Ever since her GF moved up here early this year, S had been talking about the three of us visiting an animal farm south of Oshkosh. She took my wife and me there a couple years ago; we had a great time, and I got some goofy pictures, which is almost as important …
(That’s an extreme close-up of an elk, by the way.)
Now she wanted to share the critter experience with her GF, who I will hereafter call T.
I wanted to take them there earlier this summer and drove down, but we didn’t have good luck with the weather. We did other stuff. Summer lasts a long time, right?
But when the calendar hits August, it gets really hard for me to take a couple days off–the month gets much busier (for me) than June and July are. So, early in August, on a warm, humid Monday night, my wife made me an early supper, and I hit the road for the four-hour drive south to the Fox Cities of Wisconsin.
Earlier this summer, I had run into road construction along the way. This time, I got smart; I figured out a route that only would take me a little out of my way. But fate didn’t work out that way, for three reasons: (1) patches of ground fog; (2) other condensation that made reflective signs hard to read; and (3) the earlier sunsets of early August. By the time I got to the construction areas, it was dark, and the signs were hard to read. I had to follow Highway 55, not Highway 54.
OK, I got lost for a while. The GPS on my phone helped straighten me out, but I finally got there about 11 p.m., a full hour later than planned. First things first: They had to get me up to speed on the “Twilight” movie series. We had decided to see a movie during this trip, and they wanted to see “Eclipse,” the third entry in the Twilight series. So I watched “New Moon” with them to learn who’s whom and what’s what. Werewolves. Vampires. Indians. My head was swimming with details.
Finally, to bed and quickly to sleep. S had taken a Tylenol PM, so she was night-night, no matter what. I was bushed, anyway. Sleep came easily.
We all slept late Tuesday. Just after noon, we got something to eat and left for the animal farm. It was hot (in the upper 80s) and quite muggy–but it was also cloudy. Lucky for us: If the sun comes out, I told them, the heat index is going to shoot straight up.
When we got there, I picked up my camera but not my hat. It was still pretty cloudy.
I paid for all three of us, and in exchange we got several bags of old bread–to feed to the critters we saw along the way. Off we went. Our first friends were a goat and donkey that posed with S. Say cheese! …
The goats were quite interested in T’s bread …
Then we found a pen where the goats were stacked for snacks …
We also encountered a hungry bison with a black tongue …
On the other side, camels. Some of them had figured out how to get closer to their two-footed visitors and look cute doing it …
Again, the goats. They were quite insistent. They wanted food. They knew we had it. And they weren’t accepting any excuses. T had to talk to one of them, to tell him to mind his manners …
S found a donkey, who brayed loudly about how hungry he was. S always falls for that trick …
It was hot but manageable … until, halfway through our self-guided tour, the sun broke out in all its glory. I remembered my hat, still in the back seat. Sure enough, my U.P. blood was getting too hot.
We spotted a gazebo and took refuge from the sun there. I took off my shirt, something I don’t do that often, to invite a breeze. I invited the girls to do likewise. But they had seen a little girl earlier in our visit and didn’t want their breasts to corrupt impressionable youth, I guess. Anyway, I was the only shirtless person.
That’s about when a bunch of piglets spotted us. What fun!
After that, we had piglets trotting after us, looking for treats and grunting endearingly …
In fact, T was like the Pied Piper of Piglets. She certainly had a devoted following …
When we visited in 2007, we took refuge from the heat in a camp store, where they sold sodas and ice cream. We finally found the place. It was closed. Our luck.
Before we left, S found more creatures near a fence–a bison, deer, more goats …
(In fact, it was the same bunch we had seen earlier, when the goats were on multi layers.) …
Frankly, I wasn’t feeling that well. The girls saw my skin was a lot pinker than normal, and I hadn’t gotten sunburned–I was just overheated. Luckily, we found a gas station and restaurant and took refuge there for a while. Ice cream! What a good idea! I had a banana shake. Yum! We took our time, and eventually I cooled down.
Our original plan had been to drive north to Appleton, enjoy dinner together and see the movie. But first we had to go back to their place to peel off our sweat-soaked shirts. By the time we reached Appleton, time was too tight for a regular restaurant. Instead: Burger King. Then, off to the movie.
I’m glad I saw “New Moon” the night before–it did help me keep track of the main characters. The girls thought this film would tie up all the plotlines and bring the saga to a close. Far from it! The ending very obviously hinted that at least one more sequel is in the works. Nonetheless, everyone enjoyed the film–and the air conditioning inside …
After that: Some evening shopping. The girls needed a number of things and were short on money, as usual. But they are my friends, and I don’t have a problem helping out. From Tylenols to maxipads to whatever, my attitude is: If you need it, put it in the cart. The big one was a cell phone–S had a phone, but it was only for emergencies. I reasoned that getting a new one would make their lives less complicated.
From there, back to their place. Various people visited, and someone took a picture of me with the girls …
Finally, a little after midnight, off to bed (though the GF stayed up). S and I were tired after a long, busy day. We both fell asleep quickly.
Wednesday morning, I had to head for home. But first, S and I had some unfinished business to take care of. One important item remained on the to-do list because we were too tired the first two nights.
And then it was time to go. I saw many things on the trip home. Birds gathering on wires. The hamburger capital of America. Pretty farming valleys. But that’s enough pictures for now. Maybe another time. Finally I got back home.
The trip was a bit too rushed for my liking, but it had to do. I don’t expect to visit them again until October or November. We’re already talking about special plans for that one. This one is so special to me that my wife might join us. I’ll explain in due time.
drdog