Cheeseburger in Paradise: Civitaveccia, Italy

 Cheeseburger in Paradise: Civitaveccia, Italy

A cruise o

n the Carnival Legend from Civitaveccia, Italy to Turkey, Greece, Naples and back yielded me the opportunity to have a Guy Fieri cheeseburger in a true paradise setting.  The seas were calm and the music was great on board.  

The cheeseburger was mine to adorn with tomatoes, onions, lettuce, French fries, jalapenos, pickles, and pico duegello.  It was outstanding!  Funny thing that it was the only CB I had on a 12-day cruise!  The pasta and salads were so inviting.  Mississippi pot roast!  Olives!  

When we got back to Rome and Fiuccino the couple days we spent before flying home had to be filled with eating local fare: pasta dishes, shrimp, more olives and lots of pastries!  

I expected to weigh 205 when I returned home, but amazingly weighed 198 1/2, the same as when I left!

Cheeseburger In Paradise: Rookies

 Cheeseburger in Paradise:  Rookies near Mazomanie, WI

Another great afternoon on the Black Earth Creek kayaking, with daughter and son-in-law, so why not another great cheeseburger in paradise?  Only downside was son-in-law lost his phone to the river at a strainer,

This time was the bacon cheddar with tomato, lettuce, and sauteed mushrooms!  

Divine!

I guess there was another downside.  When we walked in the Badgers were ahead of USC and in the red zone for some insurance.  When we left, they had bungled it and lost.

Cheeseburger in Paradise: 29 Pines

 Cheeseburger in Paradise:  29 Pines

After a stint of working hard at the farm, Cathy and I drove up to Elk Mound to visit her brother Chris.  We always have some fun roving around with him and this time we visited some places in and around Chippewa Falls.

For dinner we tried a couple places, one of which was too glitzy and the other was closed, so we ended up at 29 Pines on Highway 29.  It is a pun on 29 Palms, California.  It is a good place.

I couldn't resist the Jalapeno Bacon Cheeseburger from paradise eaten in paradise, not far from the Red Cedar River, Chippewa River, and confluence with the Eau Claire.  It was grrrrrreat!  Even though the chicken specials the others had looked pretty good too.

Cheesdise:Rookie's in Mazomanie

 Cheeseburger in Paradise: Rookie's in Mazomanie

Paradise turned out to be the Black Earth Creek between the Shoe Box Landing at Black Earth, WI and the take-out park in Mazomanie.  My paddling friend Keith found out about this route, only a half-hour from home.

The Black Earth Creek winds it's way for about two hours worth first along railroad bed, then under it and through farmland of soybeans and corn, wrapping back on itself again to rejoin the highway and then go under it just before the take-out.

The skill level was very pleasing, a little more intense than the typical Sugar River runs.  There are more switchbacks and more "strainers", pockets of treefalls and branch accumulations that have to be negotiated.  There are also several drops through brief rapids, which are fun and test your ability to read the river more.  Nothing above advanced novice level, however, and little danger of getting into an untenable situation.  Even so, you could just stand up and drag your kayak ashore and drain it.  

I immediately loved this stretch and texted Josie that we had to do it sometime.

First the paradise.  Now the cheeseburger in it!  Champs is located just a half mile on the way back, and is a museum of sports memorabilia.  They even have a mini baseball park in the back, which is trimmed out just great.  They must have little league games there.  My cheeseburger in paradise had onion rings and jalapenos on it and was superb.

Cheeseburger in Paradise: Murphy's Tavern

Cheeseburger in Paradise:  Murphy's Tavern

I h

ave always wanted to go in to Murphy's Tavern on 113 on the way out of town toward Lodi, but never have.  Imagine getting down to that for Cathy's birthday.  Almost couldn't get her to go anywhere, but in we went for the first time ever.  It is a nice place.  Bar with dining room attached.  Good view of the Cherokee Marsh from the bar and if one outcropping were brushed away you would be able to see our neighborhood7!  

The cheeseburger in paradise was great!  A Bucky Burger, or something like that.  Spicy fried onion rings placed right on the burger.  Nice idea!  Caramelized onions, too.  To die for!

Cheeseburger in Paradise: Mosquito Bar, Racine

 Cheeseburger in Paradise: Mosquito Bar, Racine, WI

Overnighter visiting Tony & Marcie to see their new house, about 1/2 mile away from their old one, but all on one level.  Big back yard, fire pit, vegetable garden--all the things they like.  Tony and I had two long bike rides through neighborhoods; Cathy & Marcie rummage saling.  

