Kohler-Andrae State Park - Sheboygan

Sheboygan (Sheboygan Cty)

Used to be called Terry Andrae State Park.   I have mixed feelings about this park. It is right on the lake which is great for those who want to avoid the crowd at any other beach and you don't have to go far to get a snack or go to the bathroom. It has a very nice Interactive Nature Center; however you wouldn't know that as I could not find any mention of it anywhere except for the Wildernet.com site I stumbled onto, which I now have bookmarked. It is called The Sanderling Nature Center,

You know, one shouldn't have to work so hard to get information....which confirms yet again why I should continue putting this blog together. Well, enough about me for now.

On a humorous note, the DNR page boasts it being ' naturally air conditioned'.

Typically there is about a 10-degree difference lakeside (don't quote me on this, I'm using my 'feels-like' barometer, though I will accept the credit if I am correct). On most days that means, bring a jacket, just in case.

Where to find: From I-43 take Cty Rd OK/V (exit 120) east, turning right onto Cty Rd V about 2 miles. Cty Rd V will curve left (north) to the northern trail head and P1 Parking, but you to reach the nature center,continue straight on Beach Park Ln. It will fork in a few places but you want to be going south and P3 Parking is the nature center. (map)

What to expect:   * Park Permit required (day passes can be purchased).  Sand, and lots of it everywhere. Lots of camping available, though in reading the reviews on the WILDERNET site, there is a mention about ANTS. Also, there is Looping and Non-Looping, specifically: Creeping Juniper Nature Trail, and Woodland Dunes Nature Trail (ADA segment) -- I don't know if this trail is linked with WOODLAND DUNES NATURE CENTER (Manitowoc-Two Rivers area), that part I am still researching and will update accordingly (at this point I'm thinking there's no connection).

One final note: I am totally thrilled to have found the Wildernet.com site. To be honest, it is exactly what I envisioned this blog to be, but even more technical than what I have the patience for. When surfing, you will have to scroll down to find more information and the Trip Reports which is the the area for reading the reviews, just like my site. And you have to be registered, just like my site.

Pinecrest Historical Village - Manitowoc

Manitowoc (Manitowoc Cty)

Just a short blurb about this quaint village.

When we arrived, it was during their German Fest celebration in September and we enjoyed live demonstrations, wagon rides, live music, food, festivities, I cannot say for certain what you will see any other time that is not a scheduled event. I will try to contact someone to find more information.

The road to this village is also on the way to Lower Cato Falls County Park.

Manitowoc has made it possible for others to find where their great parks are located, so I was well pleased with their efforts.

Manitowoc/Two Rivers Visitor's Guide
Manitowoc's Historical Society
Wheretofind:  Travel time is approximately 15 minutes west of Manitowoc off of Hwy JJ, a bit over an hour from Oshkosh.

What to expect: Open daily May 1st - October 24th, 9:00 am - 4:00 pm $6 per person, $4 for children, $15 for families, MCHS members receive free daily admission. Located  924 Pinecrest Ln Manitowoc, WI 54220. ph:920-684-5110 or em: mchistsoc@lakefield.net

Self-guided tour around the 60 acre outdoor museum to explore and learn about Wisconsin folk and how they lived during the 1850-early 1900s. Buildings such as Blacksmith, General Store (Gift Shop), Church, dance hall, railroad passenger car, the Cheese shop (sample cheese curds and making butter), seamstress shop (free homemade necklaces), schoolhouse, and also furnished homesteads.

**Update**
It did not take long at all to hear back from the Manitowoc Historical Society. Mike Maher was kind enough to say that on non-event days they provide a cassette player that will walk the observer through the site describing the buildings and events as they might've happened on a typical day. I imagine that the buildings are locked up, so access is obviously limited, though having the place to oneself could be wonderfully creepy.

