Saturday in Marinette

Fly fishing for steelhead and Brown Trout just west of my hotel

Our Shipyard Project Director, Gary Smith, called me this morning to tell me he'd met a couple of guys headed up the Menominee River to do some flyfishing  just west of where I'm staying.  Once I got going, I drove up there (about 1/2 mile), and, indeed, they were wading in the river and flyfishing.  I watched for about 15 minutes, and saw this guy get one good hit, and some possibles.  I really think I saw ice forming around his legs!  I have my rods, but the reels are in the container - bummer.  Gives me hope, though.  I guess I'll have to have Julie send out my neoprene insulated waders ;)

I headed out today to run some errands.  First, I went over to my apartment to offload some stuff from the car.  My apartment is on the second floor of a redeveloped downtown department store building.  There is retail and office space on the first floor, and apartments on the second and third floors.  Here are some pictures:

View as you walk in the front door

Electric fireplace at the far end, windows on both sides.

alcove (= music room) ahead, bedroom to the left

Looking back at the kitchen and front door
Bedroom to the right

View from the bedroom window, looking Southwest

Nice, tall windows, parking lot view

Next stop: Pine Tree Mall.  I picked up a tie to wear to church tomorrow.  I should have listened to Julie, she told me to bring one...  I also picked up some basic supplies for my office.  Our Project Admin Assistant from Fairbanks will be here next week to help set up the office, but in the meantime, I needs me some office supplies.

I had lunch at Schloegel's, a pretty nice restaurant in Menominee, right on the lake.

 Bay of Green Bay from Schloegel's parking Lot

thick ice in foreground, then thin ice, then open water.  

On a clear day you can see across to Door County.

After lunch, I headed around looking for a bed.  Ended up at Lauerman's, down by the Mall.  Bought the mattress, box spring and frame, to be delivered on Monday.  Ironically, the building I'm living in is the former Lauerman's store in downtown Marinette.

Tomorrow, I'm headed for church in the morning, then over to the apartment to wait for the cable guy.  Believe it or not, I was able to schedule my cable installation for a Sunday.  Once that's done, I'm off to Green Bay to pick up Kristin.  She gets in tomorrow afternoon.  It will be great to have her here, to see the place, and help me get moved in.  My moving container arrives on Monday.  Shouldn't take us too long to get it unloaded.  The biggest challenge will be finding a place for the driver to leave the trailer.

January Thaw

In Marinette, this passes for the "January Thaw."  I'm told by locals that this is an annual occurrence - the temperatures moderate (if you can call 26 degrees moderating), and everyone enjoys a few days of above normal temperatures and sun (or at least less clouds.  This picture was taken from my hotel room window, towards the Farmers and Merchants Bank sign.  Only in Northeast Wisconsin would 26 degrees be considered a thaw.  Go figure.

Welcome to Marinette Marine

Here's a look at my working home for the next 3 years.  It's actually pretty plush, and my office here is nicer than my office at OSU.  The modular building is not brand new, but pretty new.  Offices are carpeted, there's a bathroom with shower, a kitchen, conference room and offices.  I got one of the larger offices, since I'm here almost full time.  The whole place fells new, and a little raw and sterile, but we're getting there.  The walls are completely blank, so there's an opportunity.  I expect the white boards to proliferate pretty quickly.

Here's a tour:

Welcome to the SIKULIAQ Office

Marc's Office

Marc's Office view (scenic, ain't it)

Kitchen/Copier room

Conference Room

Rubber Ducky, you're the one....

...to make my Suzuki shine!  Finally got my car washed.  I was tired of having the filthiest car in the parking lot - and that's saying something here.  The license plates were almost invisible under the layer of mud and road grime from the trip.  I took it to Rubber Ducky car wash.  Great place, and inexpensive.  You drop off the car with keys, pay inside, and wait for your car to come through.  There's a gaggle of high school-aged kids at the end of the line to wipe off your car, and give it any other treatments you paid for (interior cleaning, detailing, leather treatments, you name it).  When they're done, you hop in and drive away.  I feel so much better now.

Wing Night!!!

Got back to my hotel last night to find the parking lot packed with cars.  Walked into the lobby, the restaurant is full, and maybe 15 people are waiting to get in.  I haven't yet seen this many people in one place in Marinette!  I asked the desk clerk what the big deal was.  "It's Thursday, so it's Wing Night," she said.  Oh yeah, Wing Night.  I went out to the "Brothers Three" for dinner last night - I don't need to go back.  "Brothers Three" has a 20-cent wing night.  I had no idea - where have *I* been?.  I managed to make it on "Mexican Night" at Bro3.  Mexican Night = $1.50 Coronas and $2 Margaritas.  They have Mexican items on the menu, but most people I saw were having pizza.  I had the lasagna - I shouldn't have.

