Wisconsin Dells

     We left Door County earlier this week and headed to Wisconsin Dells. This area is a family playground. Waterparks and amusement parks abound. Drive through the main street and you are surrounded by T-shirt shops, fudge stores, restaurants and all manner of other tourist traps. WWII era DUKW's (known locally as the Wisconsin Dells Ducks) are available to ferry tourists up and down the street.  I am reminded of Branson, MO of about 20 years ago. Quaint little shops up and down the highway trying to get into the tourists' wallets.

     We have toured around the countryside outside of the Dells proper. Yesterday, we drove through farm country and visited the place where Carr Valley Cheese is made. We watched as they took fresh cheese curds (we just missed those being made) and filled a bucket to a specific weight. Then the curds were dumped into a circular tin. The tin was then put into a line of other similarly filled tins. When they were ready, a contraption that looked like the old fence wire stretcher that I used on the farm was secured to the line. They then began to ratchet in on the cans and pressed the curds together to form a singular round cheese wheel.  After about 30 minutes, the line of now cheese wheels were extracted and taken to another room to be dipped in wax and sealed. In the photo above you can see some of the pile of cheese curds and the empty tins and lids behind them. The vats on either side will  be filled with milk and the cheese making process will begin all over again.

Two lines of cheese wheels being pressed

     In this particular factory, they only make Cheddar cheese. I did not know it but a yellow dye is added to the cheese to get the familiar color we associate with cheese. In its natural state, cheese is white. Above you see that they are filling square tins with white cheddar cheese curds. These will be pressed into square blocks of white cheese.

     After watching all of that cheese being made, we got to sample several varieties that the company had for sale. Cheese curds made fresh only moments before were available for tasting. So was some 5 and 10 year aged Cheddar. The longer the age, the more crumbly the consistency and the sharper the taste. After that, you could peruse the shelves and take home any number of varieties. The two shelves at the top of the above display contained cheese made from goat's milk.

     Today we took a boat tour of the Upper Wisconsin River. In the Dells, there is a dam that separates the river into upper and lower sections. Tours are available for either one. We took the upper tour as research and inquiry told us that it was more scenic. We were not disappointed. As you can see above, the day was bright and sunny without a cloud in the sky. Winds were low and temperatures were on the mild side. The bluffs lining the river on either side are made from ancient sandstone and are remarkable in their texture. Layer upon layer of sandstone is stacked up and molded into the cliffs and outcroppings.

     We were able to get off the water and follow a couple of short trails through the formations and spires of rock.

Our fearless Canine Wonder making his leap

This is the height of the rock pillar

      At one point in the hike, we got to watch the "Amazing Jumping German Shepherd of Juneau County." In point of fact, back in the early 20th century, tourists used to climb the rocks and jump between the two spires above. Nowadays, lawsuits being what they are, a trained canine makes the jump and the tourists watch. (Don't worry, there is a net below in the unlikely event he doesn't make it.)

     All in all we have enjoyed our stay so far in The Dells. Mid next week, family begins to arrive for a big reunion.  Things will be hectic but a good time should be in store for all.