"There's no way we're going the right way," Landon asserts from the passenger side of our rented Dodge Avenger. 

The view outside welcomes a cloudy and rainy sky that covers the rolling green countryside of Wisconsin. We're scheduled to play Trout Springs Winery tonight, and just the same as any day, we've got no idea what to expect...

A pitched roof rises over the next hill, and Landon suggest that there is no other building that could be what we're looking for, so we pull in. Two corgies sniffing around the mostly dirt driveway welcome us, and Landon decides to check in and make sure we are indeed at the correct destination while I finish the last few sentences of a phone call...this is our stop.

Steve, the proprietor, and the staff of Trout Springs Winery welcome us warmly and let us get set up. There's absolutely not a single bar of phone service to be spoken of, so it's somewhat of a getaway; especially on a Saturday night. I fumble through a few sentences of my limited knowledge of wine, and Steve says, "Come with me."

Steve leads Landon and I back to the aging room for the wine they make at Trout Springs - he's built the entire place from the ground up:

Of course, Landon and I had to sample some of the wares of this fine gentleman's establishment - I recommend the petite syrah.

After playing our concert for some patrons, including two fans that drove out to Greenleaf from Milwaukee (thank you Mary and Robin!), Landon and I head up to Green Bay to stay for the night...and he tells me that we're going to meet up with one of his friends.  

I'm beside myself. Landon's friend that we meet up with is none other than Mason Crosby of the Green Bay Packers, AKA my fantasy football kicker.  He introduces us to some other members of the team, and Landon and I celebrate with some Spotted Cow beer (only in Wisconson, try it if you've never had it!)

The next morning, we meet Mason at Lambeau Field and I was able to grab a number of pictures including:

...and...

Wisconsin - although I never got to try cheese curds; your people, football, beers and wine have left a stamp on my mind I won't soon forget. Back to Chicago...

-TRMJ