We stayed in a cottage on Pleasant Lake.
Pleasant Lake
This area of Wisconsin has several lakes, is surrounded by farm country with the Kettle Moraine State Forest near by. July, 2012
Pleasant Lake, Elkhorn,Wisconsin
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Monthly Archives: August 2012
Fishing: Pleasant Lake, Elkhorn,Wisconsin
Andrew caught several fish.
Fishing on Pleasant Lake Photo by Nicki Hurd
He may be a master angler…or the lake is well stocked. He had something on the end of nearly every line cast. July, 2012
Farm House: Elkhorn, Wisconsin
There was a lot of talk about the drought they were having this year, which was challenging for the farmers, and left a lot of burned grass.
Photo of Elkhorn, Wisconsin by Andrew Leggett
Visiting from Texas, I was used to seeing plenty of dried vegetation. There was still a lot of lovely green all around. July, 2012
Lake and Farm Country: Elkhorn, Wisconsin
Elkhorn does not have Elk but got it’s name in the 1800s from Col. Samuel F. Phoenix who spotted Elk’s horns in a tree possibly left behind by travelers.
Elkhorn Wisconsin Photo by Nicki Hurd
This was along the road side. July, 2012
Geneva Lake, Wisconsin
The lake is lined with impressive contemporary and historical Mansions.
The Drake Mansion taken from the Duchess on the Geneva Bay Tour photo by Nicki Hurd
One of the oldest is the Black Point Mansion, dating back to 1888, by architect Adolph Cudell for Conrad Seipp from Germany. He was in the brewery business in the south side of Chicago, which was not in the Chicago fire that burned down so many other breweries. Grateful were many I’m sure, to have a brewery still standing. Peering at the Drake Mansion was a treat for me after slumbering at the Drake Hotel in Chicago the night before.
As my eyes followed the white piers all along the lake, I only saw a few sprinkles of people around. Some in boats, others floating in the lake, and children bouncing on a water trampoline. It was a very picturesque, like a movie scene. July, 2012
Lake Geneva, Wisconsin
A quaint town located on Geneva Lake, approximately ten miles north of the Illinois state line, was named by the founder John Brink’s after his home town in Geneva, New York.
Lake Geneva, Wisconsin photo by Nicki Hurd
It has green rolling hills, with possibly 70 species of evergreen trees planted at Black Point. Parking near the lake on Wrigley Drive was limited on Thursday afternoon in July, but spaces were available within 2 blocks if you drove around. At Popeye’s casual dinning (not the fast food chain), seating for lunch at 1:00 was available without a wait. July, 2012
Cruise: Lake Geneva, Wisconsin
The lake is taking up 5,262 acres, spring fed, 152 feet at the deepest point, varies from 1/2 mile to 3 miles wide, 9 miles long and 21 around.
Geneva Lake Cruise Photo by Nicki Hurd
The cruises of Geneva Lake leave from the Riviera Docks on Wrigley Drive. The lake is reported to be generally calm but on a rare day waves can be as high as 5 feet or more. It was a peaceful day but steamy. There was some breeze generated from the boat moving, but the Duchess, the Geneva Bay Tour at 3:00pm had several available seats, and I expect being in the water was preferred. July, 2012
O’Hare Airport: Chicago, Illinois
My flight home was overbooked.
O’Hare Airport photo by Nicki Hurd
I went for the option to take a later flight and receive a voucher for a complimentary ticket. I got to know the areas between terminals B – F and enjoyed the sushi I used my meal voucher on; given to me by the generous agents from United Air. July, 2012
The Drake Hotel: Chicago, Illinois
I stayed at the Drake Hotel in the Gold Coast Historic District where the Magnificent Mile begins.
View from room 539 at the Drake Hotel Photo by Nicki Hurd
Checking in was surprisingly easy, even though I arrived at the hotel before noon and check- in is listed as 3pm. When I entered room 539 it was love at first sight. It was the perfect room for me, nice and cool; the bed looked amazingly comfortable, and was. I looked out the window at a view of the beach and Lake Michigan, which was very comforting after a very early morning (4:30am) and an uncertain start (planes were grounded earlier in the week due to weather). July, 2012
Wendella Architecture Boat Tour: Chicago, Illinois
They have been giving tours since 1935, and it is interesting to imagine the changes.
Architectural Tour Photo by Nicki Hurd
My plan was to look for the rental bikes that you can pick up at one location and leave at another and cycle down Lake Shore hike and bike path, but I was informed that they no longer have an Oak Street location.
After getting some information from the concierge, I indulged in pizza from the L’AIppetito Italian family owned deli at the bottom of the John Hancock Center. There was a band playing in the courtyard that sounded nice but it was much cooler inside. I made my way to the Enterprise car rental on Lake Street in the Loop and across the Chicago River to secure my vehicle. Word was; car rental locations in the area were fully booked and I should pick up the keys (even with my reservation) for the next day’s drive to Elkhorn Wisconsin, my final destination. It took a bit of time to walk the Magnificent Mile which started off very pleasant, but I was starting to sizzle from the heat. It has been a hot summer in the area this year and it was over 90º. I picked up an iced cappuccino for survival.
Sorted out the rental car and just made it in time for the 2:30pm Wendella Architecture boat tour, after running all the way looking and being confused, because I was not certain where the entrance was. I stayed below deck at the start of the tour with a cool drink in the air conditioning before moving to the top for a better view, and finished off on the lower level on a side seat outside which offered a visual from a different perspective, which was nice. We floated from the Trump Tower through the three branches of the Chicago River, and glimpsed a range of architectural styles. I enjoyed taking pictures but it was challenging on a moving boat.
July, 2012