Point Beach Ice Age Trail - Two Rivers

Two Rivers (Manitowoc Cty)

I joined the Fox Cities (Appleton) Backpackers Group, which is where I have leapt from the safety of my little day hikes to real hiking, with people even. Thankfully my first group hike was not an official group hike, but rather a day hike. An 8 or 9 mile hike (felt like 10 miles). Even while writing this the next day, my hips are on fire.

Things I was smart about: wearing jeans and a sweater. Things that were not so smart: using sunscreen instead of bug spray.

Our trek started at Neshota Park in Two Rivers which is where we picked up the trail and followed it north for a long, long, long time. My companions were Leslie and Ron, Judy and Dan. They all were were in much better shape and I lagged behind for a good part as I stopped to take a few shots. Carrying a full bladder didn't help either.

The lunging garter snake was the best part of the trip. He/She was clearly protecting a nest (I don't know if male snakes even stay after the female lays her eggs, I doubt it).

Joining a hiking group presents a bit of a problem for me. My focus is no longer enjoying being outdoors, but to take photos - not just photos representative of where I've gone, but to improve my skill and to be creative with those pictures that will hopefully inspire others to visit. I don't think I can do both when hiking as a group.

This post is supposed to be about the Ice Age Trail, and not about my ramblings on photography. I will try to remain on task here on out.



Wheretofind:  Heading east from Oshkosh, the drive was 1-1/2 hours, and there was constructions on Hwy 10 that sent us on backroads, which is nice for a Sunday drive, though not so fun when you are trying to meet a group of strangers at a place you've never seen before.

What to expect: Depending on how where you pickup the trail, you could easily hike 10 miles.
We started from Neshotah Park in Two Rivers and the distance to Point Beach State Park is just over 4 miles, then I believe we walked as far as Lake Dr, which is where Leslie's Prius was waiting for us to escape the mosquitoes. I tried getting a fix through Google maps.  There are several places to hook up to the Ice Age Trail.

West of the Lake Gardens - Manitowoc

West of the Lake Gardens
Originally uploaded by WheretogoWisconsin

925 Memorial Drive, Manitowoc (Manitowoc Cty)
(see previous post on Point Beach Ice Age Trail)

After lunching at Kurtz's, Dan and Judy showed me where to find this garden that I have never seen before. Previously we had hiked approximately 8 miles on the Point Beach segment of the Ice Age Trail (link to be inserted when post is competed).

The driveway is a beautiful gateway entrance (there are two driveways, it's on the left, the other is a residence, so watch for signs).

The main home is known as the 'Shoebox Estate' and was the first modern style design that most of us recognize as a Frank Lloyd Wright. West of the Lake was named by Mrs Ruth West (lovely double entendre if you think about it) who had purchased the old street car right of way in 1934. Later that year Mr. John West began the building of the famous home and Ruth's beginning of her garden that began with 200 tulips.

By 1950, a 30 year tradition was born to open the gardens annually to the public to celebrate the West of the Lake Tulip Tea event. After the passing of John in 1989, then Ruth in 1990, The West Foundation was used to formally open the gardens to the public, which is now opened daily from Mother's Day to Mid-October 10 am - 5 pm (weather permitting), and continues its stewardship by providing scholarships/grants for the Manitowoc-Two Rivers area.

How to find: From I-43 North or South: Take exit 152, State Highway 42 East (Waldo Blvd., toward Manitowoc). Follow Waldo Blvd. to Lake Michigan (about 5 miles) where it curves left (North) and becomes Memorial Drive. At the first traffic signal (Reed Ave.), turn right at the West of the Lake Gardens. 925 Memorial Drive, Manitowoc, WI 54220 (920) 684-8506

What to Expect: Flowers, silly! Free Parking and Admission, self guided brochures take you through all of the gardens known by name: Japanese, Sunken, Rose, Red and White, The Path, Mae West, Formal and The Loop. The gorgeous view of Lake Michigan makes for the perfect backdrop.

Cherney Maribel Caves County Park - Two Rivers

a.k.a Maribel Caves (Manitowoc Cty)

*Sidebar: I duly promise to post my adventures while the memories are buzzing fresh in my mind. I began this post a few days week ago, and honestly it's a struggle to recall the experiences.

