Week 3

Week 3 - July 4-10

Monday - Rochester, MN to Osseo, WI - Stoney Creek RV Resort (5*)

Passing over the Mississippi River into Wisconsin.

Beautiful sunset over Osseo, Wisconsin

RV situated between 2 beautiful Christmas trees!

Tuesday - Osseo, WI area

Today's travels have us heading to two state parks in the area, Wissotta and Brunet Island.

Eastern Kingbird spotted in Wissotta SP.

Love all the bountiful flowers in this part of the country.

Hiking in Brunet Island SP

Having trouble identifying this bird. I'm thinking it's an Eastern Pee-Wee but not 100% sure. If anybody has an idea, please let me know.

Who knew driving through this town, Cadott, that we'd be half-way between the Equator and the North Pole!!!

After getting back to the campground, we realized we were in for some pretty bad weather. It was a heck of a lightening storm with lots of rain and some wind. I have to admit I was pretty nervous about this one!! But thank God, we were spared from the bad stuff!

Wednesday - Osseo, MN to Minocqua, WI - Patricia Lake Campground (3*)

After arriving at the campground and setting up, then headed downtown to see the free Min-Aqua Bats water show. Let's just say, it's a good thing it was free!

There was supposed to be 9 girls in this pyramid!!

Barefoot skiing

Saw this beauty in town

Patricia Lake at sunset

I was very, very, very lucky to get this picture of a Common Loon nesting on our little lake.

Thursday, Minocqua, WI area

Well it's raining outside today. We had planned on waterfall hikes, but we'll save that for Saturday when the weather is supposed to be better.

Going down the highway we just happened to come up on Red Crown Lodge, once the Amoco Corporation summer retreat for the elite and Terri H!!!

Next stop, Smith Rapids Covered Bridge near Park Falls

Then, this most unusual Concrete Park in Phillips. In 1962, a retired lumberjack, Fred Smith, began creating these concrete figures depicting his vision of the local culture and the world.

Then on to Timm's Hill outside Ogema

View from the fire tower

Next stop, Brigadoon Winery outside Tripoli. Hummingbird feeders were set up and there were many hummingbirds flitting about!

Ruby-throated Hummingbirds - twins!

Next stop, to the Tomahawk Chamber of Commerce.

Record setting Muskellunge from a nearby lake

And in Tomahawk spotted this Harley Davidson production plant, which produces fiberglass components and windshields for their motorcycles.

The Lincoln County Courthouse

Never heard of a Hodag! Apparently it's a folkloric animal of Wisconsin dating back to the late 1890's.

Larry's family name!

Friday, Minocqua, WI area

It's still raining outside, so we took a ride around some of the many lakes in the area. Started off on the Heritage Drive Scenic Byway then touring around the county roads of Vilas County. The state of Wisconsin has some 15,000 lakes with the majority of them in this North Woods area.

We've seen many deer, turkeys, and heard gunshots in the area!

Spotted this old Standard sign next to a BP station.

Coming back to our campground, you can barely see the egg the Common Loon was sitting on.

Time for some wine!!! And it was very good, too!

Saturday, Minocqua, WI area

Today is all about waterfalls. Of the 11 on our list we hiked to 9. Some were not very visible because of trees blocking the views.

Shay's Damn on the Turtle River

Well this is the waterfall!! This guy in the blue shirt would have talked to Larry all day!! Very nice folks.

When I went to rescue Larry from the blue shirt guy, he just kept talking and talking and I spotted these Cedar Waxwing birds behind him and finally had to excuse myself from the conversation to concentrate on the birds!!! They were eating the berries out of the tree.

Got this one in action.

This young boy caught this bass while we were there. He was so excited!!

Lake of the Falls

Amoco signs still out there!

Peterson Falls

Kimball Falls

We were so close to Lake Superior we just had to go. NOTE: two days after we were here at Saxon Harbor, a big storm blew through here and caused major damage to the harbor and 1 man lost his life in the storm trying to help others out. Such a tragedy.