La Crosse, Wisconsin

September 18 - 20, 2017:

There was much activity in the campground as the carnival workers were packing up and moving out.  They were sort of a rough looking bunch, but were actually very quiet and well behaved in comparison to the usual weekend warrior campers. It was a mostly smooth ride of 146 miles on route 51 and I-90 to West Salem, Wisconsin and then a few miles of local roads to the Veterans Memorial Park Campground.  It’s a LaCrosse County campground with very nice facilities, especially the new looking shower house and had lots of open campsites.  We luckily finished setting up before the heavy rain started.

In a time when the "hero" designation is so overused, it's
nice to hear about a true hero 

   

The La Crosse River flowing through the campground

Spacious green campsites here

This area of Wisconsin is quite beautiful with its airy farms and corn fields set amongst the rolling hills in various shades of green and gold.  The leaves are just starting to change color now, in a couple of weeks it will be postcard beautiful.

Many beautiful farms and corn fields with classic old silos

We take a ride to check out the town of West Salem and find our way to Linda’s Bakery.  It’s a great bakery, not to be missed if anywhere near this area, I think we went there every ay !  West Salem has a couple of interesting downtown buildings and a huge grain elevator complex.

West Salem farmers Co-Op

Coulee Farm Supply

An antique stained glass "Old Style Lager" sign

Downtown view

  

We are about 10 miles from LaCrosse, Wisconsin which on first impression looks like my kind of town, a near perfect blend of sophistication, grunge and scenic beauty.  We explore the downtown area best by going our separate ways, (divide and conquer) as I am mostly interested in taking photos while Twinkles wants to shop.  We then meet up after about 2 -3 hours for lunch and to consider doing something together that we can agree on, its sometimes complicated.  We go to a soup and sandwich shop, "Pickerman's on Jay", which was just perfect and then check out the "Antique Center of LaCrosse" where I end up buying an old picture of a beautiful indian maiden in a birch bark canoe.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/La_Crosse,_Wisconsin

Indians playing Lacrosse gave the city it's name 

LaCrosse view with storm clouds approaching

Have a coffee

Buzzard Billy's

Classic buildings and signs abound

This is a heavy drinking town with many brew pubs, the
Bodega is one of the most impressive

The "War Eagle" riverboat mural near the bridge

View of the Cameron and the Cass Street bridges over the 
Mississippi River that are known as the "Big Blue Bridges" 

The Mississippi River from the center of the bridge

As I was taking a photo outside a building under renovation,
a man insisted I come inside a take a photo from an
upstairs floor for a better angle
    

This city has many great buildings remaining

The Hollywood Theater

Have a beer at the State Room

The original "G.Heileman Brewing Company", established in 1858, operated until 1996 when it was acquired by Stroh's Brewing.  It's most successful beer was "Old Style Lager".  It is now known as the "City Brewing Company" has a very rich and interesting history.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/G._Heileman_Brewing_Company

The largest six pack in the world containing 22,220 barrels of beer

Germanic King Gambrinus, the patron saint of beer
sits in front of the Brewery

Very Impressive aging cellars 

After the Brewery I continue to the "Shrine of our Lady of Guadalupe".  I not a very religious person but I could use a little divine inspiration and just entering these buildings does that.  

A view inside

A heavenly mural on the entry ceiling

I go downtown one evening to the “Popcorn Bar” where they have live music but its really one person half heartedly playing for me, the barmaid and one other       

musician type hanging out.  I’m feeling awkward there, leave and walk the streets a while finally stopping in another "hole in a wall" bar with interior walls covered with sadistic art work.

The Popcorn Tavern sign

 

The visual images are sort of intoxicating

Remember to check our friends out at: www.hitchupandgo.com

Next stop is Lanesboro, Minnesota,

Twinkles and Slick