My first visit to this park was in March 2009. That day I was scanning the gazetteer looking for my next destination. If living in Oshkosh has done anything for me, it's driven the desire to go elsewhere. It's a fine town and it suits our purposes but does nothing to satisfy my need to explore. Maribel Caves had interested me for a time and finally made that my plan on that March morning. The snow was cold, the colors crisp, the shadows sharp. Hastily my freezing feet retreated and a resolution to return was born.

Fast forward to May, a fine spring day for a Road Trip. From Oshkosh, the Town of Maribel is 1 hour 12 minutes of rural highway driving, 2 full hours when slowing down to look at cows. Seriously, I saw one Brown Swiss Cow whose udders was painfully weighed down by milk that she could not walk normally. I remember those days, and shudder from the mammary (ha-ha, I could not resist).

Before my arrival at Maribel, I saw a sign on the corner of Park Rd and Blake and took a quick detour. "Southern Brown Wildlife Refuge" This park does not appear on any Google Map or Brown County Website, so therefore it must've been a fantastic hallucination. Following the sign for about 1/2 mile (little over that I believe), I found the entrance to the park. It has your typical nature trail with your typical flora and fauna. Nice place to take your dog (note: dogs must be leased at Maribel Caves). Sadly, only a small number of pictures turned out.

My jaunt into this newly developed park was a successful venture if only to publish it's existence before the new maps come out. The coolest find - a bees nest in a live tree.

The Park

The Cherney Maribel Caves County Park was open this time, and the park was relatively busy. I found a quiet trail and commenced my exploration. To be honest, Devoted Reader, I had no idea on the size of this park. It's larger than I expected. According to the park website, it occupies 75 acres, though the DNR sites 13.5 acres. I know nothing of calculating land sizes, but 13.5 seems to make logical sense.

This park is very much like Horicon Ledge (Dodge County Ledge), with the large glacial rock formations, the mossy boulders, the slippery crags, the spiders, the bats - need I go on? Alright, I was a bit overboard on the bats, but the environment is very similar (The main differences are that Horicon Ledge has Ledges, and not Caves).

The Caves

Of the caves: there are several: Tartarus, Coopers, Pancake, Spring, and New Hope. On this day the was working in the New Hope Cave. The entrance to this cave is closed to the public unless one of the volunteer groups are on working on site and will give tours. I did not explore the entire cave, as you move deeper in there is water present and my shoes were open heeled clogs, so I stayed and listened to one of the Spelunkers (to be named Savvy Spelunker) who talked about the excavations of the caves. It was really quite interesting, but I'm afraid that I don't remember all of it, other than when he discussed the Tartarus, he believed there was more another part of the cave yet to be revealed. The cave on this day was reletively dry.Wisconsin Speleological Society


One of the characteristics in New Hope Cave is called Moon Milk - a white creamy deposit that is created by the water seepage from the cracks (life lines) in the cave ceiling. There is some question whether it is a chemical or bacterial reaction. Either way, it doesn't drip on your head, if you are worried about that kind of thing. The formation of caves themselves is fascinating, and it all has to do with the way water wears away rock, leaving crevasses for moss and other lifeforms to exist. This is over millions of years


Wheretofind:  Travel time approximately one hour from Oshkosh, 20 minutes from either Ashwaubenon or from Two Rivers:  From the junction of I-43 and State Highway 147 one mile east of Maribel, go east on 147 0.3 mile, then north on County Highway R 0.6 mile to the entrance of Cherney Maribel Caves County Park, proceed 0.25 mile to the parking area.


What to Expect: Please call ahead to see if there are cave tours: 920-682-0356. Dogs are allowed (leashed). Trails are mild-medium difficulty. Wear appropriate shoes, especially if you plan to investigate New Hope Cave. Cave season is open from April 1st - October 31st.  Check maribelcaves.org for dates when New Hope Cave is open to the public. Park is open daily from 6am-8pm.

One Last Reason To Visit ** Trespasser Alert **

Maribel Caves Hotel, "Hotel Hell"

You'll just have to visit. Trust me, plenty of others have been there before you. Check your principles at the door, because you are trespassing and you might get a ticket for your troubles. UPDATE 04/05/2015 - read that a portion of this structure was brought down from a storm with high winds back in August 2013.

