Wisconsin weekend

Another Spring Green, Wisconsin weekend. Photos in reverse order.
Happenings in reverse order.
9' tall corn.
Somehow avoided a speeding ticket.
Avoided washouts from Wisconsin's torrential  rain storms.

Fantastic production of 'Born Yesterday' at American Players Theater.
A delicious tart cherry beer.
Land's End photo shoot.
Bargains at the Bargain Nook
Mineral Point
Pendarvis

Bob's Bitchin' Barbecue

Dodgeville

Don Q Inn

Spring Green, Wisconsin

I joined the annual trip to Spring Green, Wisconsin again this year. I picked up Rose and we headed to St. Paul to get Dave. We stopped to get coffee before driving to JT and Linda's in Burnsville. We transferred to the Taylor vehicle and drove to the Buckboard in Lakeville for breakfast.

Since we were already south of the Twin Cities and Burnsted's is no longer, we took a southerly route to Spring Green. We were all surprised by how much fall color there was. It was really pretty all along the route. We stopped at a nice rest stop on Interstate 90 west of the Wisconsin border. It had an incredible overlook.

We made good time and met Megan and Michael at the Spring Valley Inn in Spring Green. The hotel no longer serves dinner so we went to Freddie's in Spring Green. The restaurant was a bank at one time. We were sat in the vault. Good food and good friends.

Saturday morning I got in an almost 6 mile run of the flattest land ever. A little pool time then breakfast at The General Store, of course. Dave had a good idea to go to Tower State Park instead of shopping. Dave, JT and I went to the state park which was just a mile from the hotel. It was warm and humid but such an interesting site. Lead buckshot was made using a hand carved hole and tunnel in the limestone.

Saturday night we attended Pericles, King of Tyre at American Players Theater. It was a fantastic production. The Hill stage has been renovated along with the audience/concession area. Really nice.

Sunday we ate breakfast as usual at The Shed. Then headed home via the Mississippi River route. It took a lot longer than expected but was very scenic. You will have to ask about the sports car, driver and hat story.

 A picnic along the Mississippi River (on the way home)

Downtown Spring Green

We stopped at an apple orchard in Wisconsin

Mississippi River from Wisconsin side

Inside the tunnel at Tower State Park

The hand dug hole for making lead buckshot

My Saturday morning run took me by this

Spring Green

My trip actually started before even leaving Minneapolis. I went to Isles for a quick coffee. I was about to leave when I noticed a woman who had just walked in. She looked a lot like an actress I knew from my Guthrie Theatre days. I said 'Brenda Wehle?'. It was indeed her. We spent a few minutes catching up before I left to pick up Rose.

Bernstad's desserts

Rose and I picked up Dave in St. Paul, had coffee and were on our way. We made the traditional stops at the Wisconsin rest stop and Bernstad's in Tomah. Only Bernstad's is not the same. The restaurant is still there with the rotating desserts but the rest of the retail space is empty or being emptied. The grocery store is now a Gordy's.

We made it to the Spring Valley Inn, our favorite place to stay in Spring Green, Wisconsin. Megan and Michael were driving from Iowa City but we did not expect to see them for dinner. Rose, Dave and I each had the fish dinner. A lightly battered pan fried walleye prepared by Cole Rasmussen. It was fantastic. We were about to get up from dinner when Megan and Michael walked in.

Saturday was relaxing and on your own time. Rose went swimming in the pool. I went for a run. Megan and Michael joined up with Rose. Dave slept in.

We all went into Spring Green for a late breakfast and some shopping. Back at the hotel I rested, Rose read, the Petkewecs watched a movie for their movie club meeting, Dave went to Peck's.

APT oicnic

Saturday evening we picnicked before our show in the indoor theater at American Players Theatre . This was our first indoor performance. The space is wonderful and the building is creatively set in the woods. We saw Edward Albee's Seascape.

After the show and back at the Spring Valley Inn, we made s'mores and made new friends at the bonfire.

Sunday meant breakfast at The Shed and then home. It was a great trip. It was nice to be more relaxed.

Michael and Megan at the picnic

Tending the fire

Annual Spring Green, Wisconsin road trip.

Last weekend was the annual Spring Green,  WI - American Players Theater trip.
This year Rose, Dave and Jeff drove from Minneapolis. And Michael and Megan drove from Iowa. The weather was amazing and gorgeous.

Rose was challenged to find a hotel with available rooms even having started several months ago. No hotel was available in Spring Green so we ended up in Dodgeville, about 18 miles away. We've stayed in Dodgeville before but never at the Don Q Inn.

As you can see the Don Q Inn has a very special feature... this Boeing Stratofreighter in the front.

And that's kind of just the start of it.  We enjoyed our stay at the quirky Don Q Inn.

The show at APT was The Critic by Richard Brinsley Sheridan. On my gosh! The production was hysterical. At one point in the second act, I had tears streaming down my face from laughing so hard.