alexandriacardinals

August 1

In real time, it is now August 17 and photos of a new Hoosier have just been posted on Facebook.  George Mulder, of solid Minnesota stock, is entering IU’s Musical Theatre program, with the phase-in period aided and abetted by the most famous Hoosier of them all, Reetz (well, tied with her sister, the other ‘Biddie’).  Here’s George, with his folks Nicole and John of Eden Prairie, Minnesota, with the aforementioned Reetz doing some fine dining somewhere in Hoosierland.  At some point this year, George’s Alexandria grandparents will make the trip to Bloomington to see his first stage performance.

And now back to our regularly scheduled programming . . . 

[Another beautiful morning at camp lakeside . . . ]

[As we expect all such mornings to be . . . ]

[The sails all bright and perky, ready to go . . . ]

[After breakfast, back up top for the flag raising . . . ]

[And the birdie song.]

[It was going to be a big morning . . . RACE DAY!!!  Here Ruthie’s Baby sits out front of our cottage, Rappaport, ready to leave for Road America.  Three members from Rappaport – Katie, Beth, and Chris – were going to compete at that internationally-famous venue . . . ]

[And in short order, we arrive – well, it’s in Elkhart Lake.]

[The race track . . . ]

[After checking everyone’s credentials . . . ]

[We were off . . . ]

[All the campers, I believe over 40, went driving in . . . ]

[Past various buildings, restaurants, stands, and such . . . ]

[Still going . . . ]

[Even motorcycles . . . ]

[And we’re here . . . ]

[The Go-Kart track!]

[General milling around while the crowd purchases their tickets . . . ]

[It was getting hot in the bright sun . . . ]

[There would be 16 karts on the track at once, everyone would have three 5-minute runs, in every 3rd group . . . ]

[And here’s Katie “Parnelli” Frisbie . . . ]

[Certainly must be a heat favorite after her successful negotiation of the Subaru from Sheboygan to Elkhart Lake!]

[And they’re off, and here’s Katie in Kart No. 42 . . . ]

[Petal to the metal, zoom, zoom, zoom!]

[Heading into the far turn . . . ]

[And now I begin to cover some of the other campers coming through, I believe this is Chris . . . ]

[Then Beth in Katie’s kart . . . ]

[Then Dan Pratter, the horseshoe king . . . ]

[Chris, again . . . ]

[Phyllis Camilleri, geology professor, Austin Peay (yes, one doesn’t need to be a Hoosier)]

[Kent Longardner, the youngest son of the DOM and Vick, who as a pair have been coming to Brosius for 39 years . . . ]

[Jenny Longardner, related by marriage to the previously mentioned Kent.]

[Chris?]

[Kent?]

[Chris?]

[Oh, hi Beth!]

[And Jenny]

[Jack Deibert, geology professor, Austin Peay]

[The pit crews discussing strategies . . . ]

[Time to go . . . the big boys were having a major event here later in the week.]

[So what does one do after a hot morning of racing?  Go to the winery!]

[This is SoLu, in Cascade, about a half hour drive from Elkhart Lake . . . ]

[This winery is really quite new but appears to have big plans . . . ]

[They have a vineyard, and . . . beehives!  Their number one wine, at the moment, and maybe will be their specialty, is mead (honey wine was humankind’s first alcoholic beverage . . . ]

[That’s fine, I find mead quite tasty.  But they also have a lot of the basics, and in their vineyard are growing Marquette and Frontenac grapes.]

[Outdoor drinking (and eating?) and . . . music . . . ]

[And since we were all out of our “Other” wine . . . ]

[We needed some more . . . ]

[And through our tastings, the Super and I settled on an ice wine (always good) and a Traminette (like gewurztraminer) . . . ]

[And then back to camp for some fine dining . . . ]

[And I believe this night was actually “adult dining” night (the kids are sent to town for bowling and hot dogs), though the DOM seems totally nonplussed about it all . . . ]

[And then in continuation of an already busy day, it was university program night. Every year someone from the university gives a one night presentation to the campers about their area of expertise.  This year it was Marla Mock on diabetes.  I asked if I could take her picture because she looked like Alexandria’s school superintendent, Julie Critz . . . ]

[Julie Critz]

What I know about auto racing could be inscribed with a dry Magic Marker on the lip of a Coke bottle.  ~  David Foster Wallace

Up Next:  Camp

* “Chahinkapa,” meaning end of the woods,” was a favorite meeting place for the Indians who established summer camps for bison hunting. (Wikipedia)

Chahinkapa Zoo, Prairie Rose Carousal and Fort Abercrombie…oh MY!

Chahinkapa Zoo is home to 70 species representing 6 continents and over 200 animals. 

• The Prairie Rose Carousel is one of a handful of operating antique carousels in the United States. 

• On our way home we will stop at Fort Abercrombie for a guided walking tour. 

Enrollment includes charter bus, zoo and fort admissions and a light picnic snack. Bring a cooler with your own lunch and beverages. Tour facilitator Van Gooch has taught biology at U of M Morris.  He will have your kids in stitches as he gives us a preview of the animals on the way to the zoo.

