Tuesday on our "bike" trip

We had hoped to be able to bike some additional trails in the areas around La Crosse on Tuesday, but it was raining or threatening to rain all day, so we decided to try some other activities.

We drove back to Onalaska to the area near the Mississippi where we had purchased the trail passes on Monday...

There were outdoor musical instruments that we tried our hands at!

Musicians hard at work!

There was also a large ride-on fish...

Candis giving it a try!

And Kathy rode it too!

Carl set up the tripod for a group picture at the Great River Landing building (right by the musical instruments and the fish)...

... and also at this artwork located nearby...

... and on the railroad tracks down below.

We decided to take a walk along part of the Great River Trail where we had biked on Monday...

A view of Lake Onalaska

The guys got a little ahead of us on the trail, but they noticed that the weather was starting to look threatening, so headed back to where we were...

Besides which, it was lunchtime!

We found a sundial but... with no sun... it wasn't working well!

We stopped at a restaurant in Onalaska -- David Reay's Modern Diner & Tavern -- it was very good! Quite a varied menu and we each enjoyed what we got!

The fellow in the visitor's center in Onalaska had suggested going to Grandad Bluff overlook (https://explorelacrosse.com/project/grandad-bluff-la-crosse/), and, even though the weather was still threatening and a number of rain showers had come through while we were eating, we decided to go there... it was about 600 feet higher than the surrounding area...

The train passing below looked like a model train!

Looking southwest...

Looking northwest...

Looking west out toward the Mississippi and Minnesota.

We then drove back into West Salem...

... and visited Le Coulee Cheese Castle (https://lecouleecheese.net/)

It is a relatively small shop with cheese, ice cream and other dairy products, and various gifts and local items -- and was busy the whole time we were there!

There were multiple kinds of Cheddar Cheese, including Mild, Medium, Sharp, 3 year aged, 4 year aged, 5 year aged, 8 year aged, and 15 year aged!

Amish rolled butter

We all got ice cream - most reasonably priced ice cream we've seen in a long time!

Around the corner and down the street in West Salem, there was an interesting mural on the side of a building...

A young lady seeming ready to welcome you in (to the wall of the building!)

Carl went over to take her hand!

Thankfully, he didn't go away with her!

We had a nice day, although the weather wasn't great, we still had fun...

Back home in the rig, Miss Kitty watching her video on Carl's lap.

Spoiled kitty!!!

Biking in Wisconsin

On Sunday, we drove up to West Salem, near La Crosse, Wisconsin, to bike with friends Candis and Greg, Kathy and Bob.

Wisconsin Welcomes You (or, us!) -- Recreation, Industry, and Agriculture

We stopped for lunch about halfway along on the trip and in the truck area of the rest stop a Schneider truck was parked over from us -- Carl took a picture for son Steve (who works for Schneider).

We met our friends for dinner in West Salem and then joined them in the lobby of their hotel for snacks and catching up on each other's lives.

On Monday, we wanted to go bike riding (after all, that's the point of getting together for bike riding, right?!?!?). Rain was predicted for later in the day so we tried to get going early in the morning. I think we finally got onto the trail at about 10am (after deciding where to go, getting to the trail head, getting our bikes unloaded, making another restroom stop, etc. etc.).

We rode on the La Crosse River State Trail until the point where it met the Great River State Trail. We knew that we were supposed to have a State Trail Pass, but had not seen a place where we could purchase it until we got to Onalaska.

We registered and paid our fees.

Lake Onalaska, formed when a lock and dam was built in 1937 (http://www.lakeonalaska.org/).

Our crew at the point where we decided to turn around

It was good that we decided to turn around at that point -- we got back to Onalaska and stopped at Culver's for lunch and frozen custard. We decided to eat outside until rain came and forced some of us inside. The rain lasted about 20-30 minutes, and then stopped enough that we decided we'd better get back on the trail to bike back to our cars.

Our return trip was a bit faster than our outbound ride as we wanted to get back to our cars and get the bikes put away before another shower hit!

Total of 28+ miles, almost 3 hours of bike riding (no credit for the time spent at Culver's!)

The route was pretty level, we got some good exercise.

Biking with friends encourages us to go further than we would probably go by ourselves -- and it is enjoyable as we get to chat with others!

Across from the trailhead parking lot I had noticed a company "Three Brothers Bat, Co". After our ride, I walked over and took a picture to remind me to look up information about the company. It has a neat story: https://threebrothersbats.com/about-3/

Other than getting slightly damp, we had a good first day of bike riding!

Times with family

Monday night, we met Scott and family for dinner at Old Republic...

It is always good to get together with family!

On Friday, we had the opportunity to see grandson Blaise in his theatrical debut!

The Theater Arts class

Bowser and his army -- Koopa Troopas and Spinys

The Mario Bros, Mario and Luigi

If the video above works, it is Bowser singing to his love, Princess Peach.

In case the video does not work, this is a still picture of Bowser singing to his love, Princess Peach, with grandson Blaise as one of the Drybones (I think).

Princess Peach

Grandson Blaise in the group behind Princess Peach

Grandson Blaise after the show

Poses on stage with some of the scenery...

... another pose on stage.

Grandsons Thatcher and Blaise on stage

Family shot

This was a musical written by the class teacher, and if we understood correctly according to Scott was based on the Mario Bros movie that just came out in April. It was good to have family time!

Portillos

After a successful visit to physical therapy, my orthopedic doctor, and dentist, we visited Portillo's for lunch on Thursday.

We went into the restaurant - enjoying our meal inside the restaurant...

... but a lot of people were going through the drive thru.

The skies were threatening rain, and then some rain started falling...

... the folks taking the orders outside donned their protective gear!

It was an "Under the Weather" Walking Pod! (https://shopweatherpod.com/)

I have to admit that we found them pretty funny to watch!