Spring Western Trip 2017: New Ulm to Amherst, Wisconsin

Tuesday, 5/9:  315 miles and parked at Lake Emily County Park, Amherst, Wisconsin

It was a pleasant non Interstate drive most of the way today.  We arrived at Lake Emily about 3:30.  We have stayed here before and know the park.  We drove around the loops and picked out a site.  It was self registration.  We set up, and then took the 10 minute drive to Dave and Ann Wright’s home in Amherst.   Amherst is a small, population about 1,000, rural town located in central Wisconsin, not far from the college town of Stevens Point.  My friendship with Dave and Ann goes back almost 50 years.  Judy and I visited here in 2015.  We ended up grilling brats over an outdoor fire, along with a few brews.  It is always a hoot catching up with Dave and Ann, and there is never ever a dull moment.

Wednesday 5/10:  Amherst

We met Dave and Ann at their house for breakfast.  Dave cooked some pancakes and served them with maple syrup that we brought from New York.

We made a plan for the day, which included a road trip to Appleton and Oshkosh, about 2 hours away.  We visited a gallery, The Trout Museum of Art, in Appleton where Ann and Dave have some art work exhibited.  After a lunch at the Copper Rock Coffee Company, we drove to Oshkosh to visit the EAA (Experimental Aviation Association) museum.  There was so much to see there that it was almost overwhelming.

Back in Amherst, we went out for dinner at the local Amherst downtown bar/diner, the Ambrosia.

Thursday, 5/11:  Amherst

It was breakfast at the Wright homestead again this morning.  Later, we met Dave’s brother, who's nickname is “Crow” at a park in nearby Scandinavia where he was letting his dog have a run.  We took a short hike, and then it was back to Dave and Ann’s for lunch.  

After lunch, we went back to the camper for a wonderful long nap.  Dave and Ann came to the camper for a crock pot dinner Judy had put together, and then we sat around a campfire.  It was a nice relaxing day.

Friday, 5/12:  Amherst 

We had breakfast at the Wright household again.  Then it was time for another local road trip.  This time Dave and Ann took us to visit the Rudolph Grotto, located in of all places, Rudolph, Wisconsin.  The grotto is a religious site where there are 26 religious shrines built over many years.  It is definitely a different and unique place.  

After the grotto visit, with took about an hour, we stopped at the Wisconsin Dairy State Cheese Company, a huge and very popular cheese store in Rudolf.  We stocked up on some very nice Wisconsin cheeses.  We had lunch at the Hilltop Pub and Grill in Stevens Pointe.  After stuffing ourselves at lunch, visited a small small gallery in Nelsonville where Ann  has some work displayed. 

That evening we went to Central Waters Brewery in Amherst.  Central Waters is a local craft brewery that is making a name for itself.  Their bar is open on weekends and draws huge crowds.  It is kinda of the local hangout where everyone knows everyone else.  Dave’s brothers Crow and Dick were there.  We also connected with friends Wayne and Patti, who we have met before on previous trips to Amherst.  We had several brews, and laughed until it hurt.  Tonight is our last night in Amherst on this trip, so we said our good byes, and were back to camper by 10:00  The campground is rapidly filling up for weekend.

Tomorrow it on to Michigan, and then home.