundred miles just to get from Oak Creek to Lake Superior, we knew our start point would most likely be the first night’s hotel stay too. The next decision would be to decide which direction we should travel. Head west then around or start going east. Since we did a trip to Sault Saint Marie and Mackinac Island a few years ago, we chose to head west towards Duluth and then into Canada. But there was still the issue of the starting point….Marquette, Houghton-Hancock, Ashland, Apostle Islands-Bayfield – so many choices. Jeff wasn’t happy about the helmet law states we’d be traveling through so we eliminated Marquette and Houghton-Hancock, Michigan.
I started to research hotels in both Bayfield and Ashland. They are only 22 miles apart so it really didn’t matter which one. Since it was getting closer to the holiday weekend, we were limited to fewer choices as some of the good places were booked solid. After reviewing the ratings, newness, prices, and amenities we chose a hotel in Ashland. Part one of the first stop was complete, now we just had to plan the route to get there.
As we reviewed all the information sent to us, we knew it was going to be hard to decide where to stop along the way. On the second day we would go through Superior, Duluth, Grand Marais, and Thunder Bay for sure. The question that still needed to be answered was how much farther do we go until we stop for the night? Would we see Marathon, Nipigon, and Wawa or would we stop before we got that far? It’s really difficult to plan these things when riding on a motorcycle. The weather can wreak havoc on best-laid plans. So we usually compromise and allow for an average of 6 hours per day of riding just in case the weather holds us up for part of a day.
Jeff found a small town past Nipigon called Rossport. It looked quaint and was lined with bed and breakfast stops along the lake. He found a reasonably priced one that had great reviews so he booked it. Day two was now set. As we talked to others who’ve been in that part of the country, they all say the same thing, once you get past Marathon, there’s pretty much nothing but wilderness so the decision to stop here is part necessity and part strategy. Hopefully there’s someplace to eat nearby or else we’ll be in trouble.
During the days of planning I discovered a run/walk over the Mackinaw Bridge on Labor Day. I thought Bonus! This was right up my alley and as fate would have it, we could be in Mackinaw City on that day. Upon calculation of miles, we discovered that the Mackinaw area was a little far so we booked a room in Sault Saint Marie. So the run is iffy but that’s ok, it’s all about the lake tour anyway. Between the lighthouses, waterfalls, national parks, wildlife, and lake views, I won’t regret missing a thing or two, there’s so much to do and realistically I know we will have to come back if we really like it. We know for sure we will stop at a few overlooks, parks, local restaurants, and find the Harley dealer in Thunder Bay.
Friday, September 1, 2006
So the day is her and it’s time to hit the open road. Jeff wants to be on the road at 6am. After packing up the bike, making sure we have taken care of everything at home, and determining we have to stop at the ATM, it’s 6:40 by the time we got on the bike. By the time we got the banking done, it and hit I-94 the traffic was a little heavy due to the morning commute which was expected. The weather was a little chilly because of the early hour and I was certain we would warm up as the sun rose higher in the sky. We were just outside of Milwaukee by 6:55 so getting out of the city wasn’t as bad as it could have been.
We got off the main highway and onto Highway 10 around Oshkosh and took a scenic route through many beautiful towns. There were 92 miles one the odometer when we got to this point. We had breakfast at Diane’s in Amherst. We pulled in at 9:25. Jeff is so used to the hustle-bustle lifestyle that he was bothered that it took so long to get his eggs. Hopefully he will settle into a slower pace before this day is over. What’s the point of vacation if you’re not going to relax? There would be a few gas stops along the way so I made sure I picked up a couple bottles of water at each stop. The wind in your face can really dry out your skin and dehydrate you rather quickly so I tried to counter the negative effects by keeping us well-hydrated. A few pieces of licorice at each stop was also a way to get a little sugar boost of energy along the way. I started to wonder where the Harley dealers were long this route.
At 10:42 we passed the Marathon County sign and by 1:15 the Iron County sign was in view. We stopped at Northern Lights Harley on Highway 51 in Arbor Vitae, Wisconsin. This was just outside of Minocqua and Woodruff which was bustling with touristy traffic. The scenery was gorgeous and the lakes pristine which explained why there were so many people there. But the large volume of traffic was moving at a pace that was way too fast for us. We were breathing a sigh of relief when we got through to the other side of town and back to the solitude of the open road.
