Windy City Winnies Friendship Rally to Southeastern Wisconsin
September 25 to October 3, 2011
Sunday, Sept. 25 we arrived to a bit cool and cloudy at Cliffside County Campground but we got our screen houses (the COMPOUND) up so we would have a warm place for gatherings and happy hours. Special thanks to Wagonmasters, Ken and Fran Phillips, who brought them, with heaters, curtains and lights. Also to Wagonmaster Rick Burke. By evening we had Burkes, Phillips, Latters, Lees, Stasch, Dukes, Stein, Hass and Slowik’s all in place. We had our first meeting and received our copies of the trip itinerary along with some travel tips for the week. Ken Phillips had kindly provided all the GPS locations and phone numbers for our trip. Several folks hit the close by restaurant De Rango. The weather wasn’t good for a campfire so we skipped it.
Monday, Sept 26 we took off to the Harley Davidson factory tour, giving ourselves plenty of time. This we did indeed need since we initially headed to their “previous” location, instead of the “new” visitors center in Menomonee, WI. We got our 10:00 AM tour and also our picture next to a Harley Davidson motorcycle that was in the parking lot PLUS a photo next to the Windy City Tour bus. After this folks heading in numerous directions, to Aeppeltreow winery in Burlington, to the Milwaukee Public Museum, Potawatami Casino and some dog lovers headed back to camp. Bev Davidson had arrived and was all set up! We did have a happy hour but the weather did not cooperate for our campfire that night.
Tuesday, Sept 27 was another day in Milwaukee, with just about all in the group heading to the Captain Frederick Pabst Mansion near Marquette University for another 10:00 AM tour. Our phenomenal tour guide had his master’s in history and you couldn’t ask him a question that he couldn’t answer. A highlight of the tour was the beautiful dining room with a table set for breakfast, lunch and dinner! The house was furnished with almost all original furniture, paintings and furnishings. Many souvenirs were purchased in the very reasonably priced gift shop where we ended our tour. Most of the group headed right next door to a sandwich shop called “The Broken Yolk and Sandwich Shoppe.” This was a college hang-out so the food were very good portions and reasonably priced. Then we all re-gathered at the Miller Brewing company about .8 of a mile away. We had our picture taken, saw a movie about the MillerCoors Company, their civic responsibility, their community involvement and their quest for better beer with less water. The free tour went though several buildings and a cave. At one point we walked up 56 steps to view the brew vats which some of us thought could have been shown by displaying a nice picture in the lobby. We were rewarded with beer tastings in the tasting room after our arduous journey through the brewing process. Back to the campground for a meeting and to find that Mel and Mary Genaze had arrived. Alas the weather did not allow for our campfire but the compound at least was a warm place for happy hour.
Wednesday, Sept 28 started with a wagonmaster’s breakfast of French toast with warm cinnamon apple slices, jellies, bacon, juice and coffee. The morning was cool, which helped keep any bees away, and it didn’t rain on our breakfast and by the time we left for Mars Cheese Castle in Kenosha it was kinda nice. We met the Huffines and Joanne Kauffman there! Many pounds of cheese were bought before we headed for our next stop, Apple Holler in Sturtevant. If you have traveled Interstate 94 in October you must have seen the hundreds of cars that park along the frontage road there. We arrived at a little after 1:00 PM and Joe and Lorri Schleich along with the Stasch’s granddaughter and her two very beutiful little girls were waiting for us. As the restaurant was unable to seat us they offered us a free HAY RIDE. Again, it was a cool ride but we DID NOT get rained on and we had fun pointing out the various sites to our little guests! Our luck was amazing! Several members, including the Schleich’s were unable to stay but the rest of us were seated as soon as we returned. The price of food was very reasonable and the menu was very nice. After eating we headed over to the Wind Point Lighthouse and Fog Horn Museum. The Wind Point Lighthouse was built in 1880 by the U.S. Lighthouse Service. The light stands 112 feet above Lake Michigan warning ships every 30 seconds with an automated lens installed in 1964 with a 1,000 watt bulb producing 2 million candlepower. It is one of the oldest and tallest lighthouses on the Great Lakes. Here we had a docent tell us about the class 4 lens there on display. He swapped jokes with Mary Genaze and Ed Huffhines and got Joanne Kauffman laughing out loud. Each person gave a $2 donation to the Friends of the Lighthouse. Back at Cliffside two more units had arrived, the O’boyles and Petersons, Fran Phillip’s brother-in-law. The day ended with about a dozen people walking out to the cliffs on Lake Michigan.
