August 22nd: Realtime Update Baker City to Portland - Homeward bound!

August 22nd: Realtime Update Baker City to Portland - Homeward bound!

From our fabulous stopover in Holladay, UT (Salt Lake) with the McKinney's we traveled on through Boise to Baker City. We arrived early to visit our favorite Bookstore, Betty's Books (we'd traveled here a few years ago for an anniversary in Feb), and a stay in the historic Geiser Grand. What a fabulous end to an enormous trip on the road. We wore robes, at burritos from the Boise Co-op (purchased earlier), watched a borrowed movie (Geiser Grand has them downstairs!), toured the hotel, and the mainstreet, had a chocolate malt, enjoyed fresh apricots given to us at Betty's and had a grand old time. What a trip this has been.

Rory left a message on our machine for Leo Pug that we would be home soon. 6 hours away, plus a stop in Pendleton for breakfast and *hoping* a tour at the weaving factory for Pendleton Woolens.

We're on the move...for the final day.

Can't wait to update you with the last two weeks, once I settle in at home.

Thanks for following the adventure.

-Gretchan, Kurt and Rory

August 20th: Realtime Update Glenwood Springs to Salt Lake City

August 20th: Realtime Update Glenwood Springs to Salt Lake City

We've spent a night in the historic Hotel Colorado along with a dip in the Glenwood Hot Springs Pool, complete with Colorado rain (arrives cold). It's a spectacular valley - almost magical. Will amble back into town - Doc Holliday's old stomping grounds, then back in the car to Utah. Kurt's doing all of the driving, which is a real treat. I've come down with a sore throat and small naps plus knitting are in order. Rory loved room service breakfast this AM, plus a pizza delivered to our door for yesterday's dinner. We're going decadent on this stop and it feels fine. 

Hope you all are well. Pictures and detailed reports when we arrive home. Only two more nights out, then Portland homestead. What a trip. 

-Gretchan, Rory & Kurt

August 17th: Realtime Update In Colorado

August 17th Breckenridge to Colorado Springs

We've made it from Kansas to Colorado with a three day stint up in the mountains in Breckenridge. Today we traveled back down to the Front Range, landing at friend's home in Colorado Springs. The weather is fine and I can hardly believe the clouds and light. It's like I've never seen either before.

Rory turns 11 tomorrow and we were very aware of his first decade passing, with today being the final day of age 10. It's amazing how time flies.

We'll be in "The Springs" for a few days more, then on to Salt Lake, Boise and finally Portland. Hard to believe that we've come over 6,000 miles, 49 days and 19 states...so far. What a trip this has been.

Portland, we can't wait to see you soon!

-Gretchan, Rory & Kurt

August 14th: Realtime Update - Kurt is in the HOUSE

August 14th: Kurt is in the HOUSE

Kurt, just a few days ago, struggling through a food borne illness, miraculously made it to the Portland Airport, and met us in Kansas City. We visited a marble factory, added a new state, Missouri, lunched in Lawrence, picked up a handmade peach pie (Thank you Marlene!!!) to celebrate Rory's impending Birthday while returning to Topeka for new adventures. With only a few days left here, we've been hitting it hard.

We are super pleased to have our second guest rider along to finish out the rest of the trip.

I will continue to blog along, as I have time and connections. Keep on reading and commenting!

Colorado, Utah, Idaho and Oregon remain.

Happy end of Summer.

-Gretchan & Rory + Kurt

Kurt's Blog: Rock and Roll Summer Camp

August 10th Live Update - Topeka, KS

Wanted to let everyone know that we're currently in Topeka, Kansas now, my hometown. We've had fun checking out the old high school haunts, visiting the farmers market, the Capital, the library, the Kansas river, an animal farm (mostly pets), Dad's office, catching rain storms, forming movie marathons, playing ping pong, going to garage sales and enjoying the very mild weather this week. What a treat.

Big apologies on the order of these posts. The trip and the blogging as a combo has proved a challenge. I'm sure it may have been confusing to keep everything clear as a reader. Either way, we're having a blast and I'll keep blogging from the past, as I steal away moments.

