Milwaukee - Home of Harley-Davidson & Happy Days

Our day started out great today - we booked in to have Brunch across the road at the Ambassador Hotel. For $16.95 you could order anything off the menu you liked and order as many different dishes as you wanted. We all got our fill, but Gena took it to a new level - 4 different plates, Bluey was horrified. Whilst eating brunch, we were made aware that there was Irish Fest was on in Milwaukee. Without hesitation, we caught the shuttle bus downtown to check it out.

The Irish Festival was a sea of green, lots of beer drinkers, bands all over, and a lot of Irish Dancing! At 1:30pm it started pelting rain, and we were stuck under a covered area. Bluey was lamenting the fact that if we were to be stuck in the rain - we at least could have been stuck in a bar. As if meant to be, no more than 2 minutes later, we saw people near us heading up a stairway. We figured that if we couldn't do anything, at least we could be up higher and see what was happening, so we headed up the stairs. What would you know - there was a what looked like a bar up there. What we didn't know was that we had accidentally crashed a private function. Introductions were made with John behind the bar and although I initially thought he had picked us as Aussies, he actually thought we said we were Irish. Bluey tried to buy a beer and John told him not to worry, there function was finished but the keg hadn't been turned off. So for the next hour or so, we sat there getting to know John, his wife Kate and their family, whilst Bluey & Gena were getting free beers. We were blown away when we found out that their son Liam (who was 6'2") was only 12 years old. He is only a year older than Bailey but a foot & a half taller. We many many of John & Kate's friends as well - people in Milwaukee are really friendly. Trust us to pick the balcony with the nice people and the free beer!

These young dancers were very entertaining

When it rains in Milwaukee - it really rains

Bluey with John upstairs - keeping out of the rain

Bluey with the Leprechaun & friend

Gena, Bailey and I returned to our hotel after this but Bluey figured he may not get back to Milwaukee again so he had better visit the Harley-Davidson Museum before he left (loves his museums does Bluey) and he had the shuttle driver drop him there where he proceeded to spend the next 3 hours looking over the history of the company formed by William Harley and his childhood friend, Arthur Davidson way back in 1903 right here in Milwaukee.

The oldest surviving Harley-Davidson - built in 1903 (note the leather drive belt)

..... and how the engines have changed

despite there being hundreds of bikes on display, there are hundreds more being restored at the Museum

The 2 bikes ridden by Peter Fonda & Dennis Hopper in the legendary 1969 movie - Easy Rider 

We were told about a funky bar/restaurant downtown that would be fun to try for dinner. It was called 'The Safe House' and it ran on a spy theme. When we first entered the building which was very well disguised, we stepped into a room that had no doors at all. We were told that we needed the password before we could do anything. Of course we didn't know it, so we were asked to stand against the back wall and were directed to follow a few instructions to allow us to enter. We had to imitate a bird before laying an egg, which we did but Gena was getting right into the role - a little too much? Once happy with our ability to follow instructions, a hidden door opened up and into the restaurant we went - to rousing applause from the people already inside who were watching us on the closed circuit televisions. As Bluey pointed out, in all of the bars he has been inside in his lifetime, it is definitely the first time he has had an ovation upon entering.

The waitress (or Agent Spy) as they called themselves, gave a clue sheet in which we had to find things throughout the place and solve several riddles which was a lot of fun. After dinner, we went for a walk along the riverwalk before calling the shuttle bus to come and pick us up again.

Milwaukee is a great city, and Bluey says a pleasure to drive around and I hope to get back here one day.