LaCrosse 2017

Summer 2017 photos.

On the wall at Grandad Park

The last time we were in LaCrosse two years ago, and I wasn't feeling well, so it was great to be visiting in good health.

We left St. Paul in late morning in the Corvette. The drive along Highway 61 was lovely on this perfect summer day. We stopped at Roschen Park in Lake City for a rest and watched the boat traffic on Lake Pepin. The lake was dotted with sailboats and the launch was busy.

We arrived in LaCrosse around two and checked into Courtyard by Marriott beside the bridge. Our room has a lovely river view and we had an "ice cold beer" from our cooler as we watched the boat traffic on this warm Sunday afternoon. We drove up the bluff to Grandad Park and I was amazed to actually hear big, healthy looking bees buzzing in the wildflowers. The view from the overlook is amazing: vast expanses of water and green stands of trees, rich farmland in the distance, a golf course immediately below us.

At Buena Vista Park

We had an early dinner at Piggy's because our favorite Waterfront Restaurant is closed for dinner on Sunday. The coconut chicken appetizers were delicious. Bob enjoyed his filet mignon but, as always, compared it to his Chianti Grill gold standard. I ordered a bowl of beef vegetable soup (large, delicious potion) and a wedge side salad. Unfortunately, I was full by the time I finished the soup and the salad is sitting in our little hotel fridge. The smells -- onion, gorgonzola, fresh garlic -- that were so seductive in the restaurant seem disgusting this morning, and I'm afraid our limited cooler space won't be used for yesterday's error.

View from the edge of the cliff at Buena Vista Park

We saw a large barge on Sunday evening -- 15 units and a big pusher -- and went to bed shortly after ten. I am not usually a good sleeper but I was exhausted and I got a great night's rest. The weather was cloudy on Monday morning but the mist lifted as we left our hotel for the ride home on the Wisconsin side of the river.

We couldn't pass up a stop at Nelson for ice cream cones, Wisconsin cheese and summer sausage. We enjoyed a snack of meat and cheese in Prescott at our usual spot near the train bridge. When we arrived home in the early afternoon, the sun was beating down on the parched grass. Later on, as the sun began its descent in the southwest, Bob turned on the sprinklers. Finally, after sunset, the 96F heat faded as welcome rains fell.