Nature, History and Fun in Central WI Rally Recap
June 1-5, 2025

	Dates:	June 1-5, 2025
	Location:	Sauk County Fairgrounds 700 Washington Ave. Baraboo, WI 53913
	Hosts:	Ann Moffat Carolyn and Anton Hol

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Excitement and anticipation filled the air as twenty-two runaways, ragamuffins and roustabouts in twelve coaches met at the fairgrounds in Circus City to fulfill their lifelong dreams of running away with the circus. Eight of the coaches were from the North Central region with the remaining four representing two other regions.

The shade of a coach provided the venue for happy hour as the festivities began Sunday evening with various cheeses, crackers and beverages. This was shortly followed by an all-you-can-eat brat dinner complete with all the trimmings. Grilled brats soaked in beer were a big hit as was the red, white and blue jello flag. Once all were sated, rally hostess, Ann, reviewed the upcoming activities.

Monday morning found our intrepid campers bundling into the vans for the short drive to Circus World Museum. After sneaking under the canvas, we viewed various exhibits, then met at the Wagon Barn for a tour of their gloriously-restored, dazzling circus wagons. As we were told about various wagons, several rally-goers commented on remembering when the circus came to their towns when they were young. (This was unexpected as none of the ralliers were over 10.) Just outside the Wagon Barn a carousel beckoned the equestrian-minded who mounted their chosen steads with a surprising agility. The Big Top performance thrilled the audience as the performers demonstrated stupendous, death-defying feats. When the show was over, our dreams of running away with the circus were still alive, but the reality had sunk in that our days of performing flips on the back of a trotting horse or flying through the air with the greatest of ease were over. We found solace in healthy, nutritious cotton candy, funnel cakes, other fried circus foods and soft drinks. Before departing, ralliers were challenged to name the five Ringling brothers involved with the circus. The sugar-charged ralliers relocated to Wisconsin Dells where the fun continued with a narrated trolley tour through and around the city. The day was capped off with a more-than-you-can-eat potluck dinner and a portable campfire after dusk.

Tuesday was a free day, with a forecast of rain and thunderstorms in the afternoon and evening. Not ones to be deterred, many ralliers hastened to Lost Canyon for a wagon tour as soon as it opened. This was a great tour, narrated by a very knowledgeable guide/teamster. It was impressive to see how he and the horse team navigated the narrow path. In several places, the horse's ears could just brush the canyon walls, yet the wagon passed without a scratch. Rally-goer, Loren, also got a chance to drive the team which he did skillfully. Several then proceeded to the Original Wisconsin Ducks for a land-sea tour of the Dells area. When all returned to the fairgrounds, we retired to our respective coaches for an all-you-can-eat lunch of leftovers. The rain finally began, and everyone took advantage of the break in the action. Some gathered in the pavilion for games of Rummikub, Uno and cribbage. Others enjoyed more restful options. Our evening meal was a catered, way-more-than-you-can-eat walleye fish fry. Carolyn unveiled a surprise dessert of Anton's birthday cake which was greatly enjoyed.

The rains cleared Wednesday morning, and we shuttled off to the International Crane Foundation. Over a two-plus hour tour, our tour guide walked us to the 15 different enclosures, each housing a different crane species, and told us about each species. This is the only place in the world where you can see all 15 species in one place. From a distance we could see Crane City where the captive breeding program is housed. Before departing, ralliers were again challenged, this time to name at least five of the crane species we had just seen. After a brief drive to the heart of the city of Wisconsin Dells, we split up to forage for lunch on our own (all but one couple ended up in the same riverside café). We met at the entrance to the Upper Dells boat tour and prepared for a relaxing cruise in the warm sun. The weather was perfect, and the scenery breath-taking. At Witches Gulch, we felt the cooling effect of the Potsdam Sandstone that forms the basis of the Dells. Crossing the river, we again disembarked and took a short walk to watch a dog recreate the awesome leap from a bluff to Stand Rock (this was first performed, 17 times, by Ashley Bennett in 1886 so his father, photographer H.H. Bennett, could demonstrate his stop-action camera shutter). At the conclusion of the boat tour, we briefly returned to the fairgrounds, then headed out for an evening of illusions and legerdemain at the Rick Wilcox Magic Show. All were amazed as we were baffled time and time again.

Thursday morning found the group fortifying themselves at the breakfast table, saying good-byes and heading off into the sunrise.

Submitted by Dave Moffat.