Day 4 July 3, 2014

Day 4 July 3, 2014

After a glorious night of restful sleep, I awoke to a killer bagel, lox, and fruit breakfast with Chuck and Judy Lerner.  After some computer fiddling, I was able to get connected to the Internet and figure out how to get blog entries published and posted.

We poured over maps, schedules, and brochures together and hammered out a plan to see some of the best places to visit in Milwaukee, beginning with the Harley Davidson Museum.  Judy and I checked out the oldest known Harley Davidson motorcycle with "Serial Number One" stamped on its part to proclaim its uniqueness in the world-

 Other historic cycles were on parade.

More evidence that it's nice to be important, but it's more important to be nice....

Harleys in the military.

 Vivian Bales pictured on her Harley in a solo tour around the United States in 1929 and again on a Harley motorcycle in 1992.

Third floor home of dozens of lovingly stockpiled Harleys with some lucky machines slated for detailed restoration.

An impressive collection.

 You want big?                                                                                                      You got big.

Cage =  car.  Motorcycle only parking.

After the Harley Museum, we drove to visit the unusual, urban-based Clock Shadow Creamery cheese factory where we learned about cheese-making, Wisconsin cheese, how Swiss cheese holes are basically enzyme-based farts causing air voids in the cheese, and squeaky cheese curds, a local treat.  We split a $6 per pint chocolate pint of Purple Door ice cream (to die for).

Our next stop was as unique a restaurant experience as I have ever experienced- Mader's German Restaurant at 1041 North Old World 3rd Street.  Behold!

Our meal was prepared to perfection; Mary's superb service, the pretzel bread, local beer, weiner schnitzel and spaetzel couldn't be topped anywhere and the furnishings, decor, carvings, beer steins, stained glass windows, and testimonial photo gallery of famous visitors to Mader's Restaurant made the visit unforgettable.  A super wow restaurant experience!

Our next stop was a brewery tour of the Lakefront Brewery, in a building on the Riverwalk of the Milwaukee River that the owners purchased from the City of Milwaukee for exactly $1.00, and then renovated it to become a popular tour location, restaurant, beer garden, and beer producer for 37 U.S. states and 7 foreign countries (including Israel!).

Our Grand Tour of Milwaukee was complete- back to Chuck and Judy's home to pack up clothes and memories and to prepare for tomorrow's 340-mile ride on to Minneapolis, Minnesota.