At 1:50 we were driving through Hurley. I had noticed previously that there were many trucks pulling trailers with ATV’s but now it seems the trailers were gone and the ATV has become the favored method of transportation. There were ATV’s pulled up into the parking spots in front of the local bars. It brought back the memories of the golf cars parked in the tiny parking spaces in front of the grocery stores in Phoenix. They even had golf car lanes on the roads there.
It was a little after 2:00 when we found our hotel in Ashland. We pulled in, parked, and unpacked our things. The view of Lake Superior was beautiful, right in the hotel’s back yard. We stayed and the AmericInn which wasn’t my first choice since they catered to families with a kid’s water park right in the hotel. But the price was right and we figured we wouldn’t be spending much time there anyway.
So we headed out to Bayfield. It was reminiscent of the shops of Cedarburg. We parked near the marina and walked through the little downtown, quaint with shops and restaurants. We walked the pier as far as we could and took some pictures. We came across the place that does the boat cruises around the Apostle Islands, since we were there late in the season the Lighthouse evening cruises were not available. We vowed to come back again during the summer. The area is that beautiful. There was a little bar atop a restaurant that overlooked the water. We climbed the steep steps to enjoy the view with some of our favorite beers. It was a great place to sit and relax. After we sit a while, we found the restaurant that was suggested to us for dinner. The place was pretty busy and we could choose to wait half an hour for a table or sit at the smoke-free bar. We chose the bar and enjoyed a nice dinner.
By the time dinner was done, it was getting dark. We headed back to Ashland where Jeff eyed a Dairy Queen and he wanted it for dessert. We stopped for a frozen treat where we met a couple who inquired about our travels. Luckily we ran into them because they told us to make sure that we got on the old highway that runs along the lake because the new highway runs inland and doesn’t have the view.
Saturday, September 2, 2006
We headed out after a hearty breakfast at the free breakfast buffet. The sky looked a bit ominous, but we were hopeful. We got through Superior and Duluth without incident. No rain fell but they sky still looked like it could come down any minute. We found the old highway road that the couple mentioned the night before and after a few miles of travel down it we were grateful for the good advice. The view of the lake was gorgeous; the houses that lined the streets reminded me of the expensive homes along Lake Drive in the north shore area of Milwaukee. The next gas stop would become the point where we needed to put on the helmets since Canada had a helmet law.
The skies cleared and it was smooth sailing after that. We stopped at a park and did a little hiking until we found a clearing that overlooked Lake Superior. We stayed long enough to take some great photos, buy the standard souvenir coffee mug, then get back on the road. It seemed like everyone was heading in the opposite direction, which made us feel like we had the whole road to ourselves. Nothing but nature and the sound of the Harley. We had hoped to see some moose or any other signs of wildlife but we saw none. In a way that was a blessing, nothing crossed our path where we had to slam on the brakes either so that’s always a good thing. We got to Thunder Bay after 3 in the afternoon. Jeff followed the signs that said “Downtown” and wouldn’t you know it, we ended up right in front of the local Harley dealer. We pulled in and did some souvenir shopping. They had really cool Lake Superior Circle Tour pins customized with a Harley on them. We had to have them. The place was a bit pricey but we figured we wouldn’t be back so we took the bite and spent more money than expected on Harley stuff. After a rest at the dealer, we got back on the bike and headed to Rossport.
We did see a bear run across the road about 300 yards ahead of us, a nice and safe distance away. Too bad it happened so quickly I could not get a picture.
Rossport is so small that from the direction we were headed we took a right to get on the road to Rossport which turned out to be a half-circle that would put us right back on the main highway if we kept going all the way around. We easily found our bed and breakfast. The hostess said she was starting to worry about whether or not we were going to show up, Jeff looked at his watch and thought it’s just a little after 7 so it’s not that late. It turns out we forgot about the time change to EST and it was really a little after 8 so now her statement was making more sense.
