- Signed: Matthew Hartman
- Filed under vacation .
I made back into Grand Forks this evening, from a weekend of fun in Minocqua, Wisconsin.
Why was I there?
My parents, Grandma and Grandpa Grimm, would take my sister and I up there almost every year when we were kids. We have friends of the family (from long ago!) that have lived in these parts for years and years. I have precious memories there, but not many I can remember very vividly. I recall the long, hilly roads with nothing to surround us but forests and small lakes. I remember the small cabins we used to stay in. I remember that big-ass Loon in Mercer, Wisconsin. The latter, mainly, because I still have the picture my mom sent me a couple of years ago in a card, up on my 'fridge.
It's been years ago, since I've been there.
My mom, my Aunt Sue, Uncle John, and my younger cousin, Andrew all left Indiana last Thursday to make it up to Minocqua on Friday afternoon. All met our friends (The Meade's) at the Concord Inn. I didn't get there until late Friday evening, since I had to work. I was able duck out of the office early (at 2pm Friday), so I was able to pull into town around 9:30pm.
We hung out in the hotel lobby most of the evening, catching up on each other, especially between myself and Mike Meade! I hadn't seen that old fart in years! Hah! He was a crazy guy to be around all weekend and a lot of fun to just hang out with and listen to. This guy has so many stories, it's unbelievable.
Saturday morning we woke up, had our continental breakfast, then split up for the afternoon. Andrew, mom and Sue all walked downtown to do some shopping, while I jumped in Mike's truck with John to take a tour of the area. Mike took us all over, telling us stories, showing us where things have changed, took us back to his property to show us his house and the 50 acres he owns. Or so... I can't remember exactly how much land he owns out on 70, west of Minocqua, but it's a lot! He drove us around the property, mainly to show me where the eagles roost. I wanted to try to get a picture or two of some Bald Eagles, and he knows right where they are. He has a river in the back of his property so he drove us back there. We saw a couple back there, but they were young enough so that they didn't have that white crown on their head yet. I tried to take some pictures, but I'm not sure if they turned out that great. I'll have to transfer them over the computer tomorrow night, to see.
We eventually made it to "Handsome Bill's" place. This guy, apparently, a friend of Mike's is a nutcase. And I'm trying to describe this guy in the nicest way possible. Hahah! He's definitely a new breed of man - one that doesn't have a care in the world, doesn't take anything serious, and, in general, is just plain crazy. He's an entertaining guy, that's for sure. Mike and John, specifically stopped at this guy's place, just so I could meet him. ;)
Anyhow, after all that, Mike, John and I met the rest at Perkins for lunch. I then rode with mom, Sue and Andrew to Wal-Mart to pick up some stuff for the party later Saturday evening, while John and Mike went back to the hotel. Along the way, of course, I had to stop by the local liquor store to see if they had the Fat Squirrel. I just HAD to try it. The bar in the hotel had Spotted Cow, so I had enjoyed that the night before!
When we got back to the hotel, Joe had gotten there, another older guy that knew the rest of the clan. The guys got on the subject of "Darlings" (an adult store) down the road and whimsically decided to drive down and check it out. I decided, "what the hell," and rode along. It was interesting, to say the least, but fun as all crap. I love going in those stores, they're just fun to look through - and always bring out the giggles. Hah!
We weren't there very long, I swear... ;)
By the time we arrived back at the hotel, the Meade and Trapp clan had already started to arrive. The kids were all there, in the pool, and the rest were getting food and snacks setup in the dining area. The "beverages" we had to keep in the rooms, since the hotel didn't want them in the common dining area. Which was fine, but a little inconvenient - having to walk back and forth between the room, the lobby, the food, and the pools. ;) After eating the snacks, the pizza, drinking nearly all my Fat Squirrels and chatting/visiting with the Meade's and Trapp's, I decided to jump in the Hot Tub. Most of the family friends were in the process of leaving and/or saying their goodbye's, so it was a good time to jump in. I'm still set on owning one of those things, someday. Man, did it feel great! I slept pretty good Saturday night.
