Tornado Warning!!!

On Saturday night, we learned that a tornado had been spotted on radar ten miles west of the RV Park and was moving east. The sirens in the nearby town of Bristol began to wail as people moved to the bathrooms and laundry room that served at the park’s storm shelters. We waited for the next 45 minutes, listened to the wind, rain, and thunder, and did our best to help the kids feel safe until the All Clear sounded. Fortunately, the tornado slip[p[ed by to the South, and the rain and wind calmed down. People began to drift back to their rigs for the night. This was a fitting way to start our Summer 2024 in the Midwest. After chasing and being chased by tornadoes and severe thunderstorms for the previous three months, this was our first time in a shelter. I hope it becomes the final chapter in a Spring of lousy weather that begs the question, “Are you enjoying the weather?” 

Sunday dawned like a new day, and we had a great time visiting with Marlene's high school classmate and neighborhood friend, Dee, and her partner, Cher. We sat outside and enjoyed cool temps, a slight drizzle, and sunny skies. The smoked chicken and sides topped off a lovely day. Yep, sometimes you have to put the awning out, circle up the chairs, fire up the grill, and enjoy the day as it develops. Thanks, Dee and Cher; it was great seeing you again! 

On Monday, we made the short drive to Kenosha, WI. Kenosha has been inhabited since the retreat of the glaciers 13,500 years ago. The name comes from the Potawatomi word Kenozia, meaning place of the pike, referring to the fish that spawn in Pike Creek. Europeans arrived in the 1830s in search of furs. It became an industrial hub over the next 100 years. The Kenosha Public Museum has an excellent curated journey through the span of the area's history from the earliest geological ages to the present day. 

 

 

The War of the Rebelion

Next door to the Kenosha Public Museum is the Kenosha Civil War Museum. At first, I was skeptical about this museum, but I am thrilled that we made time for it. This is unlike any Civil War Museum we have seen. It is clearly from a Union perspective and rejects all the Southern obfuscations and deceptions scattered across the South. It speaks of the sacrifices the families of the Midwest made to preserve the Union. Their battalions served in pivotal battles from Gettysburg to Chickamauga. They did so out of love for their country. Many were immigrants whose love was for their adopted homeland. This sits in stark relief to the usual self-serving story of Southern rhetoric who were fighting to preserve a dying way of life grounded in the dehumanization of an entire group of people based on the color of their skin. A "surround movie" called Seeing the Elephant placed the viewer in the middle of the war and gave a semblance of the experience of the horrors they faced. “Seeing the Elephant” was a common phrase used by young men to capture their excitement about heading into the war. It later became a lament for battles that forever scarred their lives. 

The Kenosha Waterfront is a beautiful open area at the mouth of the harbor. Across the channel sits the Kenosha Lighthouse. The Central Plaza is ringed by public art. It creates a lovely location for walking, soaking up the sun, and enjoying the expansive views of Lake Michigan. Here are a few pictures of the area.

 

Dragonfly"

"Sphere"

Harbor Light House

"Balance"

 

The next day, we drove to Racine, another industrial city along the lake. Racine is located at the mouth of the Root River. It has been inhabited for 10,000 to 12,000 years and has burial mounds that attest to the people who made this place home. The Potawatomi moved into the area and have lived here for 1,500 years. Jacques Marquette camped at the mouth of the river in 1674. La Salle and others followed suit. A town grew around a Trading Post called Racine, after the French word for "root." Racine was known as a center for the Underground Railroad during the Civil War. They helped hundreds of people flee servitude to find refuge in Canada. The Racine Heritage Museum has an excellent display of the people who made up the Underground Railroad and a few who rode the train. The museum also has excellent displays about the Racine Belles of the AAGPBL and other local sports notables, like Tony Romo, from nearby Kenosha. It has a fantastic display about Frank Lloyd Wright and his friend and co-worker, Cecil Corwin, who grew up in Racine. Wright designed several buildings in the city. It also shared stories behind Case Tractors, Hamilton Beach Blenders, Dremel Tools, Malted Milk Powder, and SC Johnson Wax, which were all created and built in Racine. We then drove to a point north of Racine to see the Wind Point Light House. This is a proud city with a memorable past and a bright future. Here are a few pictures from our time in Racine.

The Racine Belles

Hamilton Bleach Blender

Dremel Tool

Malted Milk Powder

Fresnel Lens

Passenger Pigeon

The First Presbyterian Church, a stop on the Underground Railroad

Wind Point Light House

The Fog Horn

I highly recommend all three of these museums. They are worth the trip to Kenosha and Racine!

 

After a day of chores, we left Bristol and headed north on Thursday to Kewaunee, WI, where we set up for five nights at Kewaunee RV & Campground. Our drive included a gas stop where we picked up an O&H Kringle. This Danish pastry was a real treat when our Babysitter in Baytown used to bring one in during Christmas. This area has the largest population of Danes in the US. Our drive took us through downtown Milwaukee and along the shores of Lake Michigan.

We look forward to a few days to explore the famed Door County.

 

As I look ahead, the weather will be behaving itself as of now. But the last few months have taught me that offering a judgment on the weather is an empty exercise in vanity. It is what it is and will be what it will be! My only real choice is whether I will find joy in whatever weather we are having. With apologies to Marie Kondo, I can’t throw the weather away if it fails to bring me joy. Since the month we began our full-time journey, I have learned to live with the weather. And the lessons continue. However, I am also discovering our choices that make us vulnerable to bad weather. Tornado Warnings are part of the road; all I can do is find ways to live with them and not allow them to steal the joy I see on the road.

 

Travel well, my friends. The open road awaits those willing to face its challenges.

Bob

 

Plume Moth