WARNING! Beer Good Bus Tour Teaser--you'll want to go . . .

(as always, if someone would be kind enough to forward this to sphbc . . . ) The bus is half full (or is it half-empty? . . . ) after less than one week of solicitations, so read the following quickly and carefully, then round up a spouse (many women come on this trip), friend, relative, neighbor, or co-worker, and send in your deposit. I'll take no more than 35 people, so act now! :) We will have plenty of room on the bus, as it seats 47, but we only take 30-35. I'll set the scene-- You awaken just after sunrise on a deliciously crisp cool fall morn, and an immediate smile dawns on your countenance as you realize that for the next two days, all you need to do is sample Wisconsin beer, wine, and cheese, with no thought of driving, no thought of directions, indeed--almost no thought whatsoever. The fall colors are spectacular as you are chauffeured through the rolling Wisconsin countryside, homebrews periodically coming your way. Great music and film gently caress your senses when you aren't taking a delightful cat nap in your luxury bus seat. There's a clean restroom always at the ready, and the other 30+ folks on the bus are tender, kind-hearted beer connoissuers just like you. Every so often, the bus stops at a brewpub, microbrewery, winery, or cheesery. You sample, stretch, enjoy the warm fall sun on some patios, and finally, when sated, retire to the bus for a short repose till the next fun destination. You think to yourself, "wow--at $3.00+/gallon, I couldn't drive myself to all these places for anything near the $60 I paid for the entire bus ride!" When all is said and done on Saturday, you have a lovely hotel to sleep in, while the Great Dane Brewpub beckons from across the street. Upon waking Sunday, the hotel serves a hot breakfast buffet, and then it's on to a special stop at Bleu Mont Cheese. The guy makes it himself in caves, and for $15 per person, we’re going to tour his operation, sample two of his wares, and each person takes home ½ pound of his best stuff! Then we will take our booty and eat it at the nearby winery, overlooking the WI River. Lunch Sunday is at an English-style pub, and dinner Sunday is at a German-style brewpub that specializes in German lagers. The original message follows, but by now you should be on your way to your checkbook to write out the deposit! You really don't want to miss this one! John Saturday, October 20th 7:00 a.m. = leave Saint Paul 7:01 a.m. = People's Choice competition 10:30 = tour Carr Valley Cheese 12:00 = lunch at Corner Pub in Reedsburg 2:30 = tour Lake Louie Brewing 4:00 = tour Capital Brewing 5:30 = J.T. Whitney's 7:00 = dinner at the Grumpy Troll Brewpub in Mt. Horeb 9:00 = hotel across the street from the Great Dane in Fitchburg ($109—includes a warm breakfast buffet) Sunday, October 21st 8:30 = tour Bleu Mont Cheese ($15, includes tour, samples, ½ pound of cheese per person to take home!) 10:30 = Wollersheim Winery (we can eat our Bleu Mont overlooking the WI River!) 1:00 = lunch at Roxbury Pub 3:00 = Moosejaw Brewpub, WI Dells 6:00 = dinner at Das Bierhaus, Menomonie 9:00 = arrive in Saint Paul You've heard the stories. You know it's not to be missed. You've been waiting for this message to appear. Now it's time to sign up for BEER GOOD BUS TRIP IV. For those who don't know, each fall I organize a bus trip through Wisconsin, focusing on brewpubs, but stopping at other places of interest as well. It all began when Al Boyce got us on a bus to the AHA National Convention in Chicago and we stopped at various beer hubs going out and coming back. Two years ago I took a group straight across WI, hitting eleven beer stops, last year we went through northern 'Sconnie, and this year we head down toward Madison. We take a luxury coach, complete with bathroom and movies. We'll have the people's choice contest to start the trip (around 7:00 a.m. Saturday), and will return around 9:00 Sunday evening. We'll stay overnight in Madison, within staggering distance from Great Dane. Assuming 30 people come along, the bus cost will be around $60 per person. Just to be clear, I always pay the same amount for the bus and hotel as everyone. I don't pay my way off the rest of the group. Don't be left behind. Send your non-refundable $50 deposit to John Longballa, 1211 Minnehaha Ave W, Saint Paul, MN 55104. Please include all contact information, including e-dress, and please indicate how you would prefer the room situation to be for your group. I won't take more than 35 people, so don't delay! Thanks, John