Adventures of a Wrinkled Wanderer: Retirement Fun by Jan Milbradt
This week I am featuring the first of hopefully many guest posts by my sister, Jan Milbradt. Jan is a 65 year old retired school teacher who loves to travel! Dressed in one of her 8 tie dyed shirts (one for each day of the week, plus an extra), she has been to New York City, Houston, Wisconsin, Colorado, Arizona, St. Louis, Glacier National Park, New Mexico, San Antonio, and numerous places in the state of Kansas. She has been married to her husband Allan for 42 years, has two children (Jake and Delaney), and two grandchildren (Ian and Emma). Join Jan in her retirement fun!
September 22, 2018
The adventure begins! I am driving to St. Louis to stay all night with my cousin Pat. Then tomorrow morning, it’s off to Baraboo, Wisconsin to stay with my friend Jane at her vacation home on the Wisconsin river. This is the third year I have done this, and I certainly hope it won’t be my last. I will stop several places along the way to stretch my legs and unhinge my creaky old knees.
My first stop was at the world renowned Bazaar Cattle pens along the Kansas 135 turnpike. I pulled off onto the scenic overlook and took a picture of Kansas’ beautiful Flint Hills.
The rolling hills were unseasonably green for late September in Kansas. After a brief stop for lunch at my favorite restaurant in Emporia, The House of Ma, I rolled on to my next destination. For those of you from the El Dorado area that enjoyed the food at Chin’s restaurant, The House of Ma has nearly the identical menu.
**Epiphany #1 You don’t realize what a truly crappy singer you are until you are stuck for hours riding in a car with only yourself as company and zero reception on the radio.
After a zippadeedooda drive around Kansas City I headed west on what, in my opinion, was the suckiest drive of the trip. Yep, I’m talking about the nearly bumper to bumper I-70 exchange from KC to St. Louis. I don’t know how many of you know this about me, but I tend to suffer from a little bit of road rage now and then (ask Christy). By the time I arrived in Columbia, MO (two hours from St. Louis), steam was emanating from every orifice of my body and my vocabulary would have made Ralphie’s Dad blush. (Sons of bitches Bumpuses!) I finally arrived in St. Louis, and enjoyed a brief, albeit colorful visit with Pat.
September 23, 2018
The next day, it was over the mighty Mississippi and I headed north.
I finally arrived at Jane’s place and hit the sack pretty early, eager to begin my Wisconsin adventure.
**Epiphany #2 Several consecutive meals of Chinese food does not help a 65 year old digestive system, and contrary to what I have been told, one’s farts do NOT smell better with age.
September 24,2018
Since the weather was supposed to be beautiful today, we drove over to Devil’s Lake State Park. The park was pretty crowded for a Monday, and the scenery was breathtaking.
I practiced my selfie skills and discovered that they still suck.
**Epiphany #3 Holding the camera at arm’s length does NOT fool the lens, but it does keep it from breaking.
September 25,2018
Today was pig out day. After running a few necessary errands, we headed over to my favorite place to eat in Baraboo, The Log Cabin. I am pleased (ashamed?) to announce that I ordered one large pancake, two eggs, four pieces of bacon, hash brown casserole, and sour dough toast. As we left the restaurant, one half piece of toast waved goodbye from atop the remains of my hash brown casserole. We ordered a take out dinner of turkey and dressing for two to eat the next night. After brunch, we drove to one of several lavender farms in the Baraboo area, New Life Lavender and Cherry Farm. Interestingly, the owner is from Hays, KS, and had just moved to Baraboo two years ago to plant his 40 acre lavender farm.
Unfortunately, the lavender was not in bloom and most of it had been cut back for winter. I guess I need to return next year in June or July. Just as we departed the lavender farm, rain started pouring down on us, and we scurried back to The Eagles Nest to watch it from inside, while enjoying our incredible view.
**Epiphany #4 It is impossible to run between raindrops, and after 65 years my hair still frizzes when it is rained upon.
September 26,2018
What a beautiful day! It was the perfect weather for visiting The International Crane Foundation, which is just a few miles from Jane’s place. This place has the only complete live collection of crane species in the world. There were 15 different kinds of cranes living there, a conservationist’s dream. The birds were very tame, and most ran to the fence to greet newcomers. Wild Sandhill Cranes abound in the area, and as we exited the ICF, we saw several in a field.
**Epiphany #5 Even some cranes are taller than me.
September 27,2018
Today we decided to go to a movie. We saw Christopher Robin, which Jane and I alternated sleeping through. After the movie we went to a cheese store where I bought some “squeak” cheese (Wisconsin’s nickname for cheese curds) to bring home. We discovered a friend in front of the store!
I made an executive decision and decided to return home via a different route, in order to avoid the mind numbing route along I-70.
September 28,2018
“On the road again. I just can’t wait to get on the road again.” I left at 9:00 a.m. and traveled a circuitous route through too many towns (or bergs, as my Grandma Hazel called them) to list. Eventually I wound up on Highway 151 and arrived at Dubuque, IA. It was 11:00 a.m. and I was starving! I had foregone breakfast, thinking I would find a little cafe to eat in along the way. In Dubuque something better presented itself.
I quickly pulled over, grabbed a bite to eat, and headed for the penny slots. My first spin rewarded me with $78.00 and it went uphill from then.. After 40 minutes, I left with 200 dollars more than I walked in with. I drove until I reached Des Moines, checked into a Hampton Inn and crashed for the the night.
**Epiphany #6 When you are lucky at slots, you need to immediately take the money and run, (something I rarely do) because your luck always changes.
September 29,2018
I arrived home around 5:00 p.m. to two very happy pups. I love my travels, and will be on the road again soon.
**Epiphany #7 There really is no place like home!
Jane’s place, The Eagle’s Nest, is for rent on iTrip. This is a link to it and you can see more pictures. https://www.itrip.net/baraboo-vacation-rental/Eagles-Nest-Baraboo
It really was a lovely stay. The Aldo Leopold Center and refuge is across the road from The Eagles’s Nest. Aldo wrote The Sand County Almanac and was one of our nation’s first conservationists. We didn’t go there this time, but it is well worth a visit. https://www.aldoleopold.org/visit/the leopold-center/
