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September 2001 Photo's Cranberry Festival Warrens, Wisconsin 9/30/01 Cranberry Festival was big and is held on the last week of September. A total 650 booths of Arts and Crafts. A parade with 27 bands from local schools. It's funny when we go to one of these festivals, because we do not buy anything. With a motorhome it's impossible to collect things. Part of the Festival was a tour of how they harvest cranberries. A cranberry has to bounce 7 times to be good. Past equipment use to harvest the cranberry. More of the equipment. This time I did not do a lot of pictures, because of it mostly being of the parade. Our past photo's had a lot of parade things already. Oktoberfest 2001 La Crosse, Wisconsin 9/29/01 The beginning of the parade started in Downtown La Crosse. The Police, Fire Department, and the Army all got a standing ovation. The bands were interesting with their cheer leaders tricks. For some reason the sun did not come out till 1 PM. The temperature was in the low 60's and I know these girls were freezing. Some of the band players. Past Fest Masters were in the parade. This was 1999 Fest Master. A float in the parade. Clicking and grinning group of cloggers. The past Mrs. Oktoberfest. John Deere tractor display in the parade. They were doing driving tricks. This one was pushing a lawn mower that had a sign on it saying Intern Oktoberfest float Men and women in costume for Oktoberfest. A Fifty's group singing about Teeth Whitening using the music from the movie Grease. (Grease Lightening) Clowns Some carried their briefcase. Animal Kingdom's Star Bike stunt riders A bicycle built for many. Oktoberfest main entrance after the parade. All week they have cow chip tossing, many bands (including Trick Pony) and many other different functions. Grandad Bluff La Crosse, Wisconsin 9/22/01 Grandad Bluff is a lookout above the city of La Crosse. We all went up to the top of the bluff after hiking. The flag was at half mast for the tribute for the lost on September 11, 2001 The lookout had a chain link fence around it. You can get a great view of La Crosse from up here even on a hazy day. One of the view View 2 View 3 View 4 View 5 The blue bridge in the back ground is give a reference of where we are camping to where we are now. Side of the bluff Another angle of the bluff and view. Hixon Forest La Crosse, Wisconsin 9/22/01 Hixon Forest has nearly 9 mile of trails covering 800 acres of prairie and bluff land. The trails in the woods was a nice place to take a hike.  We started on the Sumac Trail to the Hickory Trail and the Bicentennial Trail. Michelle (Dale's Sister) and Orin (her husband) came to visit us for the weekend from Chicago. It was nice to get to see them. Along the trail there was interesting things to photo. I took a picture of a mushroom growing. Orin is a professional photographer and he bought his equipment to take some photo's. Parts of the trail.  We took different settings of the woods. Orin was helping me with the exposure settings and letting me know what the other settings were for. A bunch of mushrooms Orin again taking a photo shot. Orin on the trail Dale and Michelle waiting up for us. Taking their picture again. Dale and I getting our picture taken. The trail ended by the golf course and it was nice to see the landscape. Some guys were enjoying the day to golf. Following Michelle and Dale out of the trail. Getting a distance shot of the trail leading out of the park. Tried my Black and White setting on the camera. Took one of Michelle enjoying the Sunshine. Blair Cheese Festival Blair, Wisconsin September 16, 2001 Blair Cheese Festival was about one hour drive north of where Dale works. There is nothing like a small town parade and festival. The Start of the parade. The Mayor of Blair and his wife. Parade Marshall The Blair Queen and runners up Blair is a dairy town for milk and cheese. A little girl that was next to us loved clowns and called out to every one that walked by. The clowns went out of their way to say hi. One of the four clowns Another one And another Even future pagent children Other queens from other towns Float one Miss Arcadia, Another town nearby. Kids on floats. Dragon that blew out smoke. Another queen court. Every small town nearby and some companies had their courts. Another float. Clown playing a organ on the back of truck. A small circus train. Elderly in the parade Old delivery truck. Another float Dalmation Costume Prowler and trailer car. Wizard of Oz. Dorathy was really frowning and standing real still. It look like she