After the morning lounging around looking at squirrels, rabbits, turkeys, deer and two red chipmunks (my first ever siting) – yes seriously, we sit in the pergola and look out at the wildlife that habitats the backyard – we headed off on our Minnesota/Wisconsin adventure.

Wisconsin, the home of Laverne & Shirley, Happy Days, America’s dairy land and Cheese Heads. Yep, that’s what Americans call Wisonconsonians. I wonder if they know that? 🤪

But, first stop, Target. Which coincidentally had a Starbucks inside. How convenient.

Then we headed off to Stillwater. A pretty little town, it sits on the West Bank of St. Croix river just across from Houston in Wisconsin. Population about 18-20,000, Stillwater was instrumental in it’s establishment of Minnesota (rumour has it). Our intention was to walk across the St. Croix Crossing Bridge into Wisconsin and then back to Stillwater for a coffee. There was much talk about the cost of the bridge, given it started construction at an estimated $346m but ended up at twice that, taking over 30 years from planning to implementation. The locals call it the bridge to nowhere. It essentially diverts traffic out of the city area, away from the St. Croix Lift Bridge and from the town centre.

It was a beautiful walk, 9.86km in the end, by the time we wondered through Stillwater, (such a beautiful little town), and had our coffee. Ok. I’m really the only one who needs the coffee. So ‘our’ isn’t quite right. Works for me just the same.

After our big walk, we headed home for a slight rest. Absolutely needed for us retirees. In true retiree form, we headed back to Wisconsin for a 5pm dinner.

The restaurant chosen was a new start up of the son and daughter in law of Lori and Mitch’s neighbours. Called The Black Rooster, it sits in a really cool cellar right in the middle of Hudsons’ Main Street. We loved it. The State Fair of Minnesota had started today so much of the ‘specials’ menu had elements of state fair food. Like the Banana Funnel ‘Cake’, pictured below. Of course we had to try it. Gotta try everything once right? Well most things. Needless to say the food was delicious, the service excellent and the company magnificent. Not sure I would try the funnel cake again. It was essentially fried….ummm….air? With banana, cream and topping. Bloomin’ delicious. I must admit if I went to the state fair, which is a huge thing here, I would spend most of the time eating delicious fried food. 

Burp.  Best we stay away from that one. 

After our delicious dinner we headed down to the river for a walk. Turns out this is the area where, in 1910 the first Boy Scouts in the world was formed.

But more importantly, guess who we found?

Elvis!

Elvis is alive and playing at the Hudson riverside amphitheatre. There he is. Up there, in that picture.

True story. 

And he hasn’t lost it. Not one bit.

But wedding cake awaited. So we didn’t stay too long.

Instead we headed back to the house to finish off that amazing cake our Lori made us.

Oh I didn’t tell you about that?

Lori had made a beautiful cake and decorated the table – just like she did for MoD’s upcoming 60th last time we were here. That woman just blows me away. So bloody talented and gorgeous. Glad I didn’t know her when I was young and insecure. 

So here we are, when we arrived in Bayport. Midnight on Tuesday.

Tomorrow we hop in th Buick and head to Detroit Lakes for MoD’s school reunion.

And yes, a Buick. 

Another first.

Not a bad little car. Smart Car.

Literally. If you try and do a Mr. Magic (yes MoD) and accidentally cross over into the other lane, it yells at you. And damn, don’t try and cross that lane without an indicator!

Managers Special! 

We would have liked an electric car, but the truth is the infrastructure isn’t really here to support travelling.

Oh well. USA will catch up with NZ 😜

Night peeps.