Off to Wisconsin . . .

We are driving to Wisconsin to visit our grand children (and their parents).  It is not too far, about 900 miles or so up through Oklahoma, Missouri, Illinois and then into Wisconsin.  Madison, the destination, is not to far into Wisconsin, and a very pleasant place to visit.  It is moderately cosmopolitan city being both a state capital and home of the University of Wisconsin.  It has two grand lakes, one huge and one not so big.  Quite a beautiful place.

On the way back we will detour and go into Iowa to visit our friends who moved there from Ruidoso, NM.  What a change in climate and location for them, from the desert and mountains to the plains and corn fields.  It will be good to see them, they have stopped by to see us many times, so it is our turn to visit.

Then we will dash down I-35 back to Weatherford and the heat.  But the new route back will be a change and thus a bit more fun to see the country side from a different direction.  We will be traveling literally down the middle of the great USA.

We will be driving in relative comfort in the "whale."  The whale is a big silver Lincoln Navigator.  It is big and floats down the road, hence its name - the whale.  Nice and cool in side, plenty of room and even has air conditioned seats.   With satellite radio we can listen to uninterrupted talk radio, or music of our choice.  While the whale consumes more gasoline it has a bigger gas tank, so we will stop in our usual spots to lunch and refuel on the way up.  The way down will be for the most part an all new route for us.

We are looking forward to a cool respite but not sure what we will get up there in the frozen Narth.  It can get really warm at times but that big lake tends to keep Madison comfortable.   Hard to believe that in winter both lakes freeze over.  Sailing in the summer and ice fishing in the winter.