[A Community Education class, for in the immortal words of Alvy Singer [Woody Allen] in Annie Hall, ‘Cause adult education’s a wonderful thing. You meet a lot of interesting professors. You know, it’s stimulating.]

[15 of us met at the Discovery Middle School parking lot for the trip to Wahpeton, North Dakota, and encountered wildlife immediately.  An osprey atop a cell tower.]

[Professor Gooch shepherds his minions into the bus.]

[And away we go!  It would be about an hour and a half ride, I-94 to Fergus Falls, turn left at Mabel Murphy’s toward Breckenridge, cross the border over the Red River, et voila – Wahpeton!]

[And here’s the Red River of the North, famed in song and story . . . ]

[And here’s Wahpeton (well, sorta).]

[And here we are at the best little zoo nobody’s ever heard of.  Van noted those of us who live in Minnesota kind of live under a Minnesota/Wisconsin bubble and aren’t aware of what’s immediately to the west of us.  Beginning the 70’s, he brought his UMM students here to study animal physiology.]

[Chahinkapa Zoo is located on 32-acres in Wahpeton. Opened in 1933 on land that had been purchased in 1903, it is the first zoo built in North Dakota. It is open May through October and by appointment during the winter. (Wikipedia)]

[Here’s Van with his mentoree, Mason . . . ]

[As we prepare for . . . ]

[The class photo . . . ]

[Taken courtesy of zoo director, Kathy Diekman.]

[And into the zoo . . . ]

[Let’s visit the Grizzlies!]

[Apologies here, for a common problem at my age is I can’t remember names – here for neither the keepers nor the bears.]

[The bears are brother and sister, the big boy weighing in at a hefty 1,100 pounds.]

[The keepers make “requests” of the animals, useful for their enrichment and veterinary maintenance.]

[And some photos by the Super – she likes big hairy creatures . . . ]

[The sister isn’t exactly tiny either.]

[Their treat at this time were green apples.]

[And here’s a very unique and rare animal . . . ]

[With many species, particularly those endangered, zoos exhange animals to expand the gene pool . . . ]

[These snow leopards came from a zoo in Quebec . . . ]

[Chahinkapa was advised they knew how to respond to requests . . . ]

[But they didn’t?  Then they realized . . . Quebec?  They knew French!]

[So, now the snow leopards are bilingual, unlike most of us.]

[The Super’s photos . . . ]

[‘Roos!  And we were invited in.]

[Mason offers a treat . . . ]

[And the Super loves to tend animals.]

[Van feeds a big red, knowing to tread lightly around them.]

[The overseer of the ‘roos.]

[Van told us about these animals during the trip . . . ]

[I had never heard of them before . . . ]

[Pronounced “Foo-suh”]

[They’re really quick with prehensile paws.]

[Otters . . . ]

[Always having a good time.]

[As is clearly visible, we share 98% of our DNA with orangutans.]

[And here’s Tal, master of all he surveys.]

[He weighs in at over 300 pounds.]

[He and Kathy are real buds.  When we arrived, probably to show he is not one to be trifled with, he was dragging that huge tractor tire (far corner) around with one hand.]

[But he’s also a real Renaissance “man” – he paints, likes classical music, and in winter he has a lounge where he watches movies.]

[The peacocks have the run of the place.]

[Usually the first word in a dictionary.]

[This guy (gal) was huge – here on rehab?]

[Monkeying around . . . ]

[The masters of the treetops.]

[A ginormous elk, with his own indoor restroom?]

[Golden pheasant – beautiful bird]

[A rare species indeed!]

[I like flowers!]

[The Prairie Rose Carousel is a restored 1926 wood carousel built by Spillman Engineering for Lee Funland in upstate New York. It has twenty jumping horses arranged in two rows, and two chariots. Music is provided by band organ #125 from the Johnson Organ Co. The carousel is now housed in a climate controlled pavilion. (Wikipedia)]

[The ride operator has a brother in Alex.  We asked his name.  He said Dave Olson.  We said that wasn’t much help!]

[And we took a ride!]

[The Super rode Pegasus.  I forgot my horse’s name – but then I’ve never been much of a horse fan.]

[Then, back on the bus, Gus.]

[A short ride to here . . . ]

[Fort Abercrombie was established by authority of an act of Congress, March 3, 1857. The act allocated twenty-five square miles of land on the Red River of the North in Dakota Territory to be used for a military outpost, but the exact location was left to the discretion of Lieutenant Colonel John J. Abercrombie. The fort was constructed in the year 1858. It was the first permanent military settlement in what became North Dakota, and is thus known as “The Gateway to the Dakotas.”  It was besieged by the Dakota Indians for more than six weeks during the Dakota War of 1862. The fort was abandoned in 1877 and the town of Abercrombie was founded a half mile west in 1884.  The fort served as a transportation hub as it guarded the Red River Trails used by the Red River ox cart trains of the late fur trade, military supply wagon trains, stagecoach routes, and steamboat traffic on the Red River.  (Wikipedia)]

[The tall grass patches are where buildings used to be.]

[Quintessientially, North Dakota]

[Part of our group wandered the property.  I just looked on from above.]