We walked over to another bed and breakfast that served dinner. The dining room was packed full of people. The menu featured fish caught 20 minutes away on Lake Superior. Jeff instantly ordered it; I’m not fond of fish so I ordered my usual steak. That was a mistake and I should have thought it through a little better knowing full well a place that specialized in fish would not do well with steaks. Oh well.
We walked the few blocks back to our bed and breakfast for some much needed rest after a long day of riding and fresh air. Little did we know that Rossport is a town that had train traffic. All night long. Every hour the bells sounded at the railroad crossing announcing the impending arrival of the train. Every hour the train whistles sounded reminding us the train was very close. Every hour the train chugged past making the entire house rumble. I think I slept for two hours total.
Sunday, September 3, 2006
In the morning the hostess chuckled about the trains and the comments she gets from guests. On the inside my tired brain wanted to strangle her, on the outside I just smiled and said nothing. We had our breakfast with an elderly couple traveling to Vancouver from the Ontario area. They were interesting people telling us some great stories of their lives.
We got packed up and headed out. We knew today would be a day without much lake view and we had a lot of ground to cover. It sounded like it might not be much of a ride, but it turned out that we were usually in the middle of a National Park. The view was fantastic. The rolling hills, bluffs, and trees were incredible and lush. There was a hint of color change on the tips of a few of the trees. Fall was coming but not too soon.
We rode from small town to small town, still not confident in converting gallons to liters and American money to Canadian money. We just put it on the credit card and let the bank sort it out for us. We stopped at a larger rest area for gas, got a sandwich, and a few more souvenirs. Then it was back on the bike. The saddest moment of the trip came when we passed a dead baby bear in the middle of the road. I’d hoped I could get that image out of my head rather quickly but I don’t think that will happen.
At the end of the day we pulled into our hotel in Sault Saint Marie. It felt like we just hit civilization. We were both so exhausted that Jeff generously went out and bought a 6-pack of Corona while I order a pizza to be delivered to our room. We stayed in all night with the pizza and beer. We really needed to catch up on lost sleep from the night before.
I researched the Mackinaw Bridge run and calculated that we would have to leave by 4 am tomorrow to get there in time for the run. I don’t think so; sleep is much more important right now.
Monday, September 4, 2006
We got up and headed to the free breakfast buffet as usual. We watched a little news on the television before we headed out. We felt lucky the whole trip because the weather was perfect, we never hit any rain and the temperature was consistently in the 70’s. In fact it seemed a little strange to us that the farther we got into Canada, the warmer it got. But today it definitely looked like rain. We thought we better get on the road and try to beat it and it was time to go home. There was 1,129 miles on the gauge when we headed out.
We got on the highway crossing our fingers that the weather would hold. After a few hours of riding, we stopped at a diner in Michigan for some coffee. We ended up ordering a little breakfast because everything smelled so good. We remembered being there before, when we went on a trip to Mackinaw with friends a few years back. It was kind of funny looking out at Lake Michigan after spending the last few days looking at Lake Superior. Two lakes down and three to go to complete the entire circle tour!
We got back on the bike and drove through the familiar territory of the Upper Peninsula and into Wisconsin. We could now take our helmets off but since the skies looked like they would open up at any moment I decided I would keep mine on. We got to Green Bay and a decision had to be made. Do we head inland or ride close to the lake? The skies were blacker over the lake so we stayed inland. I think it was a good choice; it didn’t start to rain until we were about 20 miles outside of Menomonee Falls. Since this was Labor Day and the holiday was coming to an end the traffic heading to Chicago was pretty heavy. It picked up drastically around Appleton and we knew we would be stuck in it until we got home. The rain got heavier as we got closer to home as did the traffic.
It felt good to get home and warm up. Considering our luck with the weather over the last four days, we felt lucky that we only hit rain this one time. It was a beautiful long weekend and a wonderful trip and I’m glad we did it. Total mileage: 1,574.
