RV

Wisconsin Stop Two: Milwaukee

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We figured we couldn’t come to Wisconsin without a stop in the state’s biggest city, Milwaukee. And while we didn’t hit all the sites (yes, we missed the Harley Davidson museum) we think we got a good feel for this historic city.

We started with a bike ride along the Hank Aaron trail to get our bearings. It also allowed us to scope out the path to American Family Field, the home of the Milwaukee Brewers. Then, we walked the 1.7 miles on the Hank Aaron Trail and were led directly to the stadium for a game. We had great seats to watch the Brewers beat the Houston Astros 4-0. We hadn’t been to an MLB game in quite awhile and were amazed at all the interactive things to do. With the new time limits implemented this year, the game was over in just over two hours.

Interactive fun at the stadium
Front row upper deck

We were also determined to check out some of Milwaukee’s legendary breweries. Our first stop was a tour of Lakefront Brewery which is actually along the riverfront in downtown. We enjoyed the tour, which ended just in time for us to join in on Drag Queen Bingo which was being held at the brewery. We didn’t get a Bingo, but we sure enjoyed ourselves!

Lakefront Brewery
Drag Queen Bingo
No winning cards

On our last day in Milwaukee we took the tour of the legendary Miller Brewing Company. We learned about the brewing process and were in awe of the history of the site. Frederick Miller started the operation in 1855 and it has now grown to a global brand under the parent company Molson Coors. 

Inside the brewhouse
Historic art and buildings

After the tour we stopped at Sobelman’s, a bar and grill housed in one of the original Schlitz taverns. Famous for burgers and bloody marys, we had one of each! The slider on top of the bloody mary was enough lunch for me.

BIG Bloody Mary
We loved Sobelman’s

We finished our time in Milwaukee back at the Lakefront Brewing, followed by a stroll along the riverfront to watch the scullers. Ultimately we were on the search for the Bronz Fonz, as we both grew up on Happy Days and couldn’t come to Milwaukee without meeting the Fonz “in person.”

Row Row Row Your Boat
Steve hangin’ with the Fonz
Bronz Fonz

There’s certainly more to explore in Milwaukee but we were so full of beer, it was time to move along.

First Stop: Green Bay

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Our inaugural trip with our new truck and fifth wheel is well underway and we’ve already covered a lot of ground. From our visit with Sam in Colorado we made a beeline to Lincoln, Nebraska. In addition to being one of Steve’s favorite places, we caught a concert with one of our favorite artists, Kenny Chesney.  We enjoyed a pre-show drink with our niece Elise and her boyfriend Jarrot and his family, drinks served by our other niece Hannah at the bar where she works. No photos to prove it! Kenny always puts on a great show and we enjoyed seeing him perform with Kelsea Ballerini. 

Pretty good seats!
The”I Go Back” Tour
Kelsea on stage
Kenny never stops
On stage together

The next day we headed up to Elkhorn to spend a little time with Steve’s brother and his family. We spent Mother’s Day celebrating the Moms in the family by eating some great BBQ, playing in the gym and golf simulator, and hanging out with the kids.

Nathan, Lydia & Steve
Jarrot, Nathan, and Elise
Nathan’s got a swing!

We wish we could do this more often! And, we even stopped off at Steve’s favorite store, Husker Hounds.

But we had to move along…to Green Bay, Wisconsin, where Steve ran a marathon in his 28th state and I did the 5K.

Obligatory pre-race photo
Start line
Ready to run

The highlight of this race is a run through the home of the Green Bay Packer’s, Lambeau Field. The stadium is a sight to be seen, from inside and out, and we felt lucky to have the opportunity to see if from all angles.

Steve at mile 25
Running through Lambeau
Conquering Lambeau

On the following day we took the Legendary Tour of Lambeau, which gave us access to the luxury suites, the visitor’s locker room, the press box, once again, the field. Along the way we learned about the Packer’s history and how they have survived as one of the oldest NFL teams without an owner.

HUGE pro shop
Pressbox
Visitors Locker Room

They are owned by shareholders and the City of Green Bay, and because of this unique situation, the small town revolves around the beloved Packers.

Packer’s tunnel to the stadium
On the field again

We took the bikes out one morning and explored the trails along the Fox River. Interpretive signs along the way taught us about the city’s history.

We also hit up the famous Kroll’s restaurant which stands in the shadow of Lambeau Field. We were introduced to fried cheese curds and butter burgers and will now never taste anything as good (or as greasy). And, you can’t go to Green Bay without a stop at Titletown, the entertainment district adjacent to the stadium.

Fun at Titletown
Kroll’s cheeseburger

We left Green Bay as fans of the Packers, fans of cheese curds, and fans of Wisconsin. And our explorations here are just beginning. 

A BIG RV update

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It’s been awhile since we’ve posted an update. After SXSW we spent about six weeks at home and didn’t sit still much. We took care of business, made some improvements at the townhouse and went to the Grand Canyon and Sedona with our dear Colombian friends, Lucia and Marta.

At Lucia’s favorite, El Gato Azul
Relaxing in the “old” trailer
Marta and I enjoying the fireplace on a cold day at the Grand Canyon
Lucia, Steve, and Marta on the Rim
Marta’s first up close encounter with snow!
Sedona

We also visited with many our Prescott friends and family, went to Mexico to finish up work on the condo, and Steve did a 30 mile bike race.

Well-deserved break at Banditos
Crossing the finish of the Whiskey 30 MTB race

And oh yeah, we bought a new truck and trailer to continue our RV adventures! It’s been a whirlwind but we are happy with the outcomes and are now searching for new adventures with our new home on the road. Here are some details about our new home on wheels.

We traded the Ford F250 and Grand Design Reflection 295RL for a 2023 Ford F350 long bed and a 2023 Grand Design Solitude 310GK. Our new rig is basically the same configuration as the old one but a bit bigger with more bells and whistles.

The new truck can tow a heavier trailer and has a longer bed to give us more clearance and more storage space. It also has a ton of new technology that we continue to learn how to use.

Our 2023 Ford F350. We call it “Maverick.”

The new trailer has a washer and dryer, full-sized refrigerator, and an on-demand hot water heater. The king-sized bed is also an upgrade from our last trailer.

Grand Design Solitude 310 GK
Full-sized refrigerator and pantry
My favorite new feature: W/D!!!!
Yes, I have a lot of stuff but the closet accomodates!
And the rain shower in the bathroom is pretty cool too!

So, Steve’s in love with “his” new truck, and I love our new home on wheels. Changing rigs is not without challenges but we’re working through them as we go.

We’ve already towed the trailer over 1400 miles with a quick visit with Sam in Castle Rock, Colorado. Dinner and some Flor de Caña made for a fun, rainy evening.

We’ll have plenty to report in the coming weeks. In the meantime, we’re open to questions and comments as always. We love hearing from you!!