Mother's Day, we didn't end up doing a whole lot. We woke up, went to the Lac Du Flambeau Casino for Brunch and did a little gambling. It was pretty awesome they had fried walleye on the buffet. I think I ate a pound of it! The gambling went pretty good, as well... I came out ahead, but not by much - only two dollars worth! ;)
After the casino, Mike took us all on another tour of the area, with more stories... I distracted myself for a little while by calling my stepmom, Chris, to wish her a Happy Mother's Day. By the time I finished up on the phone, we had decided to drop by Paul Bunyan's to look around there. It's a sort of gift shop along 51. We weren't in there long and after, we filled up the gas tank, picked up some different Wisconsin beer, for myself, then went back to the hotel to relax. We caught a couple movies on TV in the guy's room, then crashed for the night. I will tell you, the Island Wheat Ale from Washington Island (Door Co.) Wisconsin is mighty tasty! The gas station didn't have any Fat Squirrel or Spotted Cow.
This morning, we woke up, cleaned up, and headed for breakfast at Tula's. It's a nice little hole-in-the-wall cafe off of SR-70 on the northwest side of the town. The food wasn't bad at all... We convened once again back at the hotel to say our goodbye's, then headed in different directions. Mom, Sue, John and Andrew went south, I went north.
The drive back and forth wasn't bad at all. The distance wasn't bad and the time went by fairly quickly, as well. It took all but 7.5 hours (from 2:05pm, Friday afternoon to around 9:30pm that evening) to get there, and just over 8 hours to get back (from 11:30am this morning to 7:45pm this evening). The longer trip back to GF was mainly because I made a few stops along the way. Namely, in Mercer to get a picture of that gigantic Loon, at a scenic overlook near Saxon, WI, in Ashland, at the public beach near downtown and on the west side of the city to get some pictures of Lake Superior, at a rest area near Cass Lake to get some pictures of developing storms... then along the Truck Bypass around Crookston to get more pictures of storms.
It was a great weekend trip and one I'll have to repeat sometime in the future, if and when the family comes up again. It was a blast.
I'll have to log the total mileage tomorrow. I forgot to check the odometer before I got out of the car earlier tonight!
Toodles for now...
Why was I there?
My parents, Grandma and Grandpa Grimm, would take my sister and I up there almost every year when we were kids. We have friends of the family (from long ago!) that have lived in these parts for years and years. I have precious memories there, but not many I can remember very vividly. I recall the long, hilly roads with nothing to surround us but forests and small lakes. I remember the small cabins we used to stay in. I remember that big-ass Loon in Mercer, Wisconsin. The latter, mainly, because I still have the picture my mom sent me a couple of years ago in a card, up on my 'fridge.
It's been years ago, since I've been there.
My mom, my Aunt Sue, Uncle John, and my younger cousin, Andrew all left Indiana last Thursday to make it up to Minocqua on Friday afternoon. All met our friends (The Meade's) at the Concord Inn. I didn't get there until late Friday evening, since I had to work. I was able duck out of the office early (at 2pm Friday), so I was able to pull into town around 9:30pm.
We hung out in the hotel lobby most of the evening, catching up on each other, especially between myself and Mike Meade! I hadn't seen that old fart in years! Hah! He was a crazy guy to be around all weekend and a lot of fun to just hang out with and listen to. This guy has so many stories, it's unbelievable.
Saturday morning we woke up, had our continental breakfast, then split up for the afternoon. Andrew, mom and Sue all walked downtown to do some shopping, while I jumped in Mike's truck with John to take a tour of the area. Mike took us all over, telling us stories, showing us where things have changed, took us back to his property to show us his house and the 50 acres he owns. Or so... I can't remember exactly how much land he owns out on 70, west of Minocqua, but it's a lot! He drove us around the property, mainly to show me where the eagles roost. I wanted to try to get a picture or two of some Bald Eagles, and he knows right where they are. He has a river in the back of his property so he drove us back there. We saw a couple back there, but they were young enough so that they didn't have that white crown on their head yet. I tried to take some pictures, but I'm not sure if they turned out that great. I'll have to transfer them over the computer tomorrow night, to see.
