Our Wisconsin trip started at Chapparal Campground, Wonewoc, WI on Thursday, July 12th. We joined other members of Northland Travelers RV club for a weekend of camping and biking. The campground has close access to a couple popular Wisconsin bike trails, which follow abandoned rail lines. One trail advertises a 1/4 mile tunnel, which is so dark in the middle you need flashlights!
On Friday we explored small towns of LaValle (which had an old grain elevator converted to antique store), Ironton, Cazenovia, and Germantown. It was in the last two where we found descendents of a Jax family, and located gravesites of some long past. We also visited a cheese factory, and bought homemade pie from an Amish girl who was selling from her buggy. We missed the bike ride which was scheduled for Saturday, as we had to leave early to make our next destination.
On Saturday afternoon we arrived in Kiel, WI and parked at Kiel Marsh Wildlife Area (Broughton Sheboygan Marsh Park). We went to visit Jim & Irene, a couple we met last winter in Arizona. On Sunday, we all attended a polka mass and parish celebration at St. Johns church in Johnsburg, WI. Here Gene met folks with last names similar to those of Johnsburg, MN...many were likely relatives! Monday and Tuesday were spent driving around to small towns in the area (Marytown, New Holstein, Mt. Calvary, Chilton), looking in cemetaries and talking with local residents about family ancestry.
Wednesday found us on the road with the motorhome again, traveling a short distance north along Lake Winnebago to High Cliff State Park, Sherwood, WI.
High Cliff started out as a limestone quarry operation in the mid to late 1800's. Limestone from the bluffs was crushed and sent to a kiln where the heated stone turned to lime powder. Vast amounts of forest were harvested to fire the kilns. But eventually the good limestone was depleted, and the operation shut down. Remnants of the old kilns and quarry are still visible in the park. The park also has an area containing effigy mounds built by native tribes between 1000 and 1500 AD. We camped there two days, explored the walking trails, and went to visit Gene's cousin and her husband who lived nearby the park.
By Friday we were traveling again, headed to the Stevens Point area to stay at Vista Royalle Campground, Bancroft, WI. We spent time visiting Gene's relatives who lived in the area, and on Saturday toured Point Brewery, the oldest in Stevens Point (brewing since 1857).
Sunday, July 22nd had arrived; time to make the drive back to Shoreview. We enjoyed the entire Wisconsin experience: a cheese factory, a brewery, a dairy farm (in Kiel), and some wonderful scenery.
