Alma Center Strawberrry Festival

We've been busy. And our computer/internet hasn't been the greatest lately, so that's why it's been so long between posts. At least that's the story I'm giving - in case anyone is paying attention.

This past weekend was the Alma Center (Wisconsin) Strawberry Festival. Alma Center advertises itself as the "Strawberry Capital of Wisconsin". That's a fair boast for a town of less than 500 people. And the only producer of strawberries that we found has a Merrillan WI address, which is five miles away, and with a modest 17 acres. Hmmmmmm, Bold marketing, but it works. Their festival is THREE days long (all you festival promoters, take note) and draws thousands of visitors. We went the afternoon of the third day and there was standing room only all over town. It was a packed house. Alma Center is 3 miles from our KOA.

Here's Pat with some of the strawberries we purchased. You can believe that Grandma is going to be canning jam this week! Strawberries is what the festival is all about.

Great old car show at the Strawberry Festival. This old Studebaker is one example of the quality of the old cars on display. And the reason we can be here is because it's only 3 miles from the KOA campground we are working in for the summer. We always try to work in a little play among the work. Does that make sense?

Pat couldn't resist making her own KOA earrings to wear while on duty.

And here she is, on duty, in the Office/General Store of Hixton/Alma Center KOA. Doesn't she look just great?!

When we look out our dining room window we can see the KOA pond. I estimate it at 50' wide by 100' long. It really did have a 30" musky. It started out as a little fish that just couldn't stop eating everything else in the pond. It was almost in danger of being the ONLY fish in the pond and starving to death. Now that it's been caught, and eaten, the smaller fish are doing better.

This is part of the Comstock Strawberry Farm. U-pick, or pre-picked. Great, fresh strawberries.

Mr. Comstock and one of his sons at the Alma Center Strawberry Festival.

Old tractors as well as old cars were on display at the Festival.

Aren't these beautiful berries?

Pat and Robert Comstock looking over strawberries. Eight quart containers makes one flat.

A neighboring community, Black River Falls, has a Blue Butterfly Festival.

The Alma Center parade lasted just over one hour. Pretty good for a town of less than 500 people. Many neighboring communities offer support.

Look at "the wave". If you don't know what Spanferkel means, you're just not into Wisconsin life. It has something to do with pork, and it's another excuse for a festival. Notice it's three days. We'll be there, you betcha.

Can you believe these girls were doing the chicken dance? Here they believe in making their festivals out of whatever is available. In Eleva, it's chickens. I note, with sadness, that we have once again missed the Testicle Festival in Montana. Well, you just can't get to all of them.

Some of the Lion Club volunteers putting the dinners together on Sunday. We had the 1/4 chicken dinner (all white meat) for a mere $5, including beverage. People were lined up for a block or more waiting to be served. And it was a good meal.

The Alma Center Community Park, as seen from across one of the many fields surrounding the town. It's kind of the middle of nowhere, but just jam packed with people having a good time.

This is Sunday wear in Alma Center. Notice the button collared dress shirt. Yah, well, we just fit right in 'cause we dress to blend - and that's comfortable.

Stay with us. There's a lot more summer coming. See ya.

Dave & Pat

Family Stuff and Hixton KOA Happenings

We've been at Hixton KOA for one month as of today. So far we've been kept pretty busy and haven't had much time off. We did manage to squeeze in a couple of trips to Saint Paul, one together and one by Pat alone. Some of the family events are included in this blog. Melanie and her girls came to the campground for an overnight visit as well. So, one month down and about 4-1/2 months to go until we head back to Texas for the winter. We will have some days off during the summer to do some more local visiting.

Melanie and Isabel contemplating their S'Mores.

Bailey, Pat, Isabel and Melanie making S'Mores.

Mother robin feeding her baby in our yard.

Baltimore Oriole at the orange feeder.

Bailey and Meghan helping Grandma serve ice cream at the KOA ice cream social.

Ruby-throated hummingbirds at our feeder.

Daughter Lori, her son Dominic and Pat at Dominic's 8th grade award ceremony. Dominic received three awards from Maplewood Middle School. Good Job!, Dominic.

Bailey, Meghan and Dominic watching Melanie light up the candles on her birthday cake.

Come back often. We'll have new news each time.

Dave & Pat

Hixton/Alma Center KOA, Wisconsin

It wasn't quite a straight line from Texas to Minnesota as we made week-long stops in Mascoutah, Illinois (already blogged), Rockford, Illinois, and Saint Paul, Minnesota. Our destination for the summer was the Hixton/Alma Center KOA, where we are now, for a Workamper job. After having the entire past year OFF we felt we could use a little structure and responsibility for a few months. We'll be in Wisconsin until some time in October, and then head back to the Texas Gulf Coast for another warm winter in the sun.

This is Melanie's oldest, Meghan, at a dance recital in Saint Paul.

Pat and daughter Angel beading during the week we were at Rockford IL.

Angel and her girls, Sabrina, left, and Erika, right.

