Re: July 12: La Crosse, Rochester, Kasson

Well, I wrote a perfectly reasonable, accurate, glowing report of our comings and goings for today, and then, somehow, in the heat of getting it in Facebook and on my blogsite, it whooshed away and I am left with having to start over on this one, which will be a brief, prosaic look at today’s activities.  The first few photographs are of Maureen’s visit with Josh Lichty and his little girl Zoe, who had lunch with us in Onalaska, after which they parted for French lessons while Maureen and I went to the Shrine of Our Lady of Guadalupe, its Mother of Good Counsel Votive Candle Chapel, the Shrine Church, and the Memorial to the Unborn.  We spent some time at the Visitor Center as well, watching a fascinating film of the founding of this Shrine.  We also spent some time in the bookshop and enjoyed cheesecake and iced tea in the cafe.  Finally, we went to Grandad’s Bluff, overlooking La Crosse and the Mississippi River, before setting out for Rochester, home of the Mayo Clinic.  We had dinner at an Indian restaurant there before setting out for Kasson, just as the winds started picking up speed and the clouds lowered.  Sorry to leave out so much important detail from this reportage, which is, at best, telegraphic tonight.  One more blog tomorrow, and then you will not hear from me again until July 20 and Boston.  As ever, SV