Driving through Wisconsin and Minnesota
Trip Start
Apr 10, 2005
1
11
25
Trip End
Dec 20, 2005
La Cross,
Wisconsin,
United States
Tuesday, May 31, 2005
We really had no expectations of Wisconsin, even after watching quite a few episodes of That 70's Show. We found the drive very scenic, with rolling hills and endless dairy farms. Unfortunately we arrived in the area during Memorial Day Weekend, and although we knocked at the door of 3 different state parks, we were refused entry because the sites were fully booked and the weather was so nice that no one cancelled. Good luck prevailed though - we found a quiet 'scenic outlook' along one of the side roads, with a well-groomed parking and picnic area. The outlook wasn't scenic at all, which was even better because it meant there were no crowds to bother us! That's where we spent the night.
The next morning we took a tour at Frank Lloyd Wright's estate, specifically of the Hillside school he designed for his aunts and later converted into his own architectural fellowship residence and workshop
Frank Lloyd Wright Visitor Centre
. I didn't know much about FLLW in advance, but I am fully impressed and intrigued after learning that little bit on our one hour tour. Here are a few of his beliefs that I'll share with you: he would say that anything taller than six feet is wasted material (he was 5'7" or 5'8", and designed some ceiling heights not much higher than 6 ft...to draw people into a building where the ceilings were higher). He also felt there should be a law requiring all barns to be painted red. Good idea. He spent a lot of his career designing system homes - essentially, manufactured homes, that were basic but well designed in a new american aesthetic (prairie style - low to the ground with broad, sheltering roof lines) He thought that an american family should have a minimum of one acre of land to maintain their freedom and privacy. In fact his fellowship designed a model city called Broadacre City, which reflected this ideal. The model city had a hexagonal religious centre with a door on each side for a different religion, and a common area in the middle of the building - yes, he was certainly an idealist. I should stop now or I'll end up forcing you to read an essay on the guy!We decided to move along westward (since Rich is thinking of meeting us out here sometime and we want to be able to drive to meet him in reasonable time!). We drove to the border of Wisconsin and Minnesota and stayed at River Bluffs State Park overlooking the Mississipi River (see photos) Whoops - before I leave Wisconsin behind altogether, let me recommend Wisonsin Blue Harmony Cheese - it's a combination of Brie triple creme and Blue Cheese
Mississippi River at River Bluffs
. Extremely tasty (and we couldn't leave Wisconsin without buying some cheese)(note below fr Traicee)
Well you'd think that I had finally been rid of that Gary, Indiana song. Well I was wrong, cause Karin also knows a song for Wisconsin.
My name is Jan Jansen (prounced Yan, Yansen)
I come from Vinconsin
I verk in da lumberyard d'ere, ya! ya!
I verk in da steeple
I vatch all da peeple
And d'ey zay, "Allo!"
And I'd zay, "Allo!"
And d'ey zay, "Vat's your name?"
And I'd zay...
My name is Jan Jansen
I come from Vinconsin (repeat over and over and over ugh!)
