Non-sailing days.

Not all adventures have to be on the water. Today it was much too nice out to stay inside, so we made an impulse decision to grab Grama (Mike's mom) and head to an apple orchard and view the changing colors along the way. The trees are just starting to show their fall splendor and the bluffs around Baraboo were picturesque. The apple orchard was disappointing, but the carmel apple and apple turnover were good. We sat outside where the fall sunshine felt good on our backs.

The gem of the day turned out to be a stop at Delaney's Surplus just outside of Baraboo. It has been 20 years since we last explored this funky conglomeration of used, surplus, industrial materials and assorted junk. It hasn't changed. You just never know what you will find. However, the best part is the sculpture garden outside. Thirty some years ago, the owner started utilizing all the odd metal components and began welding them together to make some very unique sculptures. From six inch tall critters to house size structures that look like they are from a science fiction movie set, you are constantly ooohing and ahhhhing at every turn. Willy Wonka would be proud. For example, feathers on the bird-like creations were made from the blades of garden shears.

Chains, sprockets, gears, pipe, extinguishers. padlocks, engine parts...basically anything made of metal were utilized to make amazing creatures. In one area, 5-12 foot tall "musicians" were arranged in an arc around the 15 foot tall "conductor". All of the "muscians" had an actual instrument incorporated into their bodies. Some even moved to create chime and bell sounds when the wind blew.

The centerpiece, titled The World of Evermore, was just unbelievable. Tons of metal pieces and parts were welded together to create what looked like a model of a .... hard to describe. It was like a time machine and model of a futuristic city rolled into one. Why they were not charging admission was way beyond us. We must have wandered for at least 45 minutes to an hour and we didn't see it all. These pictures don't do the place justice. Here is the link to his website: World of Dr. Evermor

After that mind-boggling experience, we headed into Prairie du Sac for coffee and chai tea at the Blue Spoon overlooking the Wisconsin River. That lead to a walk down to and along the river so we could soak in a little bit more of the beautiful fall day. Grama recalled earlier days when she would canoe down this stretch of river and camp overnite on the sand bars.

Funny how we somehow always seem to end up near the water.

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