Maribel Caves County Park was worth the Road Trip, and I will place this as my #2 Wheretogo Winner. A declaration was made when I arrived home, travel worn and sunburned.

Ridge Run County Park - West Bend

Ridge Run County Park
Originally uploaded by WheretogoWisconsin

West Bend (Washington Cty)

for directions and what to see the original post.


Yet another excursion to my little piece of heaven, my slice of serenity, my haven of happiness....*sigh*


It turned out that there was a special event happening this day at the Girl Scout Camp which meant no worries of trespassing and my flickr companion got a free lunch and my undying gratitude for coming with this crazy lady.


A 65 acre easement purchase made by the Ice Age Trail Foundation provided a protected pass through the Girl Scout Camp (ie, Camp Silverbrook) which traditionally was a No Trespassing Zone, which is also traditionally ignored. Reading a bit about the milestones of this hard fought project made this Oshkosh transplant proud


Today, our walk consisted of me trying to photograph the falling leaves, mossy rocks, light rays passing through leaves, and the various flora (alas, no fauna to be seen today) with some limited success. I wore out my hiking partner and returned to Oshkosh energized, and wanting more.


This trip reaffirmed my belief that I need to find those of my ilk who can return multiple times to a place and find different enchantments. My desire to guide is just as strong as the need to be guided and shown new places to explore.

Maybe they are out there, and maybe they are not. I will continue to journal my experiences and report my findings.

Shore Walkers - Lake Geneva

Lake Geneva, Fontana, Williams Bay (Walworth Cty)

Back to relive some very old childhood memories. In 1970-s, there were no posted signs marking the lake path. Shore walkers did not exist as a class of tourists. This post isn't really to advertise that the shore path exists. There are plenty of ways of learning that. But for the sake of being consistent to the Wheretogo viewers I promise to provide such details. This post is a purely selfish move so that I can relive my most recent excursion into reliving this particular time in my life. I am returning again, hopefully later after the Chicagoans have all gone home. While the shore hike was pleasant and relatively bug free (if you don't count the humans, of course), it was too humid and it the clinging haze really effected some of the shots.

This leg of the shore path starts from Linn Rd, heading east towards the Country Club. This headstone is the last remaining piece of a family plot that existed long ago, now gone. To see more details I would recommend reading my Shore Walker Photostream. It doesn't make sense to use up my precious blogger space with photos that also exist on my Flickr page, plus they don't really move the story along.

The Shore Path (or lake path as I always called it) was originally an Indian Footpath and in order for this path to remain for public use a county ordinance was set. For lakefront owners who fought the right of way, the city had historical relevance to rest upon. The shore path is unique to Geneva Lake. I know of no other place that allows unfettered access onto private property. My last visit, about 10 years ago, those cute shore path signs didn't exist. I know that because my oldest, who was 14 at the time would not follow his mother onto the lake.


WheretoFind:The lake path can be picked up at several points around the lake: Big Foot Beach State Park (Park Sticker Req'd) also Big Foot Beach Park same area,different parking lot), Lake Geneva's Library Park, Williams Bay Beach, Fontana Beach, Chapin Road, Linn Pier Road. A list of distances between hiking points on the shore path as provided by silentsports.net:
Fontana to Williams Bay 3.2 miles
Williams Bay to Chapin Road 3.3 miles
Chapin Road to Library Park, town of Lake Geneva 3.3 miles
Library Park to Linn Pier Road 5.3 miles
Linn Pier Road to Fontana 5.2 miles



What to expect: 
If you decide you want to hike the entire tour around the lake, plan about 14 hours, and to choose a starting point beside Lake Geneva's downtown area. I suggest the Linn Rd location, but there are probably better points but that is my preference.  It is isolated from the madness that is part of Lake Geneva every summer.  This location is also a popular boat launch, so arrive early.


Update 04/03/2015:  For the shore walkers that are still in town, there are little boat taxi's called Mouettes that run 4 routes.  These are not the same as the water taxi.

Newspaper articles discussing the history of the City's Name
It is Geneva Lake
Old records tell story of the discovery and naming of beautiful Lake Geneva

Appleton Flickr Wallk 09-14-08

I was apprehensive as I wove my way through downtown Appleton, watching for Drew Street. This was my first blind meeting and knew nothing of what was going to happen. We were to meet at City Park at 10:30 am at the fountain, and that was all I knew. Appleton Flickr Walk 09/14/08
Originally uploaded by WheretogoWisconsin
Eventually I found the Park and right at the fountain stood 5 cameras attached to their owners, so I had no concerns that I was approaching the wrong group, my own EasyShare tucked safely in my back pocket.

