Bryant WI, July 2-6

After a lovely ride through country characterized by yellow wild flowers and tall pines, we parked the trailer near the home/farm of Jenny & Paul Monk.

But instead of staying in the trailer, we stayed in their cabin for four nights.

The cabin was gorgeous inside.

Paul actually built the cabin himself (with some help from his sons) and Jenny decorated it. It was a very nice change—especially since Ray and I have always been partial to log cabins and wood interiors. Being out in the country was a bit of a shock though. The closest grocery store was 16 miles away, there was no Seven/Eleven where we could buy a newspaper and our internet and phone didn’t work. But we loved the quiet and spending time with the entire Monk family, all of whom were very warm and welcoming. Joan (Paul’s mother) gave us some homemade strawberry jam that was out of this world. Add Paul's hamburgers, Jenny's potato salad and make your own ice cream sundaes and we were in heaven. Yummm.

The Monks. From the left: PJ, Joan, George, John, Percy, Jeffrey, Jenny, and Paul

We took a walk to the two ponds on Paul and Jenny’s property and Paul showed us their ginseng farm.

Ray in the middle of 4 year old ginseng plants

Besides shopping and eating at two restaurants, we made one excursion. That was to Laona where we took a 15 minute ride in a steam locomotive

to tour the Camp 5 Logging Museum which included a petting farm.

Exhibit featuring a 382 year old tree

After the museum we took a pontoon ride on the Rat River, so called because it was once home to a huge number of muskrats.

We saw a muskrat! Not sure if you can see it though. Look to the right of the wood.

Next stop is Door County.