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Ghost Squadron Vacations Together Again! (that would have been the headline, if we produced a paper) The last time we all traveled together, as such a large group, was for a wedding in Disney World WAY back in 2003. I would say it was about time. Of course there was talk of an "epic" trip, you know the kind that puts us on the road for 36 hours again or the kind that puts us in an airplane again, but there just wasn't the time to pull that off. Instead, we got to do my favorite thing - explore the sights that are within a couple of hours from my house. I really think Minnesota (and Wisconsin) have a lot to offer to the local explorer!
We are all becoming so spread out that we thought it best to meet at a central location that would be on the way to our final destination. A restaurant makes for an ideal "central location", so Levee Cafe in Hastings was our ground zero. It is your normal Midwest restaurant, specializing in burgers and sandwiches. The food was OK, although I would say it was the train that traveled around the tracks above our heads that really excited us. Since we were Hastings, it probably would have been sacrilege to not stop at the Alexis Bailly Winery. It was such a great day out, the kind of day that calls for an early afternoon stop at a winery where you can order a couple of bottles of wine and play lawn bowling among the grape vines. Alexis Bailly filled that role perfectly! Such a great stop.
The true scheduled winery stop was at Maiden Rock Winery and Cidery. I was so excited to go to a producer of hard cider, but sadly all cider for the year had been sold out long before we ever got there. So I imagine Maiden Rock Cider will now be something that haunts me until the day I finally get to sample it. They have free wine tasting, which we did partake in and learned that Maiden Rock only produces one kind of wine (and it is apple). All other wines that they sell are from wineries in the area.
Well, wouldcha look at that, time flew and we could now "check-in" to our cottage. Oh wow, was this place special. Just the drive up the bluff was stunning. Once you turn onto the gravel road that butts up against crop fields you are know you are entering a special land. The actual driveway meanders for quiet some time - long enough to block out all signs of civilization and noise. You finally reach a clearing that perfectly fits 3 parked cars and even still you can't see the cottage. All you see are 2 lions, flanking a stone pathway. A few feet onto the path and then bang! you curve around and there stands the most charming home. The A-frame with wood shingles is just like that fairy house I have sitting in my garden, except this one is real and I get to sleep in it! You enter, through the heavy wood door with rod iron accents, to soaring ceilings and breath taking views of the lake. However, I now just have to point out the lamp. They is no taking in the view without spotting the lamp that sits in front of the paned windows. The furry, 4 footed lamp. I had to turn that lamp off one night and as my hand grazed the leg of that poor departed deer, I gagged, just a bit.
After I ran around like a fool, snapping pictures and exploring our borrowed weekend home, it was time to have a cocktail on the deck and discuss dinner. No one wanted to grocery shop right then, so best eat out. I had been reading and hearing a bunch about Harbor View Cafe in Pepin, WI and really pushed for that. Again, it was OK. Pricey to start and then you start adding drinks well, then it is real pricey. And they don't take plastic. And there isn't even an ATM on site. Sigh. I have to say though, the chocolate buttercream pie we had to end the evening was just the best thing I have had in a real long time. Time to head back to the cottage, lit a fire in that giant stone fireplace and relax (or play a board game or two).
The chill was in the air when we woke up the next morning! We all sort of milled about in the morning and finally got going around noon. There was no real destination, except maybe the cheese factory in Nelson, but we were passing by Stockholm and thought that would offer a place to grab food. Before we ate though, a couple of people in our group knew a couple that lived there, in Stockholm, and had created a showpiece garden. A picture perfect French garden, used for weddings and featured in magazines. So we invaded. They let us roam their grounds and tour their 1850 civil war era home (no running water/kitchen/bathroom makes this not their "true" home, that is actually next door). It was fun! Then we got to eat. At this point in the day we started to split up.. girls going one way the boys the next. Half went to Bogus Creek Cafe (my best meal of the weekend) and the other half to Gelly's Eatery.
Us girls continued on to Nelson Cheese Factory. Real shame they don't offer and samples of the cheese (or even the wine). After I bought out the store, we got to stop at my favorite kind of store: an Unclaimed Freight store! I couldn't believe there was one, there, on the side of the road! These places are fantastic - you never know what you find! Anything from the evening entertainment (a horror movie) to lesson material for your 3rd grade class! Next stop was the Little House on the Prairie museum and house in Pepin. Boys don't know what they missed! I think the best part though was just retelling our favorite episodes and quizzing ourselves on what we remembered. It was getting to be that time, that if we wanted to eat anytime soon we best buy some food and start preparing it. Timing all that food for 9 people is tough. We have got corn, meat, potatoes, salad, bread, etc - everything that cooks at different speeds. But oh well, we got our bellies full eventually! And it was yummy!!
The evening wrapped up with some viewing the horror movie (purchased at the Unclaimed Freight store!) and other retreating to the grotto under the house. This grotto was my favorite thing ever. One wall was floor to ceiling screens, with a flagstone floor and thick stone walls. It was fun to stand right next to the screen and see if you could handle the bats swooping inches from the screen without flinching. It was my own kind of horror movie!
Sunday arrived too quick. 2 people from our group left before I even got out of bed, our weekend trip was quickly coming to an end. The 7 of us that remained had a great breakfast, but then all too quickly another group of 3 left us. We were down to 4, the holdouts that bummed around on the deck, squeezing out a few more minutes of the kind of peace you only experience in a place like that, but then we packed up and headed home.
~Posted by Ann
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