was upset about something. Lady in the back of Circus truck playing a organ. Another queen court. Clubs float Bag pipers Little goat Eleva broiler Festival float ZOR group of players. Another queens court Black Rivers court And another queen court. All the court had their hand wave down. The Blair Dairy gave out small cartons of Chocolate milk to everyone attending the parade spectators A sample of the cartons they handed out. Farm Bureau Float. Augusta Lions Float ZOR Mini Cars Another court Float Another float Another float Cement company advertising. Drag car. Old Stage Coach Mini Cars Reserves were there Spanferkel  float Four H club float Band from a school Float Llama Steamboat float They showed new farm equipment that was out there. Another farm machine And another one The rides were there for the festival. The next event was the garden tractor pull. The drag sled measured the weight and distance it pulled them. Example of the Garden Tractors fixed up to pull. This was the bigger engine event. They really spin tires and pull the sled more then 200 feet Another angle. Young man driving his sister tractor, because she could not make it. The things kids do to entertain themselves. Looking at their feet upside down. The Peacock Inn Bed & Breakfast Chaska, Minnesota August 9 - 10 The Peacock Inn in Chaska has got to be one of the most romantic retreat any one can take for a honeymoon or anniversary. The Inn was featured in Home and Garden Television twice. The front of the 1910 Klein mansion. The mansion was fully restored by Joyce and Jens Bohn, your innkeepers (Owner/ Managers) who spared no expense and have left no detail undone. The entrance is grand and makes you feel like you stepped back in time. The elegant furniture was for your use and all the rooms were personally decorated by Joyce. The dining room where we were served a full breakfast (Oven backed French Toast). Joyce and Jens made sure the presentation of the food and china was to highest standard. The entrance hall from the stairs. There were stained glass windows through out the house. This one was at the first landing of the staircase and covered the whole wall. Joyce had the other rooms open to view for your pleasures. Each one is named and is elegantly renovated.  This is the Marian Besser Bohn Room. The second landing going up to the third floor where our room was. We stayed in room #4 (The Florence Lindberg Peterson Room). This was our very large room. The seating area with the fireplace, DMX music. The DMX music allowed you to choose from several types of music with no commercials. Our bed in the room was again elegant and made you feel like royalty. The two person Jacuzzi tub with bath oils was adjustable in jet pressure. The blinds for the window were remote controlled. The Inn even had rubber ducks for the bathtub. At 8 o'clock you were served a alcoholic or nonalcoholic beverage (your choice) with dessert. Ours was caramel cheese cake. The room also had another bathroom with a shower, if you didn't want to use the tub. Joyce and Jens, I applaud you both for a beautiful Bed & Breakfast. It shows how much you devoted your love into it for others to enjoy. Thank You for a beautiful evening. Renaissance Festival Shakopee, Minnesota September 9, 2001 The Renaissance Festival was huge. It had a special fairground built for it, and was open from August 18 - September 30. The entrance into the medieval times where the entertainers truly acted out the parts and were in great costumes. The Armor Knight battle The show Puke and Snot was very funny. It was a comedy routine of two guys insulting each other with misinterpret words. The other actor Puke The laundry Wenches was another comedy act. They acted man crazy and made the audience men do things. Yes that a bra on the guy's head. This guy had to wear a female top over his shirt and play a part in a act. Even the audience had themselves and children dressed up for the times. Close up of the one wenches. The Renaissance Festival was not for the people who get embarrassed over vulgar language or jesters. For example they would wait for a lady to walk by and yell "Would you like the Kings Nuts my Lady". It turned out to be Nut rolls with a sweet center. The festival had a lot of buildings built back for the times also. Rides for the kids. This was a child jousting game Tomato throwing Close up of the guy Fencing  challenge using balloons. This was a round with a little child. There was Fantasy costumes Turtle walking Ultimate warriors His act. There was also Irish area, in this show they displayed how sheep dogs