Cheese and Lighthouses

June 22 -  I can’t believe I totally forgot our first stop yesterday!   We went to Scray Cheese Factory!  We hoped to see the steps of the process but there was just a big viewing window and they were pretty much done for the day.  We did get to sample several of their cheeses, but the big reason to go is to get FRESH cheese curds.  Sometimes we can get them in Florida but they just taste like regular cheese.  When they’re fresh they are a bit moist and they literally make a squeaky noise with you chew them.  As kids we used to get them in the Amish community in Ohio where our dad grew up and would take us to see them make the cheese.   We bought a pound and they did last through some of today!

Rack of fresh curds

So, today we started our day by going to another cheese factory, Union Star Cheese.  It was in the direction of Oshkosh so we each drove.  There was parking on the street and it ‘s not really in town.  This time we bought 2 pounds of fresh curds and both agreed they are not as flavorful as yesterday’s.  There was a young woman who spent $129 on cheeses and meats to take back to Louisiana.  She’s from the area and only gets home once a year and said she tries to make it last!  They had a nice sample of aged cheddar but we still have cheese from Ohio and some we bought yesterday. 

 We were only about a 20 minutes to our campground in Oshkosh.  I’ve always wanted to come here as this is the home of Oshkosh B’gosh clothing and come to find out they merges with Carter Clothing and moved their manufacturing.  We did learn that this is one of the convention/event capitals of the Great Lakes Region.  There is a big country western concerts series going on this weekend and we were lucky to get a spot.  I  think we’re the only ones in the campground who are not going to any of the events.

After we had some lunch we drove down to Fond du Lac on Lake Winnebago to see the

Fond du Lac Lighthouse

Fond du Lac Lighthouse.  It was easy to locate after a nice drive along the shores of Lake Winnebago.  There were quite a lot of people there and I went up the top while Bill did photo duty.  The trick was finding the Visitor Bureau to get the stamp.  We went to the address on the Lighthouse Society website and it was empty.  I called the number and found they had moved to downtown.  They have poor signage at the new location so Bill parked and I walked to it and found this was their first day there.  Anyway, I got my stamp so all is good with the world!

On the way back we stopped for iced coffee at Dunkin Donuts  and I made a quick stop at JoAnn’s and staples.  We discussed where to go for dinner as we are in major fish territory and it’s Friday so all of the seafood places, Elks, Rotary, etc. have fish fries tonight!  We picked a place from Yelp but Bill talked to some locals at the campground and they gave the names of 2 places closer. 

I worked on more paperwork for the rental house; this is getting to be a real pain!  Now we’re told there’s an outstanding water bill from 2010 that has to be paid to get a clear title.  Either a tenant never paid it or it was for the time we did a renovation and they sent the bill to the rental and not to us and the tenant didn’t give it to us.  Anyway, I got a check ready for that but will pursue it for my satisfaction!

Paul Bunyan pants

On the way to dinner Bill wanted to stop at the Duluth Trading Company that he’d seen advertised but I guess we don’t have one.  They have and “outlet” room behind the regular overpriced store and Bill did get a nice pair of shorts.  They had some good buys there for women if you are a size 6! 

We decided on Parnell’s Place for dinner.  There was quite a wait as we expected but we did get a seat at the bar and I had a glass of Riesling while Bill had a coke.  I’m sure mine was better!  So good that I took a photo of the label for future purchase!  We both had the medium perch dinner with a salad.  The perch was very good and maybe just a little too large of a serving, but the small was only 5 ounces.  It came with a tiny cup of slaw that was good and pumpernickel bread which was a nice touch, but it was pre-buttered with margarine when there was butter on the table.  I didn’t quite get that! 

Our entertainment for the evening was listening to the rowdy crowd of young people gathering and waiting for the school bus to pick them up and deliver them to the concert venue.  They each paid $21 for round trip and the driver made 3 trips that we know of.  They sounded like they started partying early and were loud and obnoxious already!  I’m sure we will hear them come back since we are parked RIGHT by the entrance!  Oh well!

Time to read a few pages and post this tomorrow!