Hello. It’s me!

I don’t look so tubby when pursuing a robotic kitten, #amirite?

We spent four days with my favorite two people in the whole wide world … GRANDMAS!!! I spent time chasing ’em down!

And I spent time loyally sitting footside, waiting to do my job (whatever that is).

Today we were back on the road. Dad said she wanted the “Quintessential Lake Michigan Whitefish Experience”.

Alright.

Now mind you, we’ve had a lot of culinary delights in the past few days. Those of you who enjoy “The Manitowoc Minute” on YouTube are familiar with this one.

We identified many dining opportunities.

But in Door County, the formula shifts. Yes, the classic supper club experience still exists. But as you move from Central Wisconsin (walleye) to Eastern Wisconsin (perch) to Green Bay (booyah … click here) to Western Door County (fish boil), you run the gamut of choices. Then you get to Eastern Door County (eight miles from Western Door County), and you try to find Lake Michigan Whitefish.

That was the bogey we identified.

You won’t find it in or around cloudy, foggy Milwaukee.

So we headed away from Grandma’s looking for Lake Michigan Whitefish.

We followed the signs, because all signs in Northeast Wisconsin point to Lake Michigan Whitefish.

I sensed we were closing in when Mom started calling out options from a supper club website.

We landed in Baileys Harbor, on the east side of Door County. I told Mom that I could find our supper club.

And for only a brief moment, I was distracted by a threat.

#rustedmetals.

But then, just then, when all hope seemed to be lost and Mom was literally dragging her famished frame across the October-like landscape that comprised the past eleven days of alleged summer, our destination appeared on the horizon.

It was the Florian II Supper Club, the pinnacle of the Lake Michigan Whitefish experience. We knew we landed among one of the 73 best restaurants in all of Baileys Harbor when we saw the video game at the front door (and please, all of you Fortnite ambassadors, there’s nothing about your game that tops a robust classic like the one below).

This is where things got interesting.

Before we could get to the table and browse a menu …

… we had to first walk through the bar. And that’s were we were stunned to find The Cheese Spread Appetizer.

I mean, is there anything that signals the Quintessential Lake Michigan Whitefish Experience like three pounds of cheese spread paired with crackers vacuum-sealed in plastic wrap (for your safety and freshness)?

This place, this purveyor of spreadable bliss, also offered an amazing and time-honored beverage.

Smooth AND minty deliciousness! Look at the cherry on top of that beauty!

Mom and Dad ordered drinks.

A family-sized salad with choice of dressing and bread came next.

Yes, that’s french dressing … only the finest salad dressing will do.

And then … the featured event of the meal … the MAIN COURSE … Lake Michigan Whitefish for Dad.

Yes, there’s a bit of Mom’s Prime Rib on his plate … so when Mom and Dad finished gourging their gullets I got to sup on a few random pieces of Prime Rib … no Lake Michigan Whitefish for your favorite pup.

Mom and Dad staggered out of Florian II like tourists who just enjoyed a Spam Plate Lunch in Lihue. After setting up camp, they set up the auxiliary bed just to see how it might suit my mood.

Pups, this is as far east as we are going to go. From here on out we begin to meander west (and by default, we begin our meander back home). Our trip is past half-way. Our total trip calorie consumption is frighteningly past half-way. Thank God Dad took a lean, healthy route at dinner (Lake Michigan Whitefish – ignore the two pads of butter on the butt of the loaf of bread that came with the salad, because dairy and spreadable cheeses don’t count).

Hello. It’s me!!

We’re in the “Seeing People” portion of the trip … a critically important component of any cross-country endeavor. Each day is filled with non-stop activities designed to stimulate my mental capacity, even if it means that Dad occasionally closes the slide and crunches the freezer door in the process, #amirite?

A good cross-country trip encourages the visitation of lakes, both Great and small.

Look at that last image … “No Dogs Allowed In The Park” … there is a civil rights movement coming and on behalf of all pups out there, let me be the first to say that these signs are coming down. Or maybe we cross out the word “NO” and replace it with the word “ALL”. Regardless, pups must be allowed in parks if we want to live in a civil and engaging society.

Last week I climbed a bluff along the Mississippi River, and got to see up and down what Mom affectionately calls the “Big Muddy”.

Did you see what was going on in the image above? Those were vultures … looking to feast upon my barely mobile carcass after scaling a bluff along the Mississippi!

That message was tailor made for Dad.

#gassed

#trailingthepack

#finishlineinsight

This portion of the trip was all about friends … and let me tell you … I have friends!!

Apparently that’s some old dude named “Fonzie”.

Those folks admire the Minions.

#dearfriend

Come and get some!

There’s nothing better than hangin’ with pups by the fire.

I even got to sit in the RV and wait while a high school graduation took place.

And I got to sit in the RV while competitive baseball took place.

It’s fun to see nephews achieve greatness, isn’t it?

Dad will tell you that sustenance is critical to a great trip, and lemme tell you, Dad has been sustained!

If you are ever just outside of La Crosse (West Salem) … by all means get yourself a dozen peanut cakes and just stuff them down your gullet, ok?

And finally, I assessed threats … mostly rusted metals and mysterious bowls of water of course.

We’ve had our problems … a leaky bedroom window comes to mind.

And we failed to master an Escape Room outside of Milwaukee.

Between friends and activities and sitting in random cars …

… and doing laundry …

… I’m getting wiped out!

For the next five days, we trade friends for family. This is one heck of a trip, lemme tell you! #fun