herd the sheep on commands. The dog would bring the sheep to his left or right. Or make them follow the man. He once was ordered to go hunt for sheep and the dog ran a 300 foot perimeter around the crowd without stopping in the park. Another part of the festival. Another view showing how big this festival was. Maypole dancers. The maypole dance was done on the first day of May to celebrate the  first day of summer to ensure a good harvest. They had men in the audience stand in the center. The dance ended with them getting laced to the pole A fire walker The secret garden with miniature houses on the trail. Another house The bridge to the garden. The water fall. The penalty show. Audience members had to take humiliation from the actors and by standers. Another dance. Another part of the park. Jewelry was being sold there, wood designed items, stained glass, wind chimes, and many more things. Many entertainers were on the grounds. The mechanical monkey man. Another part of the park. Hand waxing. You dipped your hand in wax and made a form of your hand. There were also couples doing their hands together. Different types of colors you can get the form in. The end of the day consisted of the king talking to his servants, entertainers, knights and others. The act had different entertainment going on. The surprise of the day was one of the actors requested another for her hand in marriage. There was even fire blowers. This festival was really great and if you happen to be in this area during the festival it is a must see. For the price of $15.95 it was well worth it. Golden Lantern Inn Red Wing, Minnesota September 8, 2001 The Golden Lantern Inn is located in Red Wing, Minnesota. We stayed here on the way to the Renaissance Festival. It once was the home for three different Red Wing Shoes Presidents. Prior to going into your room for check in, there was a plate of warm cookies in the hall. It was a birthday present for Dale as a retreat to be pampered. She and I were defiantly pampered at both Bed & Breakfast. Rhonda was a great Innkeeper (Owner/Manager). Rhonda advised us to eat dinner at the Lavender Rose. It was quaint little place to enjoy our retreat. Our feather bed was very comfortable with a private bath. The Inn supplied a CD player in the room  with soft romantic music. The two person Jacuzzi tub had bath oils to enjoy. Coffee was served to your room in the morning, You even had the option to have breakfast in you room. We enjoyed smores by the outside fire pit at night. The oven baked omelet in the morning with fruit was great. The four season room where we ate breakfast was very nice. Rhonda, I want to thank you for the fireplace going outside with the graham crackers, marshmallow's, and Hershey bars waiting on a serving tray. You too, show your guest the finest comfort a Bed & Breakfast can give. Thank You for a beautiful evening at you Inn. Hixon House La Crosse, Wisconsin September 2, 2001 The Hixon House built in 1858 was a historical house that showed the life style of former lumberman-financier Gideon Hixon. Front of house. The museum did not allow photo's inside. It was very interesting for 5 dollars each. The house had running water in all bedrooms and many other things as they first came available. Hixon wanted all amenities. The court yard Another view Dale in front of the house A Greek revival house behind the Hixon house that was built in 1850's also. We finished up using a disposable camera we bought for our canoeing. The pictures are not the greatest quality, with scanning them in. Kickapoo River Soldiers Grove, WI September 1, 2001 We went canoeing on the Kickapoo River. It is suppose to be the crookest river in the United States. It was a little of a muddy river, because of the strong rains we had for a few days here. The bluffs, plants and trees was a great view. We bought a cheap waterproof camera as a take along in case we tipped over. The pictures don't develop as good as our digital camera. But we decided to take the risk of bringing it. There was very few others on the river, so it made it nice and peaceful. It was hard after the 3rd hour. We did a total of 4 hours of canoeing (about 12 miles at 3 miles a hour). Notice Dale's canoe paddle was most of the time out of the water. ;~) Some parts had a nice current Other had a great bluff view It was a constant turning of the canoe on the Kickapoo River. Also it had a lot of shaded area's. We now can say we went canoeing on the Kickapoo river. For 20 dollars all day with a tram back to the starting point. The price was great for a day of entertainment.