'Wining' about the Weather

Summer arrived in grand style this past weekend with 90 degree temps.  Have you ever ridden in a convertible with the top down and the AC on?

Well, we did as our Miata trip didn't start until mid afternoon and it was 'HOT' so we headed for a river ride north to Alma, a small river town, with great scenic views, quaint galleries and bars filled with lots of bikers. In fact the bikers were out in force on Saturday. Lots of leather, skin and of course tattoos. Harley Davidsons appeared to be the ride of choice.

Our favorite Alma eatery had closed at 2. Uh oh, now I was both hungry and hot, not a good combo.  The town's Legion's chicken-que wasn't ready until 4 so we had a good half hour to kill.  Plant shopping was done, a stroll up and down the 3 downtown blocks took just enough time for us to be the first in line for the take out dinners to head up for a picnic at the scenic bluff overlook.

We parked in the only bit of shade as the  bikers had left just enough room for us. Once I woofed down the chicken dinner, we sauntered to the overlook for a scenic view of and I quote "the 240,000 acre Upper Mississippi River National Wildlife and Fish Refuge System of public lands and waters set aside to conserve wildlife for future generations."

Boats awaiting their turn at the locks

It was hazy albeit spectacular. Alma is an important town as the energy companies want to bring the power line through here as well as frac mining companies want mining rights. The city has voted on a ordinance to prevent the mining. But the power lines will be crossing the River here as the courts ruled that too many investors would be hurt if the line is stopped.  TS is what we respond since our state doesn't need nor will receive power from these massive CAPX 2020 lines.

That would be Dairy Land Power on the left 

There was a breeze on the ridge...

After admiring the view, we continued on to visit Danzinger Vineyards which is included on the Great River Wine Trail and where the owner 'kibbutzed' with us about how he as a dairy farmer for 50 years in the area (500 cows) decided to grow grapes and now has 20 acres for his vineyard.  His boys take care of the dairy operation and family take turns helping out in the vineyard business. ( In winter, he like many other smart senior Wisconsinites heads to Florida, Ft Myers.)

http://greatriverroadwinetrail.org/wineries/danzinger.html

The site is impressive as you see the River and it's a great setting with a beautiful stone building for tasting/ shopping, a party room and an impressive large deck for weddings/ whatever the occasion.  

There's even a building on site for fermenting the wine where you can peer in the windows.

AND... if you time it right, you can also enjoy musical evenings with your wine.

It's definitely worth the drive... you should check it out.

Our grapes are looking good this year in the End of the Rainbow Valley but I'll be glad to let somebody else like Danzinger's take care of making the wine ...