On Wisconsin!

After a couple of weeks in Virginia, we traveled to the Airstream factory in Jackson Center, OH for some minor repairs. During our stay we had dinner with Gloria’s brother, Lowell, her sister Laurane, and brother-in-law, Dale in Lima, Ohio. We then drove on to Northern Michigan and stayed for a couple of chilly days near a cottage owned by Gloria’s brother, Carroll, and wife, Marilynn. We had a delicious fish dinner prepared by Carroll. The next day we traveled with them for brunch to a lovely, remote lodge with a terrific lakeside view. On we went across the famous Mackinaw Bridge and swung west into Wisconsin. We took time to explore the Door Peninsula for a couple of days, but we did not take any of the ferry rides to the islands off the peninsula due to cold, dismal weather. We did view one lighthouse.

The real reason we are in Wisconsin is to attend the 52nd Wally Byam Airstream Rally being held in Madison. The rally does not officially begin until June 28, but we have around 400 rigs already in place. We arrived on June 11 as "early workers." While there is much to do, we still have ample time for touring. We work in Property Management, CB broadcasting, Choir, and Photography. There are lots of meetings and tasks, but we have had the opportunity to visit The House on the Rock, Frank Lloyd Wright Visitor Center, a small cheese factory, and the fabulous Epic Systems Complex and the Monona Terrace Convention Center designed by Wright in 1938 but not built until the 1990s. We also toured the elegant Capitol and attended a free concert on the lawn provided by the Madison Chamber Orchestra. Hundreds were in attendance, and it was a blanket-to-blanket evening of entertainment. The Capitol dome is one of the largest in the world.

The House on the Rock is a rather weird architectural structure with a residence and many rooms filled with art, strange innovations, a huge merry-go-round, historical memorabilia, moving miniature masterpieces, and various collections. Tokens will net the visitor myriad musical “compositions.” We have never seen anything quite like this place.

The highpoint of our touring was the Epic Systems Complex. Their business employs 3200 employees and focuses on the development and implementation of health care software. It consists of an avant-garde series of structures on 400 acres surrounded by lovely farmland. There are numerous conference rooms, each with a unique, splendid fireplace. The hallways, alcoves and conference rooms are filled with splendid artwork. “Indiana Jones,” “Grand Central Station,” "The Farm," and "The North Pole" are a few of the themes in the many conference rooms. Tourists were even given a free lunch. Epic’s business is growing and more buildings are under construction. The founder and current CEO is a woman who developed the Epic concept as a part of her PhD. Dissertation in the 1970s. One of the Epic core values is that “Work Should Be Fun.” My how our world has changed!