I immediately ordered maps from AAA then went to the Lake Superior Circle Tour website to order informational brochures and maps. According to the information, we would travel 1,300 miles to go entirely around the lake. It’s the largest of the Great Lakes, the coldest, and the deepest. The lake holds 10% of the world’s surface fresh water. The first decision would be to pick a city on the lake as the starting point. Since we had to go a few hundred miles just to get from Oak Creek to Lake Superior, we knew our start point would most likely be the first night’s hotel stay too. The next decision would be to decide which direction we should travel. Head west then around or start going east. Since we did a trip to Sault Saint Marie and Mackinac Island a few years ago, we chose to head west towards Duluth and then into Canada. But there was still the issue of the starting point….Marquette, Houghton-Hancock, Ashland, Apostle Islands-Bayfield – so many choices. Jeff wasn’t happy about the helmet law states we’d be traveling through so we eliminated Marquette and Houghton-Hancock, Michigan.
I started to research hotels in both Bayfield and Ashland. They are only 22 miles apart so it really didn’t matter which one. Since it was getting closer to the holiday weekend, we were limited to fewer choices as some of the good places were booked solid. After reviewing the ratings, newness, prices, and amenities we chose a hotel in Ashland. Part one of the first stop was complete, now we just had to plan the route to get there.
As we reviewed all the information sent to us, we knew it was going to be hard to decide where to stop along the way. On the second day we would go through Superior, Duluth, Grand Marais, and Thunder Bay for sure. The question that still needed to be answered was how much farther do we go until we stop for the night? Would we see Marathon, Nipigon, and Wawa or would we stop before we got that far? It’s really difficult to plan these things when riding on a motorcycle. The weather can wreak havoc on best-laid plans. So we usually compromise and allow for an average of 6 hours per day of riding just in case the weather holds us up for part of a day.
Jeff found a small town past Nipigon called Rossport. It looked quaint and was lined with bed and breakfast stops along the lake. He found a reasonably priced one that had great reviews so he booked it. Day two was now set. As we talked to others who’ve been in that part of the country, they all say the same thing, once you get past Marathon, there’s pretty much nothing but wilderness so the decision to stop here is part necessity and part strategy. Hopefully there’s someplace to eat nearby or else we’ll be in trouble.
During the days of planning I discovered a run/walk over the Mackinaw Bridge on Labor Day. I thought Bonus! This was right up my alley and as fate would have it, we could be in Mackinaw City on that day. Upon calculation of miles, we discovered that the Mackinaw area was a little far so we booked a room in Sault Saint Marie. So the run is iffy but that’s ok, it’s all about the lake tour anyway. Between the lighthouses, waterfalls, national parks, wildlife, and lake views, I won’t regret missing a thing or two, there’s so much to do and realistically I know we will have to come back if we really like it. We know for sure we will stop at a few overlooks, parks, local restaurants, and find the Harley dealer in Thunder Bay.
Friday, September 1, 2006
So the day is her and it’s time to hit the open road. Jeff wants to be on the road at 6am. After packing up the bike, making sure we have taken care of everything at home, and determining we have to stop at the ATM, it’s 6:40 by the time we got on the bike. By the time we got the banking done, it and hit I-94 the traffic was a little heavy due to the morning commute which was expected. The weather was a little chilly because of the early hour and I was certain we would warm up as the sun rose higher in the sky. We were just outside of Milwaukee by 6:55 so getting out of the city wasn’t as bad as it could have been.
We got off the main highway and onto Highway 10 around Oshkosh and took a scenic route through many beautiful towns. There were 92 miles one the odometer when we got to this point. We had breakfast at Diane’s in Amherst. We pulled in at 9:25. Jeff is so used to the hustle-bustle lifestyle that he was bothered that it took so long to get his eggs. Hopefully he will settle into a slower pace before this day is over. What’s the point of vacation if you’re not going to relax? There would be a few gas stops along the way so I made sure I picked up a couple bottles of water at each stop. The wind in your face can really dry out your skin and dehydrate you rather quickly so I tried to counter the negative effects by keeping us well-hydrated. A few pieces of licorice at each stop was also a way to get a little sugar boost of energy along the way. I started to wonder where the Harley dealers were long this route.