Lower Cato Falls County Park - Clark Mills

Clarke Mills (Manitowoc Cty)

Here is another example of places I discover while on my way to 'elsewhere' during a Road Trip. I whizzed past the sign and drove in to just check things out. Click here for the gloogled map. What I was attempting to show on the lovely photo wasn't just the size of the rapid but the huge limestone shelf on the other side that appears to be unclimbable for regular folk - great fun for those with no fear. I can try to get another shot of it but with my current camera status I know it will be utter crap.

Wheretofind: This Road Trip started at Kohler-Andre State Park (Sheboygan Cty), ended at Pinecrest Historical Village (Manitowoc Cty), and I was heading west on JJ and a bit before you reach the Clark Mills intersections is where this park can be found on the right.

This park is listed on the American Whitewater site, and the link I've provides a great deal of information for kayakers as far as starting/finishing point, length, rapid classification and a fair warning on the quality of the water should you fall in.

What to expect: Upper/Lower section with stairs leading to the rivers edge at each end (Manitowoc River, that is). Picnic and playground areas and short trails as seen on this map. Actually this link says there are 4 stairways and I only found 2, which means I still haven't fully explored this park yet.

Sidenote: I left off the hiking label on this post -- the trails did not seem long enough to warrant hiking status in my book. Meaning, that I would not make a Road Trip solely for the purpose of hiking, which is what I use to classify the label.

Lakeview Cemetery - Stockbridge

Stockbridge, Calumet Cty

Only a few will catalog their visit to a cemetery, for good reasons I suppose. Not every one will understand the allure of walking amongst those whose bones have been resting as long, if not longer than Wisconsin's statehood was declared.

A coworker mentioned this small plot and on my first try I didn't find it. As a matter of fact, I completely missed a HUGE county park on a road I swore I drove on. Oy vey, what does it matter anyhow.

A ginormous tree guards the entrance to the cemetery. We don't see too many trees that last this long 'fore weather or disease lays it to waste. Incidentially, this tree is a DNR registered Champion Tree and can be found by searching their database by county name (Calumet).

During my investigation, there are a number of headstones that are broken, felled, and in one corner appears to be several that collided in a great upheaval of sorts, by natural forces or otherwise. If you follow the image link you will see a better image of how many stones there are. It's disturbing to see this in a cemetery. I have always taken for granted that someone is acting a caretaker, and at Rienzi Cemetery, there is actually an effort within the community to volunteer their time and materials to maintain the site.

Road Trip

Saturday's weather shore was beautiful. The rumble of a motorcycle lifts my spirits. Last weekend I was inspired to go on a road trip to the Quiet Side of the Lake and drove around Calumet County with a short stop at Rienzi Cemetery in Fondy before snapping a few photos of an abandoned home I now title Death Watch.

On Friday (04/04/08) I had business to take care of in West Bend and stopped at Lac Lawrann Conservancy, a 136 acre preserve that in all the years I have lived in this town have never been to. I snapped a few photos and when I looked at them at home realized that my camera was unable to pick up the color contrasts (due to the lighting perhaps,or my camera is utter crap) The pine to the right is tipped with yellow-green and to my eyes should have stood out from the winter washed kettle below.

While I drove around my old town, I discovered a new piece of land named Fellenz Woods, purchased by the Ozaukee Washington Land Trust (OWLT) in 1999. This is found on County I, east of West Bend High School -- Decorah Ave turns into Cty I incidentally. I am immensely proud of the town I came from and continue to applaud its caretakers for having the vision to preserve the land that will only improve the value of its lands and also the quality of life for its residents, something that Oshkosh is currently struggling with. If there is a bright spot for Oshkosh it was the development of Menominee Park, and Little Oshkosh where I took my daughter yesterday.

I wrap up my blog entry before 8 am with the intention of taking a road trip back to the Quiet Side of the Lake, to snap some photos and expand my knowledge of the area.

It promises to be in the 50s today,the sun is trying to be seen between the breaks in the clouds, and that is enough for me.