Onward to Minnesota - our first workamping job

Our first workamping adventure started on May 15, 2012, taking us a week to get to St. Croix River Resort in Minnesota, which is about 5 miles west of Danbury, Wisconsin, just over the St. Croix River in Minnesota. Our first stop was Chattanooga, TN to Camping World to get new tires put on the trailer. From there we headed up through Tennessee and into Kentucky. Stopped at Bardstown, Kentucky to visit the Heaven Hill plant for a tour. 

Had coffee and pastries at a local bakery while the laundry was being done. From there we headed to the Heaven Hill plant for a tour. Part of the Bourbon Trail where you get a passport and get it stamped at each location you visit. The bourbon is stored in white oak barrels and used only once. After the bourbon is drained the barrels are sold to wineries for them to use.

While in Bardstown we went to the Riverwalk and found two geocaches - dropped off a trackable that we had been holding for quite some time.

The cobblestone path is one of the oldest paved roads in all Kentucky; by 1785 this was the original entry to Bardstown from the east and part of the legendary "wilderness road." Congress ordered the pioneer trace to be improved as a military road after 1792. The cobbled paving of this hill dates at least circa 1790, allowing two-way traffic by heavy freight wagons and all wheeled vehicles entering and leaving Bardstown. After serving over 30 years as the major entry connector to the east end of historic Arch Street, the steep pathway was relegated to light traffic and mounted riders after the improved "turnpike" was constructed circa 1830 just below the cliffs. Cut off from the modern streets after 1925, isolation allowed the path to survive, serving only pedestrian traffic after that date.

Then we headed into Indiana, Wisconsin and then Minnesota to the campground. Through Indiana we must have driven for over 10 miles through a wind farm - amazing to see all those windmills (must have been thousands) - probably powering LaFayette, Indiana - stimulus money? 

Drove through Chicago on our way - what a nightmare - at least it was a Sunday and there was not much traffic. I would not have wanted Jim to drive through this city on a weekday. The tolls were outrageous. Must have spent about $25 on the tolls. Speed limit was 55 – much too slow as our Excursion travels best at 65 and gets better gas mileage at that speed. Very glad to be out of Illinois. Staying a couple of days in Wisconsin Dells at Arrowhead RV Resort. Huge resort - part of Thousand Trails. The weather has been so nice since we left - no rain; sunny skies; nice sleeping weather. But I think a cold front has come through here - going to get down into the high 40's - windows are now closed and warm clothes will be put on for tomorrow.  Will look for a geocache to do tomorrow; clean the trailer; maybe even a winery to visit.

Finally arrived on May 22 and took two days to get situated and then started working Memorial Day weekend ~~ May 25 - 29, 2012.