Bruce's Travels

 By Bruce Shawkey The annual Fall circle tour is a tradition started many years ago by my sister, Dawn, and me. It takes in many points of interest combined with family memories. We start on the West Side of Madison, heading northwest on U.S. Highway 12. The route was originally signed as WIS 12 in 1917 prior to the creation of the U.S. Numbered Highway System in 1926. The first atop is a McDonalds in Sauk City for a large coffee to have with our apple pie we will eat at our next stop, Ski Hi apple orchard.  Ski Hi apple orchard has been around for a century. Founded in 1925 by the Bassett family, it has long been part of our family history. My grandfather used to go there every Fall in the 1960s to buy apples. Today, Ski Hi offers some 30 varieties of apples throughout the harvesting season. Currently, Honey Crisp is our personal favorite (and their biggest seller) but their website urges people to sample Ginger Gold, Tolman Sweet, Snow, Macoun, Idared, Golden Russe...

Tues Sept 23 Up at 2 a.m. Parked the Camry at the Dutch Mill Park and Ride. Took Uber to airport. First to Minneapolis. Breakfast at a nice little diner style restaurant: Scrambled eggs, turkey sausage, hash browns, and coffee. Boarded Delta, crammed into seats, had loud obnoxious woman behind us screaming F-bombs. Arrival Seattle -- 2 p.m. Ubered to our motel, the Hampton Inn and got settled. Dinner at Elliott's on the water. White clam chowder for appetizer, prawns and scallop scallops on a bed of risotto for main course, chocolate mousse and coffee for dessert. Clam chowder, crab cakes, and a salad for Dawn.  Back to Hampton Inn and to bed. Wednesday Sept 24 Up at 8 a.m. and to Lowell's for breakfast only to find them closed. We later learned they had plumbing issues. We instead had pastries and strawberries and coffee. From the public market we Ubered to the Space Needle and Chihuly glass exhibit.  Then to McDonalds for a $20 lunch. Back to Hampton. We went to an Irish pub...

Tunica, Miss. 12/21/13 Saints and Devils From Janesville, I started out for Saint Charles at 8:35 a.m., and swear I could see the devil in the rear view mirror of my Prius all the way until I arrived at my hotel at 3 p.m. I had drizzle, full-on rain, sleet, and at times fog. I kept thinking, "I'm heading south. The temperature's gotta go up, right?" But the temps stubbornly hung in the 32 to 34 range just about the whole time. There must have been tons of salt of the roadway, because I could see ice forming on the Prius at times. Only one combination gas/pee stop, and I didn't even stop for a meal anywhere, settling for a small bag of M&Ms grabbed hastily from the gas station shelves. By the time I arrived at the Embassy Suites, I had to pee like Seabiscuit, and make a mad dash for the men's room. So not exactly the most relaxing drive I've ever had, and certainly not the way I like to motor, but I made it. The devil had to go fuck with somebody else. ...

First cruise aboard aboard an Oasis-class ship, the Wonder of the Seas. Cabin 10th floor, Cabin #10147 Missed shuttle to cruise ship. Caught ride on another van got to terminal by 1 p.m. picked up scooter, went through security, up to Windjammer for buffet lunch. Very good, crowded, but they had handicapped tables available. Usual dishes and treats. Then to theater to check off safety drill. I'm now in cabin and Julie is off people watching. Met cabin steward and he will separate beds. RC app doesn't seem to be working. We set up stuff and get confirmation message, but then then the crew has no record of it. But we work it out. Dinner of fish filet was very good. Show tonight was the RC singers and dancers doing a variety show. Then off to bed. Day 2 Up at 8 a.m. and off to the 'Jammer for  hearty breakfast. Went to Solarium for dip in whirlpool and some reading. Lunch of roast beef, mashed potatoes and various salads. Nap and then get dressed for formal night in dining roo...