The End of the Road

Club Tap, Wauwatosa
Originally uploaded by zenhikers

It is hard to summarize all that happened during the course of two weeks and over 5,000 miles of driving, but I guess this sign outside Club Tap gets the story rolling.... There are lots fun memories from our road trip to Wisconsin for the holidays: Aaron having marshmallow wars with the kids, Zambuca shots on Christmas Eve, grlling ribeyes in the snow (only in Wisconsin), Danny's face when he saw the Twain Harte spider, exciting news about a new addition to the Wieselman clan, and slamming back a couple of Schlitz, followed by a few Blatz at the legendary Club Tap. And that is just the part of the trip in Wisconsin!

It was great to walk into taverns that we've haven't been into in two years and see Bill, Bob, Bruno, Adrianne, or even that rude women at the Speedway and feel that people remember you from the old days and want to hear how things are going. We really enjoyed catching up with friends, old co-workers, and family as well as our favorite bartenders- but truly, if you're going to Milwaukee, you have to have a special place in your heart for the local taverns.

On New Year's Day we hit to road back down south. Illinois was like an ice-skating rink, with about 30 cars in the ditch along the 300 mile stretch into Missouri. I don't know if it was the new tires or just good driving but we couldn't figure out what the heck was wrong with all these people. At a rest area along the way I talked with an older women that I assumed to be an avid RV'er, as she looked the type. As we were washing out hands and discussing the 10 degree temperatures and wind she said, "You know, I love the road, but sometimes I just wish they would have finally figured out that teleporter thing!" So true!

We stayed in Springfield, MO that night and then busted out a long 13-hour day of driving into Taos, NM. It was worth it. If you have never had the pleasure of visiting New Mexico, you better get it on your list. Especially if you like food. "Life without green chile is no life at all!" Taos is, of course, where we got married and has special meaning for us. This trip we stayed at the Laughing Horse Inn bed and breakfast that used to be an old commune and is dog-friendly and full of interesting people. It is under new ownership and despite our worried that everything would be changed, the place looks good: preserving the old charm and adding new energy. The new innkeeper is a total trip (former stuntwoman that is a multi-talented painter, writer, musician and mother!) Taos truly is a creative magnet for people like that. It was particularly cool that while we were there the innkeeper was hosting a meeting for the Old Spanish Trail historical society and was willing to partner with the group to work on promoting the trail (which just so happens to run in front of the Inn!) Very cool! We got the sauna room and slept in the rustic bunk beds with Pocky chilling out on the lower level. We also made a visit to KTAO solar radio, which is our favorite source of eclectic music while experiencing the Taos vibe. The trip would not have been complete without a couple margaritas at the Taos Inn where we got married. I absolutely love the Adobe Bar and the night we were there we got to hear a local bluegrass singer who managed to pull out a couple favorites, including Iris Dement and "Lakes of Pontchatrain". Excellent. BTW, I send my regards to the guy we met after my third margarita, I don't remember much beyond the fact that you are getting married in the spring. Cheers!

Before we descended back into the Las Vegas valley, we made one more stop in Arizona's Navajo country. We visited our friends, Darrell and Madiria and their son Ethan at their house in progress that Darrell is building just north of Show Low, AZ. It was great to visit and hang out and Ethan was a real cutie. We also swung through Petrified Forest National Park on the way home and got to see some reallyy cool petrified logs. Don't steal these pretty pieces of wood or the NPS will fine you something fierce!!!

The trip ended with a huge downpour in Kingman and fog into the Hoover Dam. We arrived safely back at home and enjoyed sleeping in our own bed and finally finishing the third season of Lost. It is good to be home, but as Aaron said yesterday, "I miss the road already!"