At 10:42 we passed the Marathon County sign and by 1:15 the Iron County sign was in view. We stopped at Northern Lights Harley on Highway 51 in Arbor Vitae, Wisconsin. This was just outside of Minocqua and Woodruff which was bustling with touristy traffic. The scenery was gorgeous and the lakes pristine which explained why there were so many people there. But the large volume of traffic was moving at a pace that was way too fast for us. We were breathing a sigh of relief when we got through to the other side of town and back to the solitude of the open road.
At 1:50 we were driving through Hurley. I had noticed previously that there were many trucks pulling trailers with ATV’s but now it seems the trailers were gone and the ATV has become the favored method of transportation. There were ATV’s pulled up into the parking spots in front of the local bars. It brought back the memories of the golf cars parked in the tiny parking spaces in front of the grocery stores in Phoenix. They even had golf car lanes on the roads there.
It was a little after 2:00 when we found our hotel in Ashland. We pulled in, parked, and unpacked our things. The view of Lake Superior was beautiful, right in the hotel’s back yard. We stayed and the AmericInn which wasn’t my first choice since they catered to families with a kid’s water park right in the hotel. But the price was right and we figured we wouldn’t be spending much time there anyway.
So we headed out to Bayfield. It was reminiscent of the shops of Cedarburg. We parked near the marina and walked through the little downtown, quaint with shops and restaurants. We walked the pier as far as we could and took some pictures. We came across the place that does the boat cruises around the Apostle Islands, since we were there late in the season the Lighthouse evening cruises were not available. We vowed to come back again during the summer. The area is that beautiful. There was a little bar atop a restaurant that overlooked the water. We climbed the steep steps to enjoy the view with some of our favorite beers. It was a great place to sit and relax. After we sit a while, we found the restaurant that was suggested to us for dinner. The place was pretty busy and we could choose to wait half an hour for a table or sit at the smoke-free bar. We chose the bar and enjoyed a nice dinner.
By the time dinner was done, it was getting dark. We headed back to Ashland where Jeff eyed a Dairy Queen and he wanted it for dessert. We stopped for a frozen treat where we met a couple who inquired about our travels. Luckily we ran into them because they told us to make sure that we got on the old highway that runs along the lake because the new highway runs inland and doesn’t have the view.
Saturday, September 2, 2006
We headed out after a hearty breakfast at the free breakfast buffet. The sky looked a bit ominous, but we were hopeful. We got through Superior and Duluth without incident. No rain fell but they sky still looked like it could come down any minute. We found the old highway road that the couple mentioned the night before and after a few miles of travel down it we were grateful for the good advice. The view of the lake was gorgeous; the houses that lined the streets reminded me of the expensive homes along Lake Drive in the north shore area of Milwaukee. The next gas stop would become the point where we needed to put on the helmets since Canada had a helmet law.
The skies cleared and it was smooth sailing after that. We stopped at a park and did a little hiking until we found a clearing that overlooked Lake Superior. We stayed long enough to take some great photos, buy the standard souvenir coffee mug, then get back on the road. It seemed like everyone was heading in the opposite direction, which made us feel like we had the whole road to ourselves. Nothing but nature and the sound of the Harley. We had hoped to see some moose or any other signs of wildlife but we saw none. In a way that was a blessing, nothing crossed our path where we had to slam on the brakes either so that’s always a good thing. We got to Thunder Bay after 3 in the afternoon. Jeff followed the signs that said “Downtown” and wouldn’t you know it, we ended up right in front of the local Harley dealer. We pulled in and did some souvenir shopping. They had really cool Lake Superior Circle Tour pins customized with a Harley on them. We had to have them. The place was a bit pricey but we figured we wouldn’t be back so we took the bite and spent more money than expected on Harley stuff. After a rest at the dealer, we got back on the bike and headed to Rossport.
We did see a bear run across the road about 300 yards ahead of us, a nice and safe distance away. Too bad it happened so quickly I could not get a picture.
Rossport is so small that from the direction we were headed we took a right to get on the road to Rossport which turned out to be a half-circle that would put us right back on the main highway if we kept going all the way around. We easily found our bed and breakfast. The hostess said she was starting to worry about whether or not we were going to show up, Jeff looked at his watch and thought it’s just a little after 7 so it’s not that late. It turns out we forgot about the time change to EST and it was really a little after 8 so now her statement was making more sense.
