Da Trolls --Da Norse --Da Don Q --Da Pack

On our annual bald eagle road trip right now, despite the horrendous cost of gas. It was $3.04 in Fox Lake, when we left, $3 near the Wisconsin border, $3.16 around Madison, and $3.12 here in Dodgeville. And, I can remember pulling out of a gas station back in '69 because they had the audacity to be charging 34 cents!!!!! Remember, things don't always change for the better.

Took US-12 north all the way to Madison. From the Illinois border to north of lake geneva, it is a four lane expressway, but with that one great "Caution, low-flying aircraft sign a ways south of Lake Geneva. Lots of beautiful scenery, especially when you round one bend north of LG and look into a small valley.

From where the freeway ends to outside of Madison, it is a great, winding two-laner. You now have a bypass around Whitewater, and there are the remains of an old tourist cabin slowly doing a John's Cabins thing between that city and Fort Atkinson.

Once US-12 gets to Madison, it is part of a four lane bypass and aligned with three other US highways: 51, 18, and 151.

We took US-18/151 west to Mt. Horeb, home of the Trollway. Some towns have a parade of cows or fish. Mt. Horeb celebrates its Scandiavian heritage with trolls. There are about 14 of them at various points along the main street. The whole length of the eastern approach to town is now a four lane road with old timey light posts, and, unfortunately, about five traffic circles. I am not very fond of these!!!!

Stopped at Shubert's on the main street and had a delicious Norse meal and enjoyed their rosettes, quite a delicacy. Someone had taken some of the ornate ceiling tin tiles down and painted elaborate Green Bay Packer and University of Wisconsin logos on them. Going to the bathroom was a real experience, going up 21 somewhat creaky old stairs and encountering a throne, ala the Riviera in Gardner, Illinois.

Went for a walk through of the Mustard Museum a few doors down the block. Who'd have figured a whole place dedicated to that special condiment. They even operate Poupon U. from the place with fight songs to the tune of those of Wisconsin and Notre Dame, mugs, pennants, and other stuff you'd find at a college store. A warning sign upon your entance says you will be subject to a search for contraband items such as ketchup and mayonnaise.

Almost to Dodgeville. --RoadDog