Camping
Kohler-Andrae State Park, Wisconsin
By Mike & Diane Venn, F481296
FMCA members Mike and Diane Venn live full-time in their Tiffin Allegro Red motorhome.
Since 2017 we have lived full-time in our Tiffin Allegro Red motorhome. We enjoy visiting different areas of the country (34 states so far!) but have a fond spot in our hearts for Kohler-Andrae State Park. The park is nestled along the shore of Lake Michigan, less than an hour north of Milwaukee, Wisconsin, and a few miles south of Sheboygan.
Kohler-Andrae is quite diverse. Its seven trails — ranging from .25 mile to 2.5 miles — take you along beaches, over sand dunes, through woodlands, and on a boardwalk out into a marsh.
We have been October camp hosts there for five years. It is a beautiful time to be in the park as we watch the leaves turn colors on the more than 50 species of trees. Deer and sandhill cranes are seen frequently. Sanderling Nature Center provides information about the park’s plants, birds, mammals, and reptiles. Its rooftop observation deck offers a great view of Lake Michigan; ships passing by; and more than 150 species of birds, many of which fly by in the spring and fall on their migration routes.
The Venns serve as campground hosts at Wisconsin’s Kohler-Andrae State Park during the month of October.
As camp hosts, our duties are cleaning sites after they are vacated, making certain the bathrooms are supplied, and helping ensure everyone has a pleasant visit. We enjoy meeting people who are using the park and are able to share our knowledge, as we had lived in the area for 17 years prior to full-timing.
Good restaurants abound nearby. There are three world-class golf courses: Whistling Straits, Blackwolf Run, and The Bull. There are two excellent art museums: John Michael Kohler Arts Center and its second facility, the Art Preserve. Children and adults will love Bookworm Gardens, a botanical garden that brings favorite children’s books to life. Nearby you also can watch kiteboarders skimming along the waves and surfers any time of the year, as Sheboygan is known as the “Malibu of the Midwest.”
Sand dunes along the shore of Lake Michigan at Kohler-Andrae State Park in Wisconsin.
Kohler-Andrae State Park has 138 family campsites (69 with electric), two group sites, and an accessible cabin. Reservations for Wisconsin state parks can be made at https://wisconsin.goingtocamp.com. You can find out more information about Kohler-Andrae State park at https://dnr.wisconsin.gov/topic/parks/kohlerandrae.
Fall Fun
Get Lost In A Corn Maze
Stoney Brook Farms in Foley, Minnesota, has created what is likely the world’s biggest corn maze.
What’s more fun at this time of year than a visit to a pumpkin patch? In addition to selling pumpkins, some farms treat visitors to a corn maze experience.
Stoney Brook Farms in Foley, Minnesota, has created what is likely the world’s biggest corn maze. In fact, they hope to have that certified by Guinness World Records this year. Sweet corn is the 700-acre farm’s biggest crop — followed closely by pumpkins — and they created their first corn maze in 2017. The 2022 version covers 110 acres, with 32 miles of pathways. The theme is “Halloween Villains.” It encompasses four different mazes with varied difficulty levels. To help navigate, visitors can scan a QR code to track their location via a cellphone.
The Stoney Brook Farms Harvest Fun Days (www.stoneybrookfarms.com) will be open on weekends through October 30, 2022. Admission is $10; free for kids 3 and under. For other corn maze options, visit www.rd.com/list/best-corn-maze.
Bookshelf
The Total Bicycling Manual: 268 Ways To Optimize Your Ride
The Total Bicycling Manual: 268 Ways To Optimize Your Ride
Whether you’re a seasoned cyclist or a complete newcomer to the sport, The Total Bicycling Manual: 268 Ways To Optimize Your Ride is a great guide for everything about cycling. Written by Robert F. James and the editors of Bicycle Times, the book offers practical advice regarding essential gear, riding, and maintenance. Each section is accompanied by useful illustrations that visually instruct readers. Some provide step-by-step directions; others show the differences between types of bikes, for instance.
A flowchart on the first few pages helps readers to figure out what sort of bike would be best suited to their needs. Whether it’s a mountain bike, a hybrid, or a “frankenbike” assembled from spare parts, information is provided for every type of bicycle on the market.
Finding a reliable bike shop is just as important as choosing a bike. The “Gear” section highlights reasons to build a friendly, ongoing relationship with the staff at your local bike store, as well as the basic courtesy that is expected of you. Other information details how to find a bike, test bikes before purchase, and repair bikes, as well as bicycle anatomy, geometry, engineering, and much more.
The other sections, “Riding” and “Maintain,” are slightly shorter but still packed with relevant information. “Riding” introduces the reader to the different types of cycling sports, the ins and outs of public transportation, and even various types of bike locks. The “Maintain” section covers simple topics such as how to find a good bicycle mechanic, what tools you need for various jobs, and even how to build your dream workshop. Overall, the book covers nearly every applicable topic that a cyclist would need to know.
Robert F. James is a retired U.S. Navy sailor, endurance cyclist, bicycle shop staffer, professor of literature at San Jose State University, and professional writer. He started cycling in 2004 and completed a 200-mile bike ride through Death Valley that same year, and he has participated in many fundraising rides since.
Bicycle Times magazine was founded in 2009 with the purpose of unifying and integrating cycling culture into everyday life.
The Total Bicycling Manual: 268 Ways To Optimize Your Ride (Weldon Owen International, $16.99) is available for purchase at online bookseller sites.
App File
For Fall Foodies
The leaves are changing colors, the air is starting to chill, and the holiday season is just around the corner. But are you ready for pumpkin pie and homemade Halloween treats? These apps can help plan your upcoming fall feasts.
BigOven: BigOven gives users access to over 1,000,000 recipes. Not only can you peruse recipes from around the world, but you also can plan meals and create grocery lists to help prepare for them. You can store recipes from other websites in the app, as well as transcribe handwritten recipes — or you can upload recipes by snapping a photo using the RecipeScan tool (a per-recipe charge applies). Free on iOS and Android; a Pro Member version is available for $2.99 per month. www.BigOven.com
SimplyLocal – Farmers Market: SimplyLocal makes supporting local farmers even easier. Sorting by distance, you can find farmers in your area who sell meat, produce, and more directly to consumers. You can browse prices, images, and descriptive information within the app before heading out to the market. Orders may also be available for delivery or shipping depending on the farm. Free on iOS and Android. www.SimplyLocal.io
Kitchen Stories: Kitchen Stories is great for novice chefs, but even the seasoned cook can benefit from detailed instructions. The app includes customizable recipe books, instructional videos, and a “Cooking Mode” that explains each step. The recipe library is vast and adaptable to different measurements, making it easy to know exactly how much you need of each ingredient based on how many mouths you have to feed. Free on iOS and Android. www.KitchenStories.com