Another Woodsy Walk

Today we walked on a very pretty path through the woods, a CAMBA bicycle trail very near our place (just drove a very short distance to where County Road M meets CR D.  

This was a certified CAMBA bicycle path - but we didn’t know we really weren't to walk on it, that WI trails are user specific. (Shhhh.. Don't tell anyone!)

    We saw lots of mushrooms, and even a bear pawprint – although we weren’t sure at first.   Joan wanted to take this branch back to the condo but we elected just a very small sample.

   We would want Nancy and Stu to join us on the paths when they come in two weeks to visit, but Stuart said the ticks were too dangerous.  (We reminded him that they had walked up Mt Telemark with us before in the tall grass -where the ticks are - and he said, “Well, we didn’t know about it then. So we will NEVER walk in the woods, only on gravel or paved roads.”) So we're going to look for ones to go to for when they are here.

Walking in the Woods in Wisconsin

We are still trying to walk a couple of miles each day, and want to find trails to walk.   It’s pretty easy to do that up here in the Northwoods, if we can just find the trails!   There are a lot of certified bicycle trails and ATV trails.  (and of course snowmobile trails, but they are not covered with snow yet.)

     Today we found about the Cable Natural History Museums children’s park and trails, so we took that through the woods.  

Nice meeeting place for kids

Skywalk (cute idea)

Sometimes we could not even see the trail, though (rather reminiscent of Joan’s sister-in law Linda searching for the route on the Appalachian Trail)

Where's the path?

     We like mushrooms.

There are several choices of paths to take along the way and eventually we came out on a road – different than the one we had gone in on.   Also it was raining by then.  (Fortunately we wore our “Disney World” jackets with hoods.)  We guessed about the way to walk and yes did find the right road (Randysek Rd) and then walked down to the entrance of the park area…and found our van waiting!

Arrived at Telemark

We arrived at Telemark Sunday after driving up from Rochester, even stopping at Costco in Minneapolis.  We are in unit 402 out at Telemark Point (on the lake), where we have been before (and you have seen the other photos.)  More trees have been removed so we have a better view of the lake from this unit now and even from the couch, there is a pretty view of the lake.  We can even see a pretty sunset sky through the trees.

Look at these cute puppets we found in the Cable Natural History Museum Gift Shop which we visited today.  We saw our friends Marge and Deb here.

It's a kestrel (they have one here)

Joan's Dream House (an airbnb)

     Tuesday, we traveled to Northbrook, IL and stayed with our good friend Myrna so Ron can visit his mother (95 years old now) in a home in Elgin (the Vines.)  We stayed two nights there and then went to Rochester, MN to visit Aunt Velva.  We usually stay in a motel for 2 days there in order to spend an entire day with Velva.  Joan had reserved a Choice hotel, but then Ron need to go to Albert Lea on a business day for an appointment, so she looked at Airbnb for a place… and found one in Austin, about half way between the two cities, for only $27/night.  (PS, they have since raised the price.)  An entire house; a historical house!  Just what Joan loves!  She wrote the owners, as it was a new listing and they answered immediately and happy to let us know that we would be the first guests.  https://www.airbnb.com/rooms/20457684 

    The price was so low because they are still remodeling/upgrading it (and then we also found when we got there, it is for sale.) They asked us for comments for hosting improvements and Joan texting them several ideas.   
        (Yes, it’s for sale, but also offered for nightly rentals.)  So low since they're remodeling some rooms)  It’s 3900+ sq feet and the rooms go on and on.     
 It was built in 1908.

Large kitchen

Large living room, even with a grand piano (and it was in tune!)

     

So many windows

Huge bedroom

Owners original art above the fireplace

Joan really loved it; staying at an Airbnb like this for a few days is how we can enjoy being in a large older home without any maintenance problems.

Here’s Joan’s review:

     “This is my dream house; we loved staying here!  The total house is huge (3900+ sq feet) and is a work in progress, as the owners are continuing to fix it up, especially working in the three other bedrooms upstairs.  But the guest quarters finished are beautiful and large: large kitchen, dining room, living room (complete with grand piano) and the large bedroom upstairs with a huge bay window.  Multiple bathrooms to use.  Windows everywhere, many leaded glass.  New dishwasher, refrigerator and there is a glass topped stovetop (with oven too, of course), and a microwave. Plenty of heavy duty silverware  and the owners  have also left their good dishes in the built-in hutch.  Two antique softly chiming mantle clocks are a joy to hear and there are many other antique furniture pieces.  The owner also is an artist and has several original paintings, including a beautiful one over the fireplace.  Victorian wall sconces and chandeliers are throughout the house.

      There are condiments and space in the kitchen cabinets which were much appreciated as we “eat in” most meals.  The garden outside was also available to us for fresh produce.  There is also a great sun porch with wicker furniture. 

     The wifi was very fast.  The large bedroom was so nice to have the space and beautiful lamps, and the bed was so comfortable, we fell asleep immediately.

     Owners were quick to respond and the place is as described.  We WANT to come here again!!!!!”

Here is their reply:  “Wonderful guests!!!!! Positive upbeat people. Kind and considerate guests who shared their insight and experiences with us (at our request and urging) about improving our Airbnb offering. Zero hesitations with these folks!!! We would love to host them again.”

Visiting Aunt Velva, 105 years old

Had a wonderful visit with Aunt VELVA today in Rochester, MN. She's 105 years old. We were quite concerned at first (well, we are still concerned) because she was asleep in her chair, and bent over, when we arrived and did not wake up. Nurses reported that she sleeps most of the time and barely talks. We just stayed with her in her room, looking at her photo albums, and she eventually woke up and gave us a big smile and talked some .... sometimes strangely, granted. Then she wanted to wander around, so Ron pushed her some and she also used her foot, too, in the wheelchair. We were there from 10 am to 5 pm, minus the lunch hour, and for a couple of hours, she was awake

She liked to look at the photo cards Joan has been sending, 

especially the older picture.

Here's the (Shutterfly) photo book Joan sent for her brthday

"That's me!" she said.

What a Great Little Diner

We needed to eat lunch but the non-chain local eateries, which we like to go to, (we find them on Tripadvisor) in Albert Lean all closed about 1 p.m. and we were later than that.  So we rushed back to Austin to go to this cute little one, and had one of the best hamburgers ever.  They make them with crumbled hamburger meat so there is much less fat.  They've been there since 1938!

Here's the owner Sara, who greeted us so wonderfully.

We then spent the afternoon with a friend, Carol Brown, who has long loved the house we were renting, so she loved to visit us there and get the “tour.”  

Albert Lea (MN)

Ron had several errands to run in Albert Lea today but he also drove around looking at places he had lived.  The new owners of the Clark Street house have made such a beautiful garden with more and more changes since we were here last. 

 He was also surprised to see that the old high school had been completely torn down and the area is now a parking lot for the Mayo clinic in town.

He stopped by the courthouse and also enjoyed the military memorial there too.