Forum this morning is slow as the proverbial molasses! Data errors before not just slllooww!
Good morning from Wisconsin! 63f degrees now heading towards 83 later. The heavy duty storms are about 40 miles west of us but heading northeast on an angle that will miss us. Chances of rain are 15% by 9am and then low single digit % till late evening. As the sun comes up we have a pink sky!
We are headed to Clinton, Iowa just over a 2 hour ride or 2:45 minutes depending on our route. 3 more Trolls to visit and take pictures. There is a fourth surprise one but we have to read the necklaces on the 1st 3 to find the 4th unless we cheat on Ai or Wikipedia that we don't plan to do. These will be our 12 to 16th Thomas Dambo trolls. We hope before the snow flies to reach #23 by visiting some in Dayton, Ohio and Louisville. There are currently 50 active exhibits. They are made from recycled wood so they do deconstruct as time goes. The 6 at the Morton Arboretum outside Chicago were our 1st 6 and they are long gone
Pacific Northwest: 6 trolls (Seattle, Bainbridge Island, Vashon Island, Issaquah, Portland, and Victor, WA).
Midwest:
Iowa (Clinton): 4 trolls ("The Tree Thieves" project, including the hidden 4th troll).
Illinois (Lisle - Morton Arboretum): Formerly 6, though most have retired/deconstructed over time.
Ohio (Dayton - Aullwood Audubon): 3 trolls (Bo, Bodil, Bibbi).
Minnesota (Detroit Lakes): 5-6 trolls scattered across the region ("Trolls Golden Trip").
Michigan (Rochester Hills): 1 troll (Gry).
South & Southeast:
Kentucky (Clermont - Bernheim Forest): 3 trolls (Mama Loumari, Little Nis, Little Elina).
Tennessee (Memphis Botanic Garden): Temporary/multi-troll installations.
Florida (Miami - Fairchild Tropical Botanic Garden): 2 trolls (Sui & Reed).
Wisconsin (Waukesha) 1 troll (Momma Mia)
We had hoped to see the Minnesota trolls but the heat across the Midwest this past month ruined that idea. Detroit Lakes, Minnesota is truly the middle of nowhere but we will eventually get there.
The Michigan Troll will be part of a Fall let's see the color changing trip. It's near the Mackinac Bridge off HWY2 in a private campground. We are hoping after our 50th anniversary on 9/18. That was my best decision!
No modeling today. We plan to leave by 9 as the temperatures goes north of 80 with higher humidity at noon. There are a few other things to do in Clinton before we head home. Crossing the Mississippi River and into Illinois will take us through some wonderful and varied scenery that will be spectacular in a couple weeks during the color change. Heading north out of Clinton to Dubuque is a mix of farmlands and Mississippi River bluffs. No interstate driving today
For the resident geologists in the Crew
Verona to Platteville (Military Ridge):
You begin on the high crest of the Military Ridge, driving along an elevated, rolling divide. The road follows sweeping curves across high, open agricultural uplands with broad views over deep stream valleys to the north and south
Platteville to Dubuque (Driftless Valleys):
Approaching the Mississippi River, the terrain becomes sharply dissected. Highways descend down carved coulees, surrounded by steep dolomite bluffs, exposed limestone rock cuts, and dense hardwood timber stands
East Dubuque to Savanna, IL (River Bluffs & Palisades):
Heading south along IL-78/US-84, the highway hugs the eastern edge of the Mississippi River floodplain. To your left are towering, heavily forested bluff faces and rock outcroppings (including the Palisades region), while to your right are wide river backwaters, wetlands, and sloughs
Savanna to Clinton, IA (Glacial Floodplain Transition):
South of Savanna, the dramatic bluffs begin to recede and flatten out. The final stretch into Clinton transitions into level, fertile river bottomland, open agricultural fields, and broad prairie flatlands along the valley floor
Yeah I over research everything before we travel
Enjoy your day
but I suspect Santa will put it on the "not this year" pile 
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