We eventually made it to "Handsome Bill's" place. This guy, apparently, a friend of Mike's is a nutcase. And I'm trying to describe this guy in the nicest way possible. Hahah! He's definitely a new breed of man - one that doesn't have a care in the world, doesn't take anything serious, and, in general, is just plain crazy. He's an entertaining guy, that's for sure. Mike and John, specifically stopped at this guy's place, just so I could meet him. ;)
Anyhow, after all that, Mike, John and I met the rest at Perkins for lunch. I then rode with mom, Sue and Andrew to Wal-Mart to pick up some stuff for the party later Saturday evening, while John and Mike went back to the hotel. Along the way, of course, I had to stop by the local liquor store to see if they had the Fat Squirrel. I just HAD to try it. The bar in the hotel had Spotted Cow, so I had enjoyed that the night before!
When we got back to the hotel, Joe had gotten there, another older guy that knew the rest of the clan. The guys got on the subject of "Darlings" (an adult store) down the road and whimsically decided to drive down and check it out. I decided, "what the hell," and rode along. It was interesting, to say the least, but fun as all crap. I love going in those stores, they're just fun to look through - and always bring out the giggles. Hah!
We weren't there very long, I swear... ;)
By the time we arrived back at the hotel, the Meade and Trapp clan had already started to arrive. The kids were all there, in the pool, and the rest were getting food and snacks setup in the dining area. The "beverages" we had to keep in the rooms, since the hotel didn't want them in the common dining area. Which was fine, but a little inconvenient - having to walk back and forth between the room, the lobby, the food, and the pools. ;) After eating the snacks, the pizza, drinking nearly all my Fat Squirrels and chatting/visiting with the Meade's and Trapp's, I decided to jump in the Hot Tub. Most of the family friends were in the process of leaving and/or saying their goodbye's, so it was a good time to jump in. I'm still set on owning one of those things, someday. Man, did it feel great! I slept pretty good Saturday night.
Mother's Day, we didn't end up doing a whole lot. We woke up, went to the Lac Du Flambeau Casino for Brunch and did a little gambling. It was pretty awesome they had fried walleye on the buffet. I think I ate a pound of it! The gambling went pretty good, as well... I came out ahead, but not by much - only two dollars worth! ;)
After the casino, Mike took us all on another tour of the area, with more stories... I distracted myself for a little while by calling my stepmom, Chris, to wish her a Happy Mother's Day. By the time I finished up on the phone, we had decided to drop by Paul Bunyan's to look around there. It's a sort of gift shop along 51. We weren't in there long and after, we filled up the gas tank, picked up some different Wisconsin beer, for myself, then went back to the hotel to relax. We caught a couple movies on TV in the guy's room, then crashed for the night. I will tell you, the Island Wheat Ale from Washington Island (Door Co.) Wisconsin is mighty tasty! The gas station didn't have any Fat Squirrel or Spotted Cow.
This morning, we woke up, cleaned up, and headed for breakfast at Tula's. It's a nice little hole-in-the-wall cafe off of SR-70 on the northwest side of the town. The food wasn't bad at all... We convened once again back at the hotel to say our goodbye's, then headed in different directions. Mom, Sue, John and Andrew went south, I went north.
The drive back and forth wasn't bad at all. The distance wasn't bad and the time went by fairly quickly, as well. It took all but 7.5 hours (from 2:05pm, Friday afternoon to around 9:30pm that evening) to get there, and just over 8 hours to get back (from 11:30am this morning to 7:45pm this evening). The longer trip back to GF was mainly because I made a few stops along the way. Namely, in Mercer to get a picture of that gigantic Loon, at a scenic overlook near Saxon, WI, in Ashland, at the public beach near downtown and on the west side of the city to get some pictures of Lake Superior, at a rest area near Cass Lake to get some pictures of developing storms... then along the Truck Bypass around Crookston to get more pictures of storms.
It was a great weekend trip and one I'll have to repeat sometime in the future, if and when the family comes up again. It was a blast.
I'll have to log the total mileage tomorrow. I forgot to check the odometer before I got out of the car earlier tonight!
Toodles for now...
This entry was posted on Tuesday, May 12, 2009 and is filed under vacation . Monitor this post through the RSS 2.0 feed. You may leave a comment, or trackback from your own site.
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