We walked over to another bed and breakfast that served dinner. The dining room was packed full of people. The menu featured fish caught 20 minutes away on Lake Superior. Jeff instantly ordered it; I’m not fond of fish so I ordered my usual steak. That was a mistake and I should have thought it through a little better knowing full well a place that specialized in fish would not do well with steaks. Oh well.
We walked the few blocks back to our bed and breakfast for some much needed rest after a long day of riding and fresh air. Little did we know that Rossport is a town that had train traffic. All night long. Every hour the bells sounded at the railroad crossing announcing the impending arrival of the train. Every hour the train whistles sounded reminding us the train was very close. Every hour the train chugged past making the entire house rumble. I think I slept for two hours total.
Sunday, September 3, 2006
In the morning the hostess chuckled about the trains and the comments she gets from guests. On the inside my tired brain wanted to strangle her, on the outside I just smiled and said nothing. We had our breakfast with an elderly couple traveling to Vancouver from the Ontario area. They were interesting people telling us some great stories of their lives.
We got packed up and headed out. We knew today would be a day without much lake view and we had a lot of ground to cover. It sounded like it might not be much of a ride, but it turned out that we were usually in the middle of a National Park. The view was fantastic. The rolling hills, bluffs, and trees were incredible and lush. There was a hint of color change on the tips of a few of the trees. Fall was coming but not too soon.
We rode from small town to small town, still not confident in converting gallons to liters and American money to Canadian money. We just put it on the credit card and let the bank sort it out for us. We stopped at a larger rest area for gas, got a sandwich, and a few more souvenirs. Then it was back on the bike. The saddest moment of the trip came when we passed a dead baby bear in the middle of the road. I’d hoped I could get that image out of my head rather quickly but I don’t think that will happen.
At the end of the day we pulled into our hotel in Sault Saint Marie. It felt like we just hit civilization. We were both so exhausted that Jeff generously went out and bought a 6-pack of Corona while I order a pizza to be delivered to our room. We stayed in all night with the pizza and beer. We really needed to catch up on lost sleep from the night before.
I researched the Mackinaw Bridge run and calculated that we would have to leave by 4 am tomorrow to get there in time for the run. I don’t think so; sleep is much more important right now.
Monday, September 4, 2006
We got up and headed to the free breakfast buffet as usual. We watched a little news on the television before we headed out. We felt lucky the whole trip because the weather was perfect, we never hit any rain and the temperature was consistently in the 70’s. In fact it seemed a little strange to us that the farther we got into Canada, the warmer it got. But today it definitely looked like rain. We thought we better get on the road and try to beat it and it was time to go home. There was 1,129 miles on the gauge when we headed out.
We got on the highway crossing our fingers that the weather would hold. After a few hours of riding, we stopped at a diner in Michigan for some coffee. We ended up ordering a little breakfast because everything smelled so good. We remembered being there before, when we went on a trip to Mackinaw with friends a few years back. It was kind of funny looking out at Lake Michigan after spending the last few days looking at Lake Superior. Two lakes down and three to go to complete the entire circle tour!
We got back on the bike and drove through the familiar territory of the Upper Peninsula and into Wisconsin. We could now take our helmets off but since the skies looked like they would open up at any moment I decided I would keep mine on. We got to Green Bay and a decision had to be made. Do we head inland or ride close to the lake? The skies were blacker over the lake so we stayed inland. I think it was a good choice; it didn’t start to rain until we were about 20 miles outside of Menomonee Falls. Since this was Labor Day and the holiday was coming to an end the traffic heading to Chicago was pretty heavy. It picked up drastically around Appleton and we knew we would be stuck in it until we got home. The rain got heavier as we got closer to home as did the traffic.
It felt good to get home and warm up. Considering our luck with the weather over the last four days, we felt lucky that we only hit rain this one time. It was a beautiful long weekend and a wonderful trip and I’m glad we did it. Total mileage: 1,574.
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