Here is daughter, Melanie with her Brownie Scout troop in Saint Paul.

Pat got to help the Brownies with a cookie sale survey during their meeting.

Dave's major project at Hixton KOA has been the finishing of the new bath house and construction of the surrounding deck and rails.

Pat's major projects have included planting numerous gardens around the campgrounds.

The CG is on 88 acres of wooded land. Golf carts are used to get around just about everyplace, and when it's not busy with campers Molly and Annie get to go along sometimes.

We'll have more photos and reports soon. There is a pond about 50 yards from our rig, and the birds here are both plentiful and exotic. As I write this I'm watching 3 Baltimore Orioles feeding off a half orange I put out late yesterday. Next time I'll have a bird list and photos for you to enjoy.

As usual, we can be reached by our usual email address, dwink@supersat2.net, or on our cell phones, 509-936-2557, Dave, and 509-671-3007, Pat. Our mailing address for the summer is 9657 State Hwy 95, Alma Center WI 54611. If you're in the area, come see us. The KOA is only 3.5 miles north of I-94 on Hwy 95 - Exit 105. That's 15 miles west of Black River Falls WI.

It's been a busy time - traveling from Texas all the way to Minnesota with stops in north Texas, SW Arkansas, southern Illinois, northern Illinois, Wisconsin and Minnesota. We're presently (April 20-25) in Minnesota. The following photos are only a part of the current trip, and there will be more to follow in the near future. After April 27 we will be at the Hixton KOA for the summer.

Human-sized kaleidascope at the City Museum in Saint Louis.

World's largest pencil - 72' long, 22,500 pounds. Also at City Museum.

City Museum can make one tired. Pat and Malwina taking a little nap after climbing.

Pat and son Steve in caves of City Museum.

Dave in one of the tunnels of City Museum.

Pat crawling through hollow log in tunnel system. (And we thought this place was for kids).

Easter egg project at Steve's house in Mascoutah IL.

Decorating eggs is hard work.

At a Cardinal game in Saint Louis. Typical fan.

Da Wave! Here comes da Wave.

Cardinals Fredbird with some fans.

Albert Pujols hitting Grand Slam.

Ice Cream vendor at Cardinal's game.

Spring at the Saint Louis Arch.

Ready for a Blues game in Saint Louis. Maciek, Pat, Daniel & Steve.

The Road Less-Traveled

Whenever we are traveling fairly long distances we will frequently take state highways instead of the larger and faster Interstate highways. Of course, the state highway has to be in fairly good shape and not needlessly add a lot of miles to our trip. There are a lot of interesting (and good) state roads that parallel the interstates, and provide a lot more scenery and attractions. The pace is usually a little slower, although not a lot, and it's easier to stop to see something if you want to. Recently, we passed through Chester, Illinois while following the "River Roads" through Arkansas and Illinois. Chester is on the Mississippi in southwest Illinois. It is the home of "Popeye, the Sailor Man." The town has capitalized on the Popeye theme and it is a successful means of attracting tourists to this barely wide spot on IL Hwy 3. The creator of Popeye, Elzie Segar, was born in Chester in 1894. He later became a cartoonist and used actual residents of Chester as the basis for some of his cartoon characters. If you want to learn more, you can contact the Popeye website at www.popeyethesailor.com.

Spinach Can Collectibles, and the Popeye Museum in Chester, Illinois.

Mural on building that was the Chester Opera House and Segar's Thimble Theater. Building now houses the Popeye Museum and Spinach Can Collectibles.

I had the pleasure of meeting Miss Olive Oyl in the Popeye Museum.

The owner/manager of the museum loves dachshunds (has 5 of them).

Statue of Wimpy, one of four Popeye characters honored by statues in Chester.

More of our adventures in Illinois will be coming soon. Keep checking back often.

Dave & Pat

Spring (Hah!) in Illinois

We're back in the Family Camp at Scott Air Force Base near Mascoutah, Illinois. The base is about 25 miles east of Saint Louis MO, and there is a light rail system between here and STL, which we may take advantage of one day next week. The trip from Texas to Mascoutah is about 1400 miles, which we made with only two overnight stops. We probably would have taken a longer time on the road if the weather had been a little nicer. Yesterday I had to scrape ice off the windshield. Today is Saturday, and it is raining. The thermometer on our picnic table says 48 deg. The prediction for Sunday and Monday is possible snow with temps in the 30's. I think we left Texas too early.
The afternoon weather on Friday was pretty decent. The sun was shining, there was a very light breeze, and it was warm in the sun. Still cool in the shade, however. I managed to get a coating of rubber roof dressing on the RV's roof, and caulked some spots that indicated slight leakage while driving through rain.
We'll be at Scott AFB until the 13th, at which time we will venture even further north to Rockford. It really is kind of neat to see the advance of spring moving northward. I do think that we moved a little too fast and got a little ahead of the advance. Oh well, it was a great winter in Texas.