Vacation Preview (Apr. 28-May 6)

Cutter's Log - Stardate 3102.62.40
Current Song - My Sweet Lord (George Harrison)

I've procrastinated quite a bit when it comes to the 2013 Self Vacation, and just now - after a late night at work, doing research and putting things together from 1:30 am to 4 am - I have an itineary in place.

This vacation is a smaller scale from the 2009, 2010 and 2011 vacations (Tucson, Cooperstown/Canton, and Lake Itasca respectively). I took no vacation in 2012. I'm only going about three hours or so from home.

It is a continuation of my 2011 vacation of the Mississippi River north of Clinton. It abruptly cut off after crossing the Wisconsin River on the descent when it got too dark for picture-taking. So I drove home in the dark from that point, missing all of Grant County. This year, I am coming back to see what I simply drove past.

The central attraction this time will be camping at the Jellystone Park in Bagley, Wisc. It is the park's opening weekend. It'll be my first time camping since I was in second grade, when we went to Rockwood in Morrison. Only this time, I don't plan on getting lost in the woods with a team of rangers out to try to rescue me --- another story for another time.

I have taken my 27th birthday (Sunday, April 28) off of work and have 8 days of vacation time until reporting for work at 5 p.m. on Monday, May 6 (I accidentally got the 27th off, but looks like it will be voided by a short night-shift). I recently surpassed the one-year mark on having been reinstated back to Shell, thus giving me one week of paid vacation.

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The vacation officially begins at 1 a.m. on Sunday, April 28 - when I lock the doors of the Shell station. I plan on spending my 27th Birthday with my family.

Either Tuesday, Wednesday or Thursday, I plan on spending time with my grandparents - who are returning home from the winter in Tucson. We'll visit, go over the house, and talk for quite a while I'm sure.

Also during those three days, I plan on working on the NISB website for the first time since mid-March: website cleaning, message board cleaning, beginning work on a new look, creating an updated logo and drafting the State of the Site Address (50 days from this writing).

Friday, Saturday and Sunday is when the real fun begins.

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Friday will begin in Clinton once more (the start of my 2011 trip) with a fill-up at the Kwik Star. These fuels really helped me during the previous vacation and I was impressed on how long-lasting they were. I plan on arriving in Clinton by 6 a.m. or so and make my way back across to Illinois.

I'll be going back across via the Savanna-Sebula Bridge - which is to be replaced in the next few years. It's one of those older truss bridges with a steel bed consisting of square holes. It'll likely be my last time crossing this unique bridge.

By 7:45 or so, I'll be in St. Donatus, Iowa. I drove through it on the last trip, and wound up getting lost north of town (and nearly got into a car accident at a sharp curve). I wound up simply driving through this town that is a resemblence of Luxembourg. There is a restaurant there which is open that early, and I hope to take a bite into something foreign.

Afterward, I'll be back in Illinois, albeit briefly; crossing from Dubuque to East Dubuque and then up Route 35 into Wisconsin.

By 10:30, I'll be in Potosi and visiting the National Brewery Museum on the grounds of the old Potosi Brewery. I also plan on having lunch there.

Then comes the ascent to Bagley, through Cassville. Tentsite 37. Set up the tent I plan on getting for a birthday present and sleep in the great outdoors for the first time in a long time.

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Saturday is really up in the air, as I'm sure I'll find something to do within the Jellystone site, or somewhere in either Bagley or Wyalusing. I just plan to wing it. And spend a second night in a tent.

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Sunday after an early check-out, I plan on going back to the terminus of the past vacation - Wyalusing State Park. Wisconsin, like Minnesota, charges for access to its state parks. But I plan on seeing it anyway, however by actually visiting it. I have SEEN the park, but viewing it from a bluff at Pikes Peak in Iowa. This is also where the Wisconsin River dumps into the Mississippi.

Then comes the descent. There is a ferry in Cassville that goes across the Mississippi. I have never been on a ferry before, so this will be a first for me.

I'll be driving toward Balltown and once more gazing at one of the best views I've ever seen. Then, because I missed eating there on the last trip, I'll finally get that chance to eat at the Sunday buffet at Breitbach's.

Lastly, on a full stomach, I'll weave my way once more across the Julian Dubuque bridge and up and down the hills of Jo Daviess and Carroll County back home with my eyes partially shut.

No, wait, probably not a good idea to drive through that area at night like that :(

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Somehow, sometime, I'll be back home by Monday. Then it's back to work at 5 p.m.

Here's hoping all goes to a 'T'.