I’m trying to get in more walking hours, so today it was off to circumnavigate the Pheasant Branch Conservancy.
The first thing I noticed was lots of animal tracks in the snow.
Circling the Conservancy
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Two Wheeling Around the Trees
A couple of big writing and editing projects have kept me from traveling as much as I would like this summer but now that they’re done it was time for another road trip. I had a yearning to ride amongst the trees and a friend recommended Hartman Creek State Park for its fine off-road single track bike trails, so I headed off towards Waupaca.
Back and Forth to Blue Mounds State Park
The view from the observation towers atop Blue Mounds State Park is magnificent, especially on a clear day. I made several visits to the park in June.
View of the Wisconsin River Valley from the east tower of Blue Mounds State Park.
On the Trail of a Cave
My hiking partner, Tom, and I have enjoyed several of the scenic trails at Governor Dodge State Park and decided it was time to tackle another one, the Cave Trail. This trail had a feature not shared with the other trails in the park: a cave.
The Cave Trail follows along one of the streams in the park.
Don’t Knock Donald Rock
When I was a kid, I thought it was crazy when dad would stop at a roadside spring on our Sunday drives and harvest some water cress.
But now that medical research has shown the importance of green leafy vegetables in our diet, I have to admit I foraged some water cress from a spring on my visit to Donald Park.
Eagles on the Mississippi
Growing up along the Mississippi River a half century ago, eagles were a rare site. Occasionally we would be driving along The Great River Road and my dad would point out eagles soaring high above the bluffs. Today it’s much easier to see eagles along the Mississippi. In late winter, as the ice is breaking up, they’re all around Prairie du Chien, my home town.
Crossing St. Feriole slough, eagles immediately came into view.
Trail Tuesday – The Donald
The day after my birthday just happens to be Take a Hike Day. So I decided to hike The Donald. Now, of course there’s a Donald we hear about on the news every day. Nuff said about him. This Donald is a county park, one of the gems of the Dane County Park system.
I hadn’t been to Donald Park before but it turns out to have all kinds of hiking trails. I set out on this frosty morning.
Trail Thursday – Pine Cliff Trail
Tuesdays have been busy lately, but finally made it back to Governor Dodge State Park with my friend Tom, to tackle another trail on a Thursday.
Our next objective was the Pine Cliff Trail, on a frosty morning.
Trail Tuesday: The Lost Canyon Trail
My friend Tom thought Trail Tuesday was a terrific idea. So last Tuesday we met at his house in Dodgeville and drove over to Governor Dodge State Park. Having driven by this area, even biked by it, I’ve seldom visited Governor Dodge. We were in for a pleasant surprise.
Governor Dodge has lots of trails. We started with the short trail down to Stephens Falls, which we had both visited previously. Right now, admittedly, an unimpressive waterfall. (more…)
Appointment at Gibralter Rock
I had a tentative breakfast appointment this morning with Mr. Sun at Gibralter Rock State Natural Area. Later I discovered Mr. Sun was waiting for me back home. Sigh. Nonetheless, the views were spectacular, as always, and the fresh air was invigorating.
Gibralter Rock is part of the Ice Age Trail, just north of Lodi in Columbia County.
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