[A bison robe . . . weighs more than Tal!]

[We had an excellent 15-20 minute talk about the history of this area from a retired preacher from Owatonna.  Among the things discussed was the caliber of ammuntion used at the time – I don’t remember all the specifics but apparently one-time the fort received 69 caliber ammo rather than 57 caliber – or vice-versa, I’m not much of a caliber guy.]

[A lovely all day trip in perfect weather.  Thanks again to Van and Cami.]

Someone told me it’s all happening at the zoo.  ~  Paul Simon

Up Next:  Back to camp?

July 31

The delays in Camp publications are due to the fact we returned home, to Vacationland USA, in early August – the “everything is going on everyday season” here!  In other words, we ain’t been home much lately trying to keep up with all the local activities.  But here’s a chance to sneak in a short one.  The first full day of camp, and most campers are trying to settle in from arriving from hither and yon and catching up with old friends.

[Each morning starts this way – and it’s particularly lovely with the perfect weather we had the first three days.]

[It’s getting to be a bit of a chore for me now.  There’s 70+ steps down to the lake shore and the mess hall – so that’s also 70+ steps back up at least three times a day.]

[But when you’re an early bird, you get to enjoy this sight . . . ]

[And this sight . . . ]

[And nothing is as colorful as the Sunfish sails by the dawn’s early light.  The staff member organizing the waterfront is from Los Angeles and going to UCLA, part of the interesting geographic mix.]

[The Sputh Roundhouse opens at 7:00 am, an hour before breakfast, where you can get coffee, muffins, fruit, and steal (errr, read) someone else’s newspaper.]

[Because camp was “rained out” our last two days, The Biddies did not get a chance to take out a Hobie Cat this year.]

[This is Laura Klaum, Director of Development & External Affairs, IUPUI, and thus the overseer of all things Brosius.  She was also taking some early morning photos, likely for promotional purposes.]

[And the Super’s down for a quick read before breakfast.]

[Beth and Chris are really into hiking and biking . . . exercise stuff.]

[These pedal paddleboards were new this year.]

[They seemed to move at a nice clip.]

[But not even beautiful weather can deter The Biddies from their appointed rounds . . . shopping at Vinnies!, a/k/a, Society of St. Vincent de Paul.]

[And the evening meal . . . ]

[Lakeside]

The ultimate camping trip was the Lewis and Clark expedition.  ~  Dave Barry

Up Next:  Methinks I’d better catch up on some back home stuff?

July 30

[A beautiful Sunday morning in Sheboygan by Lake Michigan with “The Biddies”!]

[Beth ponders the lake, which is comparable to her Pacific Ocean in San Diego.]

[This was nice, and totally unexpected.]

[Beth and Chris were guides to “the wreck,” which they had visited on their previous evening walkabout.]

[And now to the waterfront, if you hadn’t guessed.]

[It was really too bad we didn’t have a beautiful day . . . NOT!]

There’s just something about bathrooms . . . 

[After our morning stroll (yes Katie, being of high school age, preferred sleep to the walk), we went back for a visit to the Kohler Arts Center.  We couldn’t check into camp, about 20 minutes away, until 1:00 pm.]

[And if you ever get the chance to visit the Kohler bathroom showroom, you will find it comparable to the Louvre.]

[The Center was still lightly populated at this hour of the morning, so the person at the information desk suggested we check out the restrooms first – all five of them, regardless of gender.]

[The girls had a rollicking good time in the boys’ room.]

[Katie, looking for a different perspective, took shots from atop the vanity.]

[This was the theme of the current exhibits.]

[Oh, deer!]

[An homage to Glen Campbell?]

[The artist, Loy Bowlin (the “Original Rhinestone Cowboy”), had a real thing for baubles, bangles, and beads.]

Ooops, ‘nother bathroom break . . . 

[Beth was the perfect model here because she was color coordinated with it.]

[And this was the “family” restroom.]

[The Super gets up close and personal here with individual tiles . . . ]

[Children workshops]

[And back to the exhibits . . . ]

[Quite amazing – they really looked like old books, but were ceramics.]

[Same here . . . ]

[Interspersed throughout his art displays were . . . Mrs. Von Bruenchenhein.]

[This was 3D . . . oy!]

The Exhibit Overview . . . 

 

 

[The Super’s contributions . . . ]

At last, the main ladies’ room . . . 

[Reetz caught me in here!]

[Time to go . . . ]

[Some final exterior shots . . . ]

[Tiki Bar, Victorian Village, Elkhart Lake. Be there. Aloha.]

[This has become a regular stop before camp arrival – it’s on the opposite end of the lake.  The Tiki Bar is a nice place to sit and enjoy a Bloody Mary . . . and the views.]

[Could I please have more “garbage” with my Bloody Mary?]

[The bewitching hour as we drive into camp . . . ]

[Katie will be a high school sophomore this year and successfully piloted the Simon clan from Sheboygan to camp on her learner’s permit.  Uffda, they all grow up so fast!]

[Beth and Chris hopped out immediately to practice their tournament corn hole skills.]

Camping is nature’s way of promoting the motel business.  ~  Dave Barry

Up Next:  More camp . . .