Kurt will join up with us at the middle of the week, and by Friday we'll be on our way to Colorado.

Thanks for reading and commenting and supporting the fun.

-Gretchan and Rory

Monday July 28th Bye Cambridge Hello Sheboygan + Tuesday July 29th Goodbye Wisconsin Hello Illinois

Monday July 28th Cambridge, Wisconsin to Sheboygan, Wisconsin

Today was to be our final morning near Madison. It was sad to see it go, but the adventure must continue. We were headed to a water park hotel in Sheboygan with Aunt Marg and Cousin Jonathan. It was to be a fantastic send-off from a month in Wisconsin. 

We started the day out right with Wisconsin Milk and Reese's Puffs Cereal. I was skeptical, but these things are actually quite tasty by the handful. Not sure about how they are in milk. 

Thanks Grandma Bonnie for all of the sweets!

Similar to other departure mornings, I began documenting the house. Grandma Bonnie (Kurt's Mom) has a treasure trove of unusual American antiques. 

Come take a look at her spectacular collections: 

Sponge Bob is on the tele again. Just look at the view behind. 

Here's the pond. We see lots of animals throughout the day. 

Restored windmill is very cool. This is the view from the back deck.

Ok, enough pictures. We got on our way to Sheboygan. 

The fried and dried okra found its way out as a snack. 

Along the way, we took in the sights at Watertown.

This church seem to take my eye several times. 

Rory and I laughed and laughed about the 7th shake being free. Who orders 7 shakes, but a Wisconsonite?

Side view of the church.

Melton's Dairy Bar and Eatery. 

Watertown Daily Times.

Wilkommen in Watertown Mural.

Church.

Another church.

Zwieg's looks interesting. I like urban clocks. This one doesn't seem to work. 

Good price? $5/dozen. We have cream puffs.

I like the historic look of this town.

World Famous Malts and Ice Cream Cakes. Seeing this now, I wished I'd stopped to take a look. Next time.

Watertower in Watertown. 

Final image of the first church. It's so tall. 

Since we're meeting Margaret, I thought it was neat that we found a street with her name on it. Ha - and there's a Church Street. Funny. 

Marg was treating us royally at the Blue Harbor Resort. It was so much fun that I failed to take any pictures. The waterslide park and the beautiful resort, on Lake Michigan were amazing. 

Here we are at the end of the trip. You like this photo...

Or this one?....

Here's a few images of our fun from the world wide web, below. This place is huge. We had two floors for our room. We had a fireplace. We brought our own spa materials for clay facials and oil treatments and salt baths. We played cribbage. We walked along the shore. We waterparked PM and AM. 

We sat and watched the water. We dined breakfast on the terrace. What a treat, what a treat. Thank you Marg and Jonathan for an incredible final night in Wisconsin. We loved the send-off. 

Tuesday July 29th Goodbye Wisconsin. Hello Illinois.

Rory and I were back in the car headed to Chicago suburb and Aunt Kalli's house. 

Smiling Rory is always nice. Rory's helping with the navigation today in a major way, so he's in the front seat. 

Bucky Badger is with us for good luck. We will remember our Wisconsin July fondly. Thank you all to who contributed to the fun.

Entry into Illinois bring toll roads. Bring out the change purse. 

Amazingly the Google directions brought us right to Lake Barrington. We were very lucky, as it's so easy to get lost here in this part of Illinois. 

Here we see cousin Reese with Rory, enjoying a moment. 

Kalli, Tyler and A.J. are here too, but I failed to take pictures. The Brahmstadts have a beautiful home and land here complete with a swimming hole and a three-season's room overlooking it all. Another paradise. We should have planned more time here. 

I did get a picture of the UW pasta however. See the W? In red and white. 

Reese's fish. Finn follows your finger as you trace the tank. Finn seems to pose for the photos. 

And that's all she wrote. We were in bed early, preparing for a long traffic filled car ride to Midway Airport to pick up Mom in the AM. I can't wait to tell the tale. 

See you soon!