I share this experience for others who have never done a blind event such as a Flickrwalk. It is smart to be cautious when meeting people you know from some online group. At some point you judge the situation and either join or decline. Personally I am on a mission to lose my hermit-in-training status.


We wandered the grounds of Lawrence University and surrounding neighborhoods, attempting to stay out of the shots that others were making. It was a tad nippy, but I preferred it to the mugginess as of late. No one complained!

The pace was slow and the conversation easy. The buildings and grounds made for an interesting study, so I am curious to view the uploads and will update the post accordingly. I particularly enjoyed the smiles pasted on various hydrants, waste baskets and one member found one that was on glass. Someone out there knows how to appeal to my mischievous nature.

The whole thing lasted about 2 hours and if it wasn't for the fact that I left my purse in my car we would have had lunch, so I felt bad about that. We agreed that it was a success and made plans to do this regularly and each member is to play host.


Watch the Fox Cities Discussion Group for our next event.

Road Trip - Washington Cty

Lucas Lake
Originally uploaded by WheretogoWisconsin

Ridge Run Cty Park, West Bend

See that building off in the distance? That is the lodge for the Girl Scout Camp, which is a no trespassing zone, as noted by the plethora of signs posted above a heavily traveled path right into it.

A gorgeous day, and I dragged my kids with me. Didn't see or experience anything out of the ordinary. Skipped stones, caught frogs, and made them pose for me.

We also stopped at Riveredge Nature Center in Newburg, which was closed, so we did not spend that much time there. Then the kids were complaining of being bored. They were sick of being around nature and wanted to head home. So after a short battle with pinecones, we nursed our scratches and scrapes and headed to Canton House to get a quick meal to take back home in Oshkosh.

to be continued...

Hoping to develop a hiking group - any interest?

On a whim, I posted a query on a few Wisc Flickr groups to see if a potential hiking/photography group could be developed. Thankfully, I received some responses.

So now I am throwing out another line to see who bites. It's like fly fishing for Wisconsinites. I have no real format decided upon, but I came to the conclusion that my kids won't always be around to be my hiking partner forever, and if I have a desire to share the places I go to, perhaps others do as well.

There are a lot of places I still have never gone to, but can't seem to get the family to actually want to go on a trip (to wherever), because they know my trips are with nature and they seem to have gotten their fill already.

For those who may be interested and are looking for what to expect with this kind of group (a reasonable request I believe), my vision for this kind of group will travel to a planned area and spend the afternoon walking around, snapping photos and enjoying the day. Afternoon could just as easily be mornings (I am a morning person, and oftentimes wake up at 5 am with an itch to go somewhere, anywhere).

Personally, I try to avoid schedules because I know that things should ebb and flow naturally, but I am aware that a timeframe is needed for most people.

Places on my wannagoto list right now are: Door County, Devil's Lake/Palfrey's Glen, Lake Geneva (Lake Path, Big Foot Beach area), Holy Hill/Glacier Blue Hills.

Places on my wannashare list are: Ridge Run Cty Park/Cedar Valley Retreat Center(Washington Cty), Horicon Ledge (Dodge Cty), Barkhausen Waterfowl Preserve (Brown Cty).

*UPDATED 09/06/08*

Most people I have talked to about starting a hiking group agrees that a reasonable travel distance is 1-1.5 hours max.

What would really help me is to get an idea on where you want to go - since you can see where I've been :) -

I am thrilled to show off the places that I've been to and my only concern is to make the trip worthwhile and to always have a backup plan.

Would it make more sense to start a yahoo group on this? Obviously it would be moderated and approved memberships to avoid the spamalot that happens. Something worth pondering, I think....


** Updated 09/14/2008 **


An Appleton Flickr walk was scheduled for 09/14/2008 and that post can be found here

Riggs County Park - Ripon

Ripon (Fond du Lac Cty)

First stop in my Road Trip from Saturday. Fond du Lac County's largest park in the system, it spans 300 acres. I wish I could say I traversed the entire park but it was more like 2/3rds.

