Muddy Waters

It’s time to dust off the “blog files” and begin a new series of them… particularly since Diane and I are, again, on the road (not to be confused with On the Road Again; sorry Willie).  Our definition of “on the road” does not include time spent within easy driving distance of our little imp… Phoebe.  Having spent a majority of time since returning to the Midwest from Florida in May near her, we’re now at Coon Lake County Park, outside the thriving megalopolis of Augusta, Wisconsin.  I’d tell you about the wonderful, large Veteran’s Park in Augusta (right next to, strangely enough, the local bakery)… but that would be getting ahead of the story.

First to relate is our leaving the Land of 10,001 Lakes.  It has rained so much this summer, I’m sure there is at least one more… so I’ll not try too hard to count, but just chalk up the one additional.  It was raining when we left (surprise) and the best description of our departure from good friends’ house (thanks Barb and Dave) is a piece of advice.  Never try to pull or push a camper when you can’t stand up in the mud.  Had it not been for Dave’s tractor (he’s really such a Deere), we’d still be at their place, downhill from the horse barn instead of comfortably up the hill, alongside the road.

We’re in Wisconsin because, unlike last year’s pleasure drive of 15 states in eight weeks (far too long and fast, but we certainly learned how to set up and take down the trailer), this year is a more measured five states in the same time period.  I’ll be speaking 20 times in Wisconsin, Michigan and Ohio before heading back through Indiana and Illinois; enjoying some scenery, visiting Florida friends and seeing fun things (like the oldest concrete street in the US).  It is a grand experiment to see if I can actually travel, talk and sell books at the same time.  I know you know the talking is not the hard part… ‘nough said.  We‘ll be blogging from Door County, the Lake Michigan Sand Dunes, and Cuyahoga National Park (look that one up) along with many other interesting points.

Right now Diane is looking through countless information magazines we picked up at the Wisconsin rest area yesterday.  At this point I’m going to guess those slimmer jeans I bought are going to stay in the closet for a while.  What with cheese factories and Farmers Markets on almost every street corner here… oh well, when in Rome…