Catch UP: Sunday SUNDAY SUNDAY July 27th: The Final Madison Day

Sunday July 27th Cambridge AM to Madison Afternoon. 

Here's a map, just so you can see where we are. Cambridge is "A" and Madison is "B". It's about 30 minutes to get from one place to another. Gram Bon and Gramps Top live in Cambridge. 

Check out this regional food being served for breakfast:

Breakfast in Cambridge brings Bonnie's new recipe for Pineapple Fritters. These things are worth making right now. They are so good. The recipe follows. 

Look here. No one's talking. We're all eating. I had to steal myself away to get the photo of this awesomeness. The fritters were that good. Serve with syrup, or with just a sprinkle of powdered sugar.

From here, if you can believe it, I headed out to Uncle Peter's house to finish up the garage project. He'd had quite a weekend with a trip to Green Bay to visit Grandma, plus touring Door County too, and the Disability Pride Festival the day prior. He didn't feel like working, so we went out for breakfast. Not just any breakfast. This was The Pancake Cafe, where pancakes come with every breakfast and thick cut bacon is on the regular menu. Holy cats this was a lot of food. 

Below, is my order. Scrambled eggs with havarti, four slices of thick cut bacon, hashbrowns, three pancakes, two syrups and a butter. Yes, it was time to eat up. I love it. 

After that, we rolled home, took the dog for a huge walk and then hung out with Skylar, who also was now eating - a giant bone. 

Todd and I watch on...

Later, Kerry and I join up at the Union for a walk and a beer. 

Here we are pointing towards the Lake. I'm annoyed that blogger doesn't let you flip images, so I'll protest by mentioning it here. Turn your head to see us properly. I'm having so much fun that you can see my gums, a sure Fritts trait (Mom's paternal side of the family).

Lake Mendota looks great. 

View from the new UW pier, back to the Terrace. Look at the crowds gathering. 

Hoofers is UW's sailing club - correct that, outdoor club. I never did this while I was here, but it's a sure bet to meet super fun folks. 

Jen's Jenson style Council Ring, which everyone sitting in the circle has an equal voice. 

Muir Knoll. 

Bascom Hall on top of Bascom Hill.

Kerry and I tried four times to get this selfie shot. You be the judge. We had a ton of fun. 

Then we headed back to the Terrace to take in the Lake and beer. Along the way, we glimpse the Capital. 

Terrace chairs and beer. Nothing better.

I am clearly pleased.

Double take. 

Now defunct Mifflin Street Co-op. They owe me money. 

We lived on this block. It was great to have a fresh and local food store so close. Also on this block, the Mifflin Street Block Party. We hosted bands on our porch. So cool for a new college kid. 

If you look close, you can see the Capital on West Washington Street...to the right.

More Wisco farmhouses.

Red barn.

From there we headed back to Cambridge for our final night near Madison. Tom and Bon were up for taking us out for more food! It was a stellar eating day for me. 

Here, we're in Ft. Atkinson, Wisconsin, Kurt's hometown. They have better restaurants than Cambridge. 

Rory and I go for the sushi, with his shown below, in an beautiful and innovative presentation. 

I can't believe we found good sushi in the middle of rural Wisconsin. However, we didn't eat the fish. Eater beware. 

The owner's look just like the picture below. Very cute couple and family. 

Next stop: Frosty Freeze. 

The car line was so long that we used the walk up window. We arrived here just in time, as all of these kids piled in. 

I'm trying to capture the scene without actually showing anyone that I'm taking their picture. 

Whoops, that's not it...

Here we go! We're so overjoyed to be at Frosty Freeze for the third time this week! We love Frosty Freeze.

Pure Wisconsin.

In this shot, I've stuck my hand into the establishment window to catch a picture of the owner. He winters in Europe. Smart guy selling ice cream in Wisconsin in the summer. 

Here's one more of him and the scene...

Meanwhile, the kids are piling up outside. 

YES! We're first. 

And for the final shot of the day, blogger fails to let me adjust it right sided. Please turn your head to take it all in. Crazy town.

Another fantastic day in Wisconsin. 

Thanks Bonnie and Tom for all of the great times and meals.