So what is this trip I'm on now anyway?

 
What the heck, let me do a post regarding the trip I'm on.

A while back, Doris and I planned to spend a 3 day weekend in Madison WI. We went there before and loved it; cute college town, plenty to do, not far from Chicago. So we booked it for a Friday-Sunday. Not long afterwards, my company asked me to attend an event that would be the following Wednesday & Thursday in the Wisconsin Dells, which is about an hour from Madison (and further from Chicago). I figured it didn't make sense for me to drive home on a Sunday only to have to turn around and drive back (and further) 2 days later on Tuesday. So Doris and I decided that she'd take the train home on Sunday (and weirdly, the train was a bus, whatever), and I'd stay here since there is plenty to do in both places (Madison and the Dells).

But then of course the election intensified and Wisconsin came into the spotlight along with the 6 other swing states. And then I found a program that pays you to door knock. So I figured instead of hitting up water parks, I'd likely be canvassing instead - which truly, I'd prefer to do.

So that's the background. I'll recap the trip so far:

- Friday: Doris and I arrive. The AirBnb is cute and cozy and very nice. We walk around Madison which is filled with cute shops and the energy of college kids. We love it. We ate at Green Owl and Just Veggiez

- Saturday: We did an art walk in the AM, and then went to a vegan fest in the PM. Both were really nice. This area of Madison is just...perfect. The houses are small and not-ostentacious but so well cared-for. It's common to see veg gardens and flower gardens, and Harris signs are everywhere. It looks like such a sweet place, maybe even to retire to since it's in a nice-sized city but also a bit away from the hustle and bustle. The veg fest was fantastic. I'd heard Chicago's veg-fests are shit-shows, but this one was just what I expected. Vendors were great, people were nice, and we even found a shaded picnic bench to eat on. When we got home, we were a bit hot and tired. I asked Doris if she wanted to do anything else that day and she said nah so we kicked back. We did have dinner at this great Nepalese restaurant that we ate at last time we were in Madison

- Sunday: Started out challenging because we couldn't find the bus station. The clock was ticking and I thought "Well, if we miss the bus, then we'll go to Plan B. We'll return to the AirBnb, I'll pack up my stuff and drive home with Doris, scrap my other plans, and just drive back on Tuesday for the work thing." I told myself to be flexible and what will be, will be. But by asking people and keeping our eyes open, we found it. Whew! So we kissed goodbye, I returned to the AirBnB. It was about 9am then, so I made my plan for the rest of the day. Decided I'd hit the arboretum, then Green Owl cafe again, and then....drive an hour to Sauk City to canvas for Kamala. Of course I was nervous leaving liberal-Madison but on the way there, I saw more Harris signs than Trump signs. And the door-knocking went....great! Not one bad encounter and spoke to plenty of supporters! I gave away both of the lawn signs I'd brought with. One woman answered the door in a Kamala T-shirt. (One man answered the door in an anti-Biden shirt, but I just did my usual pitch, which asks people if they are voting, and when and how, etc). It was very hot by the time I was done, but I did the entire list. Needless to say, I was tired when it was over so the rest of the day was TV and lasagna leftovers inside the AirBnB

- Monday: (Today). Okay, I will be leaving Madison and heading towards the Dells. The plan is: breakfast at this cafe that people rave about, then pack up, drive an hour to the Dells and hope hotel lets me check in early. Then I will canvas my new territory which is about an hour from the Dells. I should add that you can't just door-knock anywhere. You have to 'claim' a territory and then go to it, and many places have already been done. Like there was nothing in Madison, which I imagine has already been canvassed. 

Or, I was thinking I might stay in Madison for a couple hours and walk in a forest preserve before driving to the Dells. Hmmm....Maybe I call the hotel in the Dells and ask if they can let me check in early? It is a Monday after all. And they have forest preserves there too. 

I should add that the best canvassing is done on Saturdays or Sundays, and then next best after 3pm. I should keep that in mind and not start too early.

(EDIT) Instead of making a new post, I will just add onto this one.

- Monday continued: I visited this place called Cherokee Marsh and then drove to the Dells. The hotel did let me check in early; I had called beforehand to ask, and am glad I did. I didn't do any canvassing today. Instead I enjoyed the hotel waterpark and then went to the Deer Park (a place I've been to before with both Doris and Eric). In addition to seeing animals, it's a pretty hike.

The hotel, Chula Vista, is just ok. I'd always thought of it as one of the Dells' nicer places, but this is my first time actualy staying here. On the plus side, the room is big and has a fridge and microwave. But the whole place just looks old. The bathroom door barely clears the toilet, and the toilet wobbles! Carpets and everything are just a 1980s brown. The waterpark was fun and there were only like 6 other guests in it. Granted it was Monday afternoon.  Before I went to bed, I looked out the hotel window and counted just like 10 other cars. Well, it's October and I guess the Dells is emptier than I'd thought. I was grateful that they let me check in early, yes, but....come on, like NOBODY's HERE. I am glad that I'm at this hotel just 1 night. My final 2 nights of the trip are at the convention hotel and on my employer's dime.

I had late lunch (or early dinner) at Sunny's Asian yesterday, and it was great. The Dells area has 1 vegan restaurant but it's only open Thurs-Sun (!!), so thank goodness for Asian restaurants. 

- Tuesday: I'm sorry I didn't canvass yesterday but I really did want to enjoy the waterpark and the Dells. The plan today is to visit something called Take Flight, then eat at Sunny's, then back on the campaign trail. And hopefully I can check into my next hotel early. Wednesday will be work, and Thursday will be work then 3.5 hour drive home

- Also: been sleeping well and am glad for that!