This is a great park for birding. Well, I suppose any open prairie land is. My favorite picture was taken within the first half hour. On a grassy path, I approached a bend when a hawk (Northern Harrier according to my Flickr query) was startled into flight. What I didn't expect was to see it come back. It took three passes at me and was at times within 4 feet of tagging me, as I was frantically snapping away. Only three pics were passable. It was probably incredibly stupid of me to be standing there, but I seem to have the tenacity of the paparazzi when all that matters is getting the shot. Side note: based on the description on this site, the hawk has to be a harrier and I was too close to its nest. Originally I thought perhaps a cooper's hawk.

Aside from a number of birds, frogs, garter snakes, curious gophers, and monarch butterflies, there were zero humans. Pondering this I often ask whether I should be out by myself. This is a bit of a problem for me. Hiking is somewhat of a spiritual pilgrimage. I try to access all of my senses and I find it difficult to to really enjoy the moment when others are with me, mainly because my concern is for their experience. This probably isn't a fair assessment, since my hiking partners tend to be one of my kids, and are not always a willing participant.

At one point, I realized that I was probably dehydrated and sunburnt when I took a short break under a shady copse and took stock of my situation. My car was a short hike away, but the shortest route was through marshland, which would've been hell on my shoes. No, I stuck to the grassy trails until I could find some drier prairie land and made my way across. Needless to say, once I arrived at the car, I was more than ready to head to my next destination: Ledge Homestead and Rienzi Cemetery.

Wheretofind: For a map, go to Fond du Lac Cty's website and print off the map page. Forget about Googling it, it's not there. Just west of Ripon on Hwy 23. At Douglas turn north and the park entrance to the right is the bridge with the Historic (yet empty)Tenant House. Second entrance is on Hwy 23, right across from that little beige motel. I came from that direction and completely missed it. The park entrance sign was placed at the trail head, not at the park entrance. Jeeeeez. UPDATE 04/15/2015 - Park has since been loaded onto Google Maps

Incidentally, the man made trail spans between the two entrances, and the rest of the trails are hastily mowed, one having white markers that lead to the observation desk, which is where I found this funny looking set of four hollow markers, which doesn't seem to lead anywhere. The plant growth are really sticking out of the top. If these are trees, they weren't doing very well.

What to expect: Wide Open Spaces. Creature and vermin. Grasses and weeds. This is typical of the new conservation parks that have been cropping up as of late.

Rienzi Cemetery - Fond du Lac

Rienzi Cemetery, Empire/Fond du Lac (Fond du Lac Cty)

Note: THIS PARK HAS AN AUTOMATIC GATE AND ONLY ONE ENTRANCE.

Local genealogy site has a wealth of information including the care of copying headstone inscriptions, and a link to civil war letters.

A nondenominational cemetery, it holds all the elements of a site worth visiting. I am continually impressed with what I find during research because it illustrates our need to preserve and pass on the knowledge of our families.

It also happens to be my favorite place for driving lessons.  I fondly remember an occasion where my aunt let me drive in a cemetery when we were attending a reunion in Michigan.

Where to find: Outskirts of Fond du Lac. Heading east on Hwy 23, follow it halfway up hill, then take Cty Hwy K right. You will pass my Ledge Homestead haunt, and also the ginormous Lutheran Church. Continue through the 4 way stop and it will be on your left. You can't miss it. It looks like a cemetery.


What to expect: Classic tombstones of the 1800s, veteran site, pet cemetery, pauper's section and also one devoted to the Jewish Holocaust victims. A diverse collection of headstones and a parklike setting. On my Flickr site you will see some headstones that are in the language of that person's homeland, which I have never seen before. Have you?

Road Trip

Took another road trip yesterday, this time to explore some of Fond du Lac County Parks.

It did not go as planned.

My first stop was at Riggs County Park in Ripon, and I only planned to stay there a short time, not three hours. But rarely am I ever on a real schedule, and the experience is always better when I take my time. Most things are.

The hardest part was keeping my eyes on the road. My eyes were constantly scanning for Rural Decay and because of the cirrus clouds drifting above us I was hoping to get a glimpse of the rare circumhorizon arcs.

