Disappointment at not being able to take the trip I had scheduled in March was tempered by the arrival of daughter Sara and granddaughters Lana and Audrey. Even more excited about their arrival was our dog Basher, who had been living at Sara’s house up until we brought him to our house about a year and a half ago.

Olbrich Gardens was open so that was one of our first visits.

This year’s Olbrich Garden Spring Flower Show had a fairy tale theme. And lots of bright colors.

The sword in the stone, and a dragon.

And colorful places to sit.

Later we went out for pizza with Uncle Sam and Fiona. Sara bought some baseball cards, hoping that the bubblegum would still be good. It wasn’t.

When Sunday came it was time to color Easter eggs, even though Easter is still a few weeks away.

Church services were streaming online because of the coronavirus quarantines. We watched the service from their home church in Virginia.

Audrey helped me walk Basher, and discovered the Little Free Library at the end of the block. We came back for several visits.

We also initiated Lana and Audrey into the family card game, Hot Rum. It can be challenging.

As the coronavirus quarantines spread and closed down a lot of the activities we could enjoy we decided to change plans and take a road trip. First stop, one of my favorite hidden away places, Hyde’s Mill.

I’ve always enjoyed the signs with biblical references at Hyde’s Mill.

There are other signs at Hyde’s Mill, including this secret sign. Apparently it’s a good location for marriage proposals.

Just over the hill is Taliesin, the home of Wisconsin’s most famous architect, Frank Lloyd Wright.

We also made a trek up the hill to the Shadewald Indian Mound group just outside Muscoda, where you can see for miles up and down the Wisconsin River Valley.

Our goal was to see some famous rivers, like the Kickapoo and the Mississippi. Here, along the Mississippi River, the Gordon sisters found a unique geographical attraction.

In Prairie du Chien, a stop for a photo at the family home where grandpa and his brothers grew up.

Prairie du Chien also has the home of Wisconsin’s first millionaire, the Villa Louis, a Victorian estate.

Across the river, at Pikes Peak State Park in Iowa, we took the trail to Bridal Veil falls.

The falls were frozen.

Even on a cloudy, foggy day, the view from Pikes Peak State Park is pretty spectacular: the confluence of the Mississippi and Wisconsin Rivers.

On the way back, we stopped to show Audrey and Lana the farm where grandpa lived when he was very young.

Final stop for this road trip, the church and church yard where there are many family burials. As we walked up, a bald eagle flew away.

Basher was sad when it was time to leave.

Just before the final flight home, Sara shared a photo of the cavernous, empty halls of O’Hare International airport.