My epiphany for today……. eating pumpkin pie and smelling like a pumpkin pie are not equally enjoyable. (See detail below).
Got up this morning and had a leisurely breakfast of oatmeal and a slice of toast. Carb feast and not a protein crossed my lips! Although have to be honest…I am feeling it. All the lost inches have found their way back home! But that is October’s problem.
Todays route took me south eastwards and through Wisconsin. It is unseasonably hot here and the leaves have not yet turned as much as I thought. The temperatures along the route varied from very hot and humid at around 31 degrees to 28 degrees. Thank heavens for the aircons. I travelled from Prairie du Chien to Wauzeka, Boscobel, Blue River, Muscoda, Waunokee, the outskirts of Madison, then on towards Cottage Grove, and then to the outskirts of Milwaukee, and then headed south towards Chicago and my overnighter in Kenosha. Another long day at the wheel, but so rewarding.
I criss crossed the Wisconsin river, farmlands, hills and forests and the very rural areas. So much yellow in the crops against the clear blue sky was too beautiful, Fields of corn (mielies), a small leafy bush ( not sure of the crop), plenty pumpkins and other agricultural holdings. Love the barns and the roadside stalls. Also being on the back roads, you drive through tiny towns with populations of less than 500…it is fascinating. Some hickville deluxe, but the people are always friendly and helpful. Fuel is roughly R33.50 per gallon, which I think is about R10 per litre- really cheap. A completely different landscape to that of Minnesota. So much beauty in such different settings. Wisconsin is far more agricultural and way flatter.
The traffic from Milwaukee to Kenosha was insanely busy. So the trip took quite long. Some drivers need to go to SA- cos here you are supposed to keep RIGHT and pass LEFT, and they don’t! I eventually got into Kenosha just after 4pm.I did some retail therapy at the outlet mall…great prices. I was going to meet up with John Hamlend from the SPP, but that did not work out. I had dinner at an Italian bistro, and had a salad and pasta. You are right Anthony….veggies are hard to come by.
Let me now explain my epiphany. I went into a craft and produce shop near my hotel this evening and they had a tester for pumpkin spice hand lotion. This sounds cool in principle and the smell is spot on. So I tried some and then rubbed it into my arms. Two major observations….firstly, not good for MY skin judging by the burn and bumps! But nothing an antihistamine can’t fix. Secondly, mankind is not supposed to smell like pumpkin pie! Hells bells it is just over the top, but luckily nothing a shower couldn’t fix. But sitting at dinner smelling like pumpkin pie was just too much- even for this pumpkin fan!
Tomorrow I will take a slow drive to Chicago, where I give my car back at O’Hare International airport. Anthony will collect me at the airport to spend the weekend at his place! Let the next adventure begin….
Leanne Maree's blog 
Finally I located your blog! All day daddy kept on asking me whether there was another blog. Previously it came as an email. Now I know exactly how to retrieve the blogs.
If I were you and you were me we would have a pantry filled to the brim with pumpkins. Now I know what spaghetti squash looks like, we dont get them here. Could your please bring me a tin of canned pumpkin 🎃 I have to try some..I always mocked the US recipes which called for canned pumpkin but now I now that they grow so many that they have to can some for winter months.
Fabulous countryside that you drove through. We didn’t know 90% of the towns you drove through. So wonderful for you to see so much of US. Just love your photos!!!! That squirrel is too precious for words. And the horse and cowboy skeleton………. plastic I hope!!!! So sorry you have not seen the Autmn foliage.
So proud of you for resisting the Christmas shop. A first!!!!!!!!
Drive carefully tomorrow. Love you 😘 ❤️
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