Then I traveled to Rienzi Cemetery and my old Death Watch Ledge Homestead. Rienzi was a busy place, and I witnessed at least one person wandering the grounds with camera in hand, just like I was. When I left for my Road Trip it was around 11 in the morning, and when I left Rienzi it was 5-ish. The Ledge Homestead had a surprise in store for me. Someone is mowing the lawn there. As I wandered the grounds I found the riding mower inside a decrepit barn.

Whether it is out of cowardice or presence of mind I won't explore an empty building alone. Maybe it's from watching Lassie or Little House on the Prairie, or Texas Chainsaw Massacre. Either way, a part of me is convinced that someone is watching from inside and is just waiting for me to turn my back. I felt this BIG TIME at this barn (pictured here).

Petrifying Springs County Park - Kenosha

Petrifying Springs County Park
Originally uploaded by WheretogoWisconsin

Kenosha (Kenosha County)

Spent part of my weekend in Racine/Milw for a reunion, and in all the years I have been coming to visit in Racine, I've never had a chance to stop here. Due to a lack of mosquito spray and time constraints, I did not spend much time there. I will have to return in fall for a more thorough exploration.

*ahem*
There are a few restored buildings that were of some historical note for the area and also includes an Old Indian Trail at Hawthorn Hollow, which traverses just to the east of where the historical buildings are now located, is on the map of a government survey made in 1835 by engineers Mullet, Brink, Hathaway, Lyons, and Silby (cited from Hawthorne History page)

This is no camping at this park (some county parks do, only Horicon/Dodge CountyLedge comes to mind at this moment) But there is a county run 18-hole golf course, which I believe is accessed from Cty Hwy A (or 7th Street). It is also home of Hawthorn Hollow Nature Center, 880 Green Bay Road (Hwy 31) in Kenosha. NOTE: Google nabbed the hawthornhallow.org as an origin of malware and blocked my access to it. since then I've removed the link.


Because I do not know of any incidents that happened in the past with lone hikers, I insist that you travel with someone. I mention this only because of the parks proximity to the university, and they seem to attract wierdos.

What I really enjoyed was a high 'come hither' quality created by bridges, stairs, shelters and quaint buildings.

Where to find: Petrifying Springs Park is located between the cities of Kenosha and Racine, just East of Highway 31 (Green Bay Road) with park entrances on either County Road A or County Road JR. There are signs at the entrances.

What to expect: Plenty of available parking, trails of varying difficulty, bathrooms!, very well cared for grounds, unique bridges and rentable shelters and plenty of picnic areas. As mentioned on Kenosha County Park's website, this park, along with Fox River, Silver Lake, Old Settlers and Brighton Dale Parks are open from 7:00 a.m. until 10:00 p.m; and is locked up by the sheriff's dept. The golf courses are open from about March through November, weather permitting. To contact call (262) 857-1869.

Cedar Valley Retreat Center - West Bend

West Bend (Washington Cty) ** UPDATED POST **

photo credit: cedarcommunity.org/retreat-center-cedar-valley

I was always curious about this place, and found that it was part of a HUGE retirement community that also included Ye Olde School House right on the main campus grounds (The main campus located on Hwy Z). Note: To clarify, this retreat center is not located in the same area. I used to live in Kohlsville, and when traveling to town would have to pass here and always assumed it was a church. Eventually my curiosity bested me and I began to plot my trespassing strategy. If the parking lot is empty, I would roam freely. If there is a car, I will go in and ask to wander the grounds . Once I was told that a $5 donation was appreciated for a such a visit. At times I have discovered other trespassers and we respectfully kept our distances while eyeing each other warily and relaxing as only trespassers can. I suspect that with this post I am breaking some trespassing code of secrecy.

Where to Find: 5349 County Road D, West Bend. From Hwy 41 - take Cty Hwy D exit and head east through Kohlsville (towards West Bend), and watch for the entrance on the right (exact distance is not known, feels like it's about a mile). At the entrance is also a hobby farm - which may or may not be open to the Cedar Valley public. I know it was at one time, that was many moons ago. Note that it is missing from the amenities list on the retreat centers website. For those who use Hwy 45 - take the Hwy D exit and head west, this road will go up a hill and then snake around (slow down, the turn is surprisingly sharp), and it will be on the left in about a mile. To call in advance: 262-629-9202, or email: cvcinfo@cedarcommunity.org

What to expect: Both paved and unpaved trails, with interesting sculptures along the way, bridge, gazebo, pond w/paddle and rowboat. From the main parking lot there is a paved trail that heads up a hill, it will lead you to a cement teepee structure that is a tiny church used for paying respects.

