My Last Vacation

I thought I might put my last vacation in here, it was a time when my health was much better then it is now.  Through the years I have been lucky to have some nice vacations.  I believe my best one was spring break of 1989 when I won a trip to Disney World for my family.  I had just gotten divorced in Dec. and took my two girls Kerri and Meghan with me.  It was the first time I had help driving as my ex never learned how to drive.  It was kind of fun, Kerri counted the hrs she drove to what i drove and kind of made it a competition.  Meghan went to a water park with Kerri across the the Flordian where we stayed and ended up getting burnt pretty good and had to lay in bed for a while before she was able to go on with the rest of our vacation.   It was definitely the nicest vacation of my life spending it with my two girls. Unfortunately all the pictures from that trip were destroyed.  

Getting back on track here to my last vacation.  I was born in Sturgeon Bay Wisconsin but came to Ohio when I was 1 1/2 years old so I only knew of my home area from visits when I was younger.  So I decided to go up and visit my brother in Oconomowoc and we would make an excursion up to Door County.  One of the first stops we made was in Green Bay home of the NFL Green Bay Packers.  Lambeau Field.  

Above is the statue of Curly Lambeau who started the football team.  Lambeau field is the only field I know of in the NFL that allows visitors on the field.

while there, I got to sit at Vince Lombardi's desk and see many items of the past in their museum.

After our visit to Lambeau Field we left for Sturgeon Bay in Door County.  This area has become a big tourist area for its camping and fishing.  We were invited to stay overnight at some relatives house while we were up visiting the area.  One of the first places we went was a park along side Lake Michigan.

                                                                                                

Here in this area the waves beat against the rock line and because of the limestone it cuts back into the land so it sometimes startles you when up out of the ground like a geyser water spurts when you are walking the inner trail.

After visiting the park and walking the trails along the water we went and found my mothers second cousin and her husband. I can remember being younger and my uncle passing away on the same day and going up for the funeral and being in the farm house they live now.  Seeing her and her sisters picture on the piano in the small living room and thinking how pretty they were.  That was in 1957 so was kind of thrilled to meet her for the first time.

Myrtle and Frank sitting at the kitchen table I sat at in 1957.  Myrtle is quit the gal, she is the Annie Oakley in that area, very good with rifles.  She is also pretty small, under 5'.  They took us to the graveyard where my grandparents were but it had been vandalized a few years ago and we had trouble finding the markers and that was probably because they were destroyed.  We did find some interesting ones though.  My great Grandfather Sweede Johnson and great Grandmothers.  Also Abe Lincolns niece was buried there too.

Sadly I could not find my Great Grandfathers but it was probably on one side or the other of my Great Grandmothers.

Thought it was pretty neat to find Abe Lincolns niece buried close by.






After we stopped there we went up to Northern Door County and stopped at a place to eat that was known for their fish boils.  A fish boil is a big cast iron pot filled with water, white fish, red potatoes and onions and cooked for a certain amount of time and at that time they pull up boards along side the pot, leaning against it and throw something on the fire that makes it shoot way up in the air.  The brine from the pot boils over and its ready to eat.  We had the fish, potatoes, cole slaw and cherry pie.  It was very good.

Pictures before and after the fire flares up.











The next day we traveled to Sheboygan Wis. to see my mothers best friend Amelia and her daughter Bernice who baby sit me when we used to visit years ago and taught me how to ride a bike.  I always had a crush on her.

To picture is Amelia standing next to me and her sister and brother sitting.  All in their 90's.  The bottom picture is Berniece and I.

One of the reasons we stopped was Jim and I wanted to know who our real father or fathers was.  At first Amelia said..."Why do you want to bring that up?"  At that point I stepped in and said Amelia, we need to know.  We found out that we had different fathers and they both were dead.  It still ended up being a nice visit.

Our next stop heading back to Occonomowoc was at Miller Park where the Brewers play.  We toured the inside and gift shop and ate there.

Miller Park  home of the Brewers in Milwaukee

Hank Aaron statue outside Miller Park

After we left here it was a trip of about 20 miles back to Jim and Bevs, really was a nice time and seen a lot of places I had seen years ago when visiting grandparents.