Day 42: Betty breakfast. A party 51 years in the making.

I woke early this morning to a small rainstorm. I reached out my tent and pulled my rain fly back down. I was simply smiling and feeling grateful for being able to live in the great outdoors. It made me smile on the inside. A little bit later, I heard someone call out my name outside my tent. They said they had something for me. I opened my tent and they said I had breakfast in bed. They had made me a plate of cheesy eggs and some ham. It was in two paper plates stapled together. It said “Rich & Betty”. They were giving me grief and I could not help but to laugh my ass off. I laid in my sleeping bag while eating the breakfast. I chalked that one up to another first. I joined them in their boathouse. It was good to talk with them and enjoy their company.
I said my see you alters and took off towards Lock 10. I got into it with another pontoon boat that was heading downstream. I told them what I was up to and where I was going. The driver told me that I should stop at the marina just to the right after the exit. That was more of the downtown Guttenberg. He told me of a place that used to make buttons from oyster shells. I thought it could be a interesting thing to see. I made it through the lock and saw the area he was talking about. As I approached, I saw this guy building a deck for a bar or restaurant. I also saw this really old house with an amazing view of the river. I pulled over to investigate.
The gentleman building the deck was named Mike. He had bought the building and was fixing it up to be a riverfront bar. He was a hometown type of guy that was building his dream. He told me if I was ever lucky enough to be able to do what I loved, I would be good. I told him I was living it that day. He smiled and told me he was too. I photographed him working and some of his building. I think I will send him a few images upon completion of this trip for him to have at his bar. Another gentleman named Jamie showed up. I found out he was the guy driving the pontoon boat in the lock. He offered to introduce me to Rose, who owned the really old house that caught my eye. We walked over there and he introduced me to her. She lived in an incredible house that was built in 1856. I was taken back on the amazing view that she had off the deck. Jamie actually built the deck. From there, Jamie took me over to his building that was turned into a hotel. He was a jack of a lot of trades in this town. He showed me his place and even offered a shower for me to use. I figured I was ok and turned it down. He began to tell and show me the history of Guttenberg. We walked over to Joe’s Pizza. He knew the owner, Rich, and offered to get me a scoop of ice cream. If it is cold or ice anything on this trip, I am all game. Jamie told me more about the history and about the underground tunnels that connected the buildings during prohibition. He points out a few more locations to check out before taking off. He headed back to his hotel and my adventures continued.
I stopped by Kann Imports. Barb was the third generation owner of this beautiful collectable store. They had items from around the globe and stories to go with them. They housed the World’s Largest Beer Stein from Germany. They had a very detailed carved elephant tusk. While that may not be PC today, the craftsmanship and detail left me in awe. They had crystals, artwork, sculptures, plates, and dolls. Their collection is something that you would have to experience if you are in this area. I thanked her for her time and the photos before leaving. Upon leaving, I asked her what the saying o her fro door said. It said, “Die Probe eines Gennusses ist seines Erinnerung”. Google translates it to, The sample of Gennusses is his memory. She translated it to me as, “The test of pleasure is the happy memory it leaves behind.”  I liked that version. I smiled and thanked her for the time, stories, and experience. I went across the street to look to get some food before heading out. Nothing caught my eye. I decided to head back to Joe’s Pizza and order some pizza. It was as good as I had hoped. I captured a few images of the store while waiting for my lunch. I headed out as it was beginning to rain. I figured the storms I was told about were upon me. There was a bluff behind me. I just figured I would be eating wet this day.
I stopped by Mike’s place before leaving to capture a few more photos. He wished me well and was happy that I was following my dreams too. He gave me a good handshake and I was off. The rain was on and off for a bit. I did not make it too far down the river when I saw this group of boats tied up on the Wisconsin side. I was in the main channel when one of the guys yelled for me to pull over to them and have a drink. This is the friendly river way of saying, “We are cool. Come hang out with us.” I headed over there and this is where my next adventure would lead me.
This family was celebrating 51 years of coming to the beach for a summer vacation. They had at least 6 pleasure boats and 8 full sized family type tents. They all came over to greet me. I filled them in on my adventure. They liked it and invited me up onto the beach. There was the grandma, her kids, their kids, and their kids. The 4 generation of kids were spending 10 days together on the beach. They warned me that they were not the normal type of people on the river. I began to laugh and told them I have been hearing that quite a bit. I also tole them I would be able to hang with them. I asked to pull out my camera and capture some images. The kids all playing on the beach and on their float toys were shots that caught my eye. The simple pleasure of youths playing in a carefree manner was something I wanted to show. We all tend to lose that as adults, but I wanted to be able to show what the simple joys that life can offer is like. It is something we could all use. I chatted without the adults and I was pulled onto a team to be pulled behind the boat on a ‘hot dog.’ I thought, “Why not.”  I went out with this other girl to make a go at trying not to be tossed from it on the ride. That did not go over too well. I was tossed 3 different times. I had a blast and was simply enjoying life. We made it back to shore and I asked if I could set up on the beach because storms were coming. They said yes. I quickly set up my tent just before the rain unleashed.
I had everything secured. The entire family for under a canopy to get out of the rain. Meanwhile, I simply stood out in it as I was tightening up my boat. They said I was getting soaked. I told them I was simply enjoying the beauty of the rain. It was the ability to dance in the rain instead of hiding from it that makes my soul happy.
I need up joining them after awhile and talking with them until the rain stopped. They made sloppy joe’s for dinner and offered me some. I told them I was good and that I had food. They asked if it would be better than sloppy joe’s. They said they didn’t think so as they handed me a plate. I ate and ended up talking with different family members into the night. We got a fire started as the super moon was rising over the river. It made me want to paddle at night. I thought, the next night, I would do that. I turned in with rain still falling on my tent from the trees above me. I was dry and comfortable. It was another good day.