Road Trip - Part Deux

Wisconsin Welcome Center on the Mississippi at LaCrosse

Sunrise outside Austin, Minnesota

Left Austin about 7 AM, on the last leg of the trip.  It was a fine morning for a drive, and about 18 degrees!  Standing outside at the gas station was miserable, the wind chill was hovering around 0 - I was glad to get back in the car and hit the road.  The road was dry, and traffic was light.

Crossing the Mississippi at LaCrosse, WI

I crossed the Mississippi into Wisconsin around 9:30AM.  I was surprised to find the "Big River" frozen over.  That should tell you something.  Left I-90 for the last time at New Lisbon, heading across Wisconsin towards Oshkosh (B'gosh).  This was a drive on some secondary roads, and I got a chance to see a little more of the countryside.  It was beautiful, even covered with snow.  In some of the low spots, it was hard to tell the fields from the frozen lakes.  The only clue was the odd piece of farm machinery left out in the snow.

Once I got onto US41, the traffic really picked up.  US41 is the main north-south corridor in eastern Wisconsin.  It runs up the lake shore from Chicago, and passes through Milwaukee, Oshkosh and Green Bay.  Lots of trucks, but the roads were dry, and the sun was out.

Getting Close

I arrived in Marinette around 2 PM, and promptly took a nap.  The trip-meter read 2326 miles when I got to the hotel.  Now the real adventure begins.  I am thankful to have arrived safely - you betcha.

Road Trip!! Part the First

Rockies in the Rearview

The Road Trip Experience:

Saturday, Jan 9, 2010: Left Corvallis around 8, a couple of stops on the way out of town, and on the road. Stopped in Troutdale for gas, then through the Gorge. It was beautiful. Going up the river in the winter is an entirely different experience. I don't have any pictures - I was too busy with driving and the wind. Oh, the wind. It let up around Hood River. Stopped in The Dalles for my last Burgerville Black Bean Gardenburger. MMMM mmmm Good. Onward to Umatilla, over the river, through the Tri-Cities, and picked up I-90 after stopping for gas in Ritzville. On to Post Falls, ID - missed the Cabela's store by 15 minutes! Finished the day at Coeur D'Alene, ID.

Fourth of July Pass, ID

Sunday, Jan 10: Left Coeur D'Alene around 8AM, headed for Belgrade (=Bozeman), MT. It was a fine day for driving. The east side of the passes had some slush, but nothing major. Got into Belgrade around 4. Took Becky, Bruce, Kodi and Shane out to dinner. It was a real blessing to see all of them. I stopped in St. Regis, MT for gas. This is the exit we take when we are headed for the Westcott's cabin on Flathead Lake. I was mightily tempted to head north for a few days at the cabin! I do love it there.

Daybreak, Big Timber, MT

Monday, Jan 11: Didn't sleep much Sunday night, so I just got up and got going. Left Belgrade around 6:15, headed for Rapid City, SD. Still on I-90. Saw my first "Wall Drug" sign just outside Bozeman. Watched the sun rise outside of Big Timber, Montana.  It was a beautiful day on the high plains. Sunny, blue skies, and you could see forever. It brought back memories of Colorado winter road trips out on the plains. I made the halfway point (1275 mi) at a rest area outside Moorcroft, Wyoming. It was a non-event, except for the mob of wild turkeys that surrounded me when I stopped the car! I tried to get onto the Team Telecon for the ship, but the call wouldn't stay connected through the basin and range country. It was truly an amazing day, and brought back so many memories of my time in Colorado.  Of Note: The guy who checked me into the hotel in Rapid City was a dead ringer for John Candy.  Imagine John Candy cast as the hyper-efficient and over-helpful front desk clerk.  That was this guy.  It was all I could do to keep from laughing out loud.  Truly, it was hilarious.

Wall Drug, Wall, SD

Tuesday, Jan 12: Left Rapid City around 7:30, headed for Austin, Minn. I blasted along, making potty stops when needed. Stopped at Wall Drug ("Wall Drug, 5c coffee"  "Wall Drug, Exit NOW"). in Wall, SD - left with the picture, that's it. Stopped for lunch in Mitchell, SD. Caught the Corn Palace and the Cabela's store. Both worthy. Gassed up in Mitchell, then blew through to Austin, Minn, (260 mi) in one jump. Once I crossed the Minnesota line, the wind really started to pick up. It was near ground-blizzard conditions for part of the time. It wasn't snowing, but the snow on the ground was blowing across the road. The crosswind was fierce from the Minn. line all the way to Austin - Got in around 6PM. Checked in and got some food. Tomorrow, my last day on I-90.  To follow: Road Trip - The Final Chapter.

Blowing Snow, Southern Minnesota