You know, it's funny. I finally retire from April Fools pranks, and Mother Nature decides to play a great big joke on me. Remember how I decided to skip a trip to the Black Hills to avoid snow, and instead, booked a getaway to Door County here in Wisconsin? Just a few days ago, the forecast was for sunny skies and low 50s. Somehow, we went from that to this:
I texted my mom last night, and she straight up did not believe me. She assumed I was playing an April Fools' prank. Guess I've cried wolf one too many times, huh?
A little bit of snow I could handle. But over a foot? With blowing and drifting? Even if the roads were navigable, trudging through slush and snow with wind chills in the teens did not sound ideal. I pictured walking along beaches, catching sunsets, exploring state parks, maybe grabbing lunch on a pier overlooking a picturesque harbor...not bundling up in winter gear!
So, I made the difficult decision to cancel my trip. I was expecting to eat $115 in cancellation fees, but there was an option through Booking.com (first time I've used them) to contact the hotel and request they waive the fee, and within minutes, they happily obliged. I'm bummed about canceling what would have been a fun little getaway, but at least it won't cost me anything. And I know it was the smart decision. While northeast Wisconsin is in the bullseye of the storm, even here at home they're predicting up to 6" of heavy, wet snow. Hell, even getting out of my driveway might be challenging, let alone driving 206.5 miles. I guess I'll have to come up with a Plan C now, though if the weather keeps acting like a spazz, I may cycle all the way through the alphabet before starting my new job next Monday.
It's not like I haven't already been making the most of my staycation anyway. Yesterday, Tara took the day off, and we traveled to Spring Green to visit The House on the Rock. Man, how to describe this place? How about Disneyland for adults. Built in 1960 atop a tall rock column in Iowa County, Wisconsin, by a reclusive eccentric named Alex Jordan Jr., HOTR features everything from creepy dolls, wooden ships, covered wagons, and elaborate calliopes to a 200' Jonah and the whale, an Infinity Room, and the world's largest carousel, with 269 animals (none of them horses), 20,000 lights, and 182 chandeliers.
The whole thing is truly wild. You can purchase 50-cent tokens to play music and games at many of the exhibits. Even the restrooms are elaborately themed. Tara and I spent over three hours wandering through three cavernous sections, and many times I just stopped in my tracks and asked Tara, "What are we even looking at here?!" Such an eclectic mix of antiques and kitsch from all over the world.
Afterward, we stopped at the Grumpy Troll Brew Pub in Mount Horeb for an early dinner before making the rainy trek home. All in all, it was a great day. Solo adventures are fun, but Team MarTar getaways are even better.
Today, I'm hanging out at home. It's 37º, there's a cold rain falling, and I'm already seeing some snowflakes mix in.
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