Thursday, Sept. 29 was back to Milwaukee by the lakeshore to visit the MAM – Milwaukee Art Museum – and to see the famous wings on this building open. Even in the bit gray weather, the site was beautiful. We all got the senior discount and spent several hours there seeing works by famous artists including a Grandma Moses, a Chihuly, several Rodins, Andy Whoral, a mummy case and a large collection of folk art. After this we headed to the Milwaukee Public Market about ½ mile away to make our lunch selections. There were many small restaurants under one roof with a large choice of menu options. The afternoon was at the Harley Davidson Museum about ½ mile away. This showed the history of the Wisconsin company that still drives the town. There were numerous examples of cycles from 1904 to now with many of us taking our pictures on 2012 cycles. Also, I believe, a few folks made another stop at Potawatami Casino too. Dinner was at the mysterious, International Imports (Safe House.) It was fun to laugh at those who choose to touch the “leaf” in the ladies washroom or who had to perform silly tricks to be admitted. When we arrive back at Cliffside we found our last coach had pulled in, Val and Richard Carlson, who were friends of the Hasses.
Friday, Sept 30 was a day in Racine. We started out at the Golden Rondell which was part of SC Johnson, a Family company. The tour was outstanding and free! We saw the Frank Lloyd Wright designed corporate office building as well as the new building, Fortaleza HHaHall commemorating a trip by the family to South America. The hall included an airplane, a museum display, a short movie, beautiful photos and a map of the trip imbedded in the floor. Unfortunately we couldn’t visit the Golden Rondell, an exhibit at the 1964 World’s Fair, since this was being restored. We were encouraged to return after November when it would be completed along with a colorized version of the movie “To be Alive.” After this we headed for the O & H Danish Bakery to get our Kringles. There we meet up with all the others who missed the tour but were drawn to free samples of Kringles and coffee. Imagine that! Some went to Kewpee’s for lunch, burgers and sodas, and others went back to the campground. At 4:15 PM we loaded up for Captain’s Cove in Racine for an all-you-could eat Friday Fish Fry. Broiled? Panko? Or Beer breaded? We all had enough! Our evening culminated at the 6th Street Theater in Racine for the play “Do Not Disturb.” This comedy had 6 vignettes that happened in a Manhattan hotel room. Very enjoyable and a highlight of the tour for most everyone.
Saturday, Oct 1, was our Kringle breakfast with sausage that Bev Davidson kindly provided. Plenty of coffee thanks mostly to Rick Burke. Today was Racine’s Party on the Pavement which was held downtown. Rick and Christy Burke biked the 8 miles on the trail but most others drove in. This was the nicest day of the week by far. There were many vendors and 6 stages with bands playing constantly. The Klemmets sausages were there, Storm troopers from Star Wars were walking about and we sat in on a short play at, where else?, the 6th St. Theater! Of course, any good Wisconsin festival features bratwursts and cheap beer. It was also the Arts Council’s festival so there were many local arts displaying their work. That evening was our pot luck dinner and the food was, as you would expect, outstanding too. It was very cool but most folks were able to get into the compound to share their stories. AND WE FINALLY HAD OUR CAMPFIRE!
Sunday, Oct 2, was a scheduled breakfast of Coffee and followed by our club meeting where next year’s officers were nominated. Then most units packed up to leave but Burkes, Phillips, Latters, Lees, Slowik’s and Dukes headed over the 7 Mile Fair which is a large indoor and outdoor flea market. Ask Laurie Dukes how she actually MADE money by going. For dinner 8 of us went to De Rango for dinner, where we happened to mention a couple dozen times that is was Jerry Slowik’s AND Bob Dukes birthday. We were surprised when they brought out a chocolate and a strawberry sundae and each of them were each big enough for 4 to share. Thank you Bob and Jerry.
Monday, Oct 3 the remaining members left for home. Gary Latter, Rick and Christy Burke did go on a 3-hour tour of Case tractor factory in Racine that morning though. And we got HATS. This really was the end of a great rally. Hope you all had as much fun as the Wagonmasters, the Phillips and the Burkes.