The Mosquito Bar, not too far from Lake Michigan, but not really on the edge to where you could look out over it.  Nice, nonetheless, and a good cheeseburger  Paradise is spending time with old friends that go back to graduate school, over 50 years ago.  

Cheeseburger in paradise.

Cheeseburger in Paradise: Bailey's Run Winery

 Cheeseburger in Paradise: Bailey's Run Winery

First a twelve mile bike ride with Keith & Tracy on the Sugar River Trail in New Glarus, WI.  Then they showed us their favorite place to eat in the area, Bailey's Run Winery.  Naturally I ordered a cheeseburger

that had bacon crusted with a Scotch Whiskey glaze.  Cathy, surprisingly, ordered the same thing.  It was divine.  

And look at the moon rising in the sunset's mist over the grape orchards and valleys below.  Truly a cheeseburger in paradise.

Cheeseburger in Paradise: Fitz's

 Cheeseburger in Paradise:  Fitz's on Lake Wisconsin

What better on an early September day than to go for a drive to Prairie du Sac, see the river, drop by and buy two cases of shotshells for trap, visit the plant and garden lady with Cathy, and then drive the beautiful route to Fitz's on Lake Wisconsin between Merrimac and Lodi.  Beautiful lake scenery, eating outside on the deck, and a cheeseburger in paradise for sure.  

How about a cheeseburger that has a bratwurst and a bacon topper.  I could only eat half of it and took the other half home and we shared it for lunch the next day.  

Pure nirvana.

Cheeseburger in Paradise: Sugar River

Cheeseburger in Paradise: Sugar River

 

Kayaking on the Sugar River is truly a paradise and I have done several stretches over the years.  This time with my daughter and her new husband, we did a stretch from about three miles upstream of Paoli, WI to Paoli.  It was scenic with some water birds.  A few branches and jackpots to navigate around, but none serious.  Some shady areas and some farm fields.  It took about 2 hours.

Then we went to the Paoli Pub & Grill for a cheeseburger in paradise.  I did the stretch about ten days earlier with a friend and it was just as beautiful the second time down..

Cheeseburger in Paradise--Lola's

 Cheeseburger in Paradise: Lola's

Lola's, in the same strip mall as Bear & Bottle, is a new place this year and we had to try it out with Duane & Jane.  Of course everyone got exotic stuff, but I got a CHEESEBURGER IN PARADISE!  Am I one-dimensional?

Cheeseburger in Paradise: Anchor Inn

 Cheeseburger in Paradise: Anchor Inn

The Anchor Inn in Neuville is where we have taken our grandkids lots of times.  My cousin Wendy and husband Billy were on a big camping trip and came through WI for a few days.  Ironically they camped at Neuville and one of the days we spent with them we went to the Anchor Inn and spent a lovely afternoon having a cheeseburger in paradise.  On the Rock River.

Cheeseburger in Paradise: Culvers with Grand Daughter

 Cheeseburger in Paradise: Culvers with Grand Daughter

What could be better than a cheeseburger in paradise?  Anywhere your youngest grand daughter is becomes paradise automatically.  First a good kayak adventure, then a C.I.P.  Doesn't get any better than this!

Cheeseburger in Paradise: Bryce Canyon Area

 Cheeseburger in Paradise: Bryce Canyon Area

Continuing on our road trip with friends from the Grand Canyon up through Zion and then my favorite National Park, Bryce Canyon.  It was gorgeous as usual and we proceeded on just a little way to a small town where I got another excellent cheeseburger in paradise.  This one was a mushroom-Swiss gem with krinkle fries.  Everything was wonderful.

Cheeseburger in Paradise: Grand Canyon

 Cheeseburger in Paradise: Grand Canyon

The Grand Canyon, on a road trip with friends, is a special kind of paradise.  Exceptional views, exceptional animals, exceptional cheeseburger at one of the lodges on the south rim, while hiking around,  I liked the tater tot touch.

Cheeseburger in Paradise: Lone Girl Brewery

 Cheeseburger in Paradise: Lone Girl Brewery

Great get-together with family after coming north at the Lone Girl Brewery in Waunakee, WI.  The cheeseburger was excellent, the beer was excellent, and we got to play bingo and win prizes as well.  It was a lot of fun.

Cheeseburger in Paradise: Carnival Legend

 Cheeseburger in Paradise: Carnival Legend

Four day Bahamas cruise out of Port Canaveral, FL with Duane & Jane, Ken & Viv, and Roger & Denise.  Old college roommates, all, and their wives.  

On the pool deck, they made 16 at a time on big cookie sheets and you doctored them up with what you wanted.  I had several.  Absolutely wonderful and absolutely paradise.