Pioneer Village (17)

Mylee has been begging to visit a museum, so her and I ventured out to the Pioneer Village (17) in Barron.  You can check it out more by visiting their website: https://www.pioneervillagemuseum.org/

Pioneer Village does a great job of showing the history of Barron County.  Buildings from different periods in history show many artifacts and tell of a rich history.  We enjoyed our visit and would certainly visit again when we aren't in the middle of the COVID-19 pandemic.  We were able to see most exhibits and it was a pretty quiet day.

Tuscobia Trail (16)

I feel a little ashamed to admit that we haven't been on the Tuscobia Trail yet.  We've lived here for 8 years and it is just down the road.  We drive by it many days even!  But, we finally made it there!

"This 74-mile trail on a former rail corridor is one of the longest rail trails in the state, running from Park Falls to the Wild Rivers State Trail just north of Rice Lake. The trail passes through part of the Flambeau River State Forest and the rugged wilderness of Wisconsin's Blue Hills. The trail connects seven small communities in Barron, Washburn, Sawyer and Price counties, each providing year-round accommodations and services.

The Tuscobia State Trail is a year-round multiple use recreational trail that offers opportunities for ATVs, snowmobiling, horseback riding, off-road bicycling and walking. Trail activities vary by time of year and by county. The western end of the trail is part of the Ice Age National Scenic Trail."

There was a cache on this trail, so that is why we chose to check it out.  We made the trek in, a very pretty walk on a relatively cool Wisconsin evening.  The only problem is that it was ridiculously buggy, so we turned around and went home and got bug spray and then went back (we are that pathetic!).  On our second try, we found our cache.  We hiked a bit further and then headed in for the evening.  Definitely a trail that would be worth checking out in all 4 seasons!

Canoe/Kayak the Namekagen (14) Tremblays (15)

We decided to rent a canoe and kayak for the morning and headed to Trego to Jack's Canoe rental.  We were happy we went early because we didn't have to worry about being around people.  (COVID cases are up around here).  We chose to take a canoe for Chris, Tahlia, Quinn and I, and a kayak for Mylee.  The river was pretty calm.  There were a few tricky spots for us, Mylee slammed into a rock, but handled it like a champ.  We also got stuck in the shallow area, but Chris to the rescue there.  No one tipped (we cam close in the canoe) and we had a good time.  Chris took Quinn in the kayak for a while and we let Tahlia take over the front of the canoe (good thing that was a calm area because it took a while to learn how to paddle!)  Totally recommend our trip on the Namekagen!

Another stop that is a must, is Tremblays Sweet Shop (15) in Hayward, WI.  If you want fresh fudge or candy (we love candy in our house) -- then this stop is a must! https://tremblayssweetshop.com/

A bit of a bust but 11, 12, and 13

Well this trip was sort of a bust.  We headed out from Rice Lake after dropping off the car to get the brakes fixed.  Our intent was to head to the Blue Hills of Rusk County.  Specifically to Felsenmeer. (11)  It has a pretty sweet description, so we drove to it.  But that's it... because you can't get to it without calling ahead (OOPS), so you get to read about it instead!

"Blue Hills Felsenmeer features talus slopes and is an outstanding location for geological interpretation of glacial action. The natural area consists of several small valleys, strewn with lichen-covered rocks, on the southwest side of the Blue Hills. These unusual features required unusual circumstances to develop. Early Woodfordian glaciation covered the Blue Hills and cut canyons on the western flank when the glacier retreated. The late Woodfordian glacial advance covered all but this western portion. The tundra climate in the area led to excessive frost activity, leading to the development of several features. The felsenmeers (meaning "sea of rocks") were formed by excessive frost activity. Quartzite, being a brittle rock, is very susceptible to frost wedging. Continuous wedging over time formed slopes of angular rock rubble. Some slopes are very stable; others have six-foot-high ridges of "talus moraine" formed at the base. Cold air emanating from deep within the slopes maintains a tundra-like environment. Several species with boreal and tundra affinities are still present, and the lichen flora is diverse. Blue Hills Felsenmeer is owned by Rusk County and was designated a State Natural Area in 1969."

So we headed to Rustic Road 18 (12) and checked out the sites there.  Nothing overly exciting to report.  I think the highlight of the trip was stopping at Yogurt Blendz in Rice Lake on the way back.  Due to COVID-19, you can't DIY your ice cream, but the girls got a tasty treat anyway and we definitly recommend a trip to Yogurt Blendz (13) in our 50/50 destinations!

Wisconsin Traffic Jam and Denelies Pizza (10)

A true Wisconsin traffic jam happens when there are cows blocking the middle of the road and won't move. Obviously the cow knows it will always win!! I really have no idea where we were for this. Somewhere between Hunt Hill and Spooner (one of us took a wrong turn!)

This is exactly what occurred on our way to pick up some delicious Denelies Pizza in Spooner. I honestly don't know how I have lived here this long and have never experienced this amazing pizza. So there you have it, (#10) Denelies Pizza in Spooner.