Hobbs Woods County Park - Fond du Lac

Fond du Lac (Fond du Lac Cty)

A large patch of woods surrounded by farm fields. Don't be fooled by the vague description. It is worth the 1/2 hour trip from Oshkosh. I like this park because I can let my kids roam without a huge concern that they will get lost. On that note, before letting your kids roam, run the trail a few times with them. We have had the 'how to find the car' discussion and thankfully that is one conversation that stuck with them.

This trip was especially buggy, so we did not spend a whole lot of time there. My next trip will be when it is cooler. We did cross a creek, ate some black rasperries, and snapped a few pics.

The jewel of Hobbs Woods is actually Parson's Creek that winds it way around the 3 acre area and in any season lends itself to tons of subjects to photograph.  The photo to the upper right is my daughter taken in 2008.

Wheretofind: Hwy 41 to Hickory Road Exit, head west (away from Fondy) and you will be going through an industrial park. Continue following this road until you reach the stop sign which is the corner of Hickory and Larsen. Ahead of you is a farm to the right, and right across from that is the entrance to Hobbs Woods.

What to expect: Shallow creeks, natural trails, steep hills with some rest benches, cross country ski trail. No bathroom unless you count the privacy provided by trees and shrubbery.

Ridge Run County Park - West Bend

West Bend (Washington Cty)

This has to be my most favorist park to go a-wondering (misspelling intentional). These days it is an hour drive, but it's worth every mile I traverse to get there. It is the first park that reawakened the explorer in me and every time I return it is a fond reunion.

There are a few warts; mainly the big ugly drainage tubes in one section. Some sections have pondscum and sludginess, traffic noises from the highway, but that really is the worst of it. The minute you hit the trail, all is forgiven. Trust me.

Wheretofind:
There are two entrances to this park, the most common is to take Hwy 45 to Hwy 33 west, then turn left onto University (Mobil Station on corner), park entrance is on the right before UW extension campus. Second entrance is on Scenic Dr. The Google map shows a connecting road through the park -- it is only for pedestrians and county park workers.

West Bend is also very near to Sunburst, which technically is in Kewaskum, which is really where you start when trekking the Kettle Moraine (note County Hwy S on your map). From here you can get to Parnell Tower, Long Lake, Mauthe Lake, Dundee, and some of the most beautiful scenic roadways in the area. Trying to find a map of scenic drives? Good Luck. DNR Page is utter crap. What I call crap is a 2-pg pdf scenic drive breakdown. For Pete's sake, someone had to write all that down. I feel sorry for that poor chap.

For you Gentle Reader, I have found a map from a Milw Journal (JSOnline) article written by Cliff Christl that shows a route from Milwaukee around the Northern Unit and also a route around the Southern unit.

What to expect: Popular for fishing, natural trails with rest benches, cross country ski trails and also for its sledding hill. West Bend actually has lots of sledding hills, being on the edge of the Kettle Moraine area. Nice shelters for large picnics, one with a fire pit, modern playgrounds, heated bathrooms. **Trail leads to Girl Scout Camp Ground and/or the Ice Age Trail, depending on which entrance you take. GS Camp is flagged with 'no trespassing signs' which is often ignored if you notice how worn the trail is.

O'Hauser Park - Menasha

Neenah-Menasha (Winnebago Cty)

O'Hauser Park
Originally uploaded by WheretogoWisconsin

This is where I eat my lunch when the day is fair.

Just looking at this brings me peace. Some days it's pretty tough to see the beauty in anything, and when I arrive I know it will be a quiet place to reflect.

Today it was pretty buggy. Imagine a small swarm of bloodthirsty mosquitoes following me in their haphazard way. I left my sweater on for the added protection, but my face and neck didn't fare so well.

There seems to be some misunderstanding as to whose park this belongs to, and the winner is the Town of Menasha (not the city, and not the county as I've experienced).

You may or may not have read other posts of mine, but to reiterate: my main resource to the parks I have gone is by thumbing through the city's phone book. I used to live in West Bend, so I have gotten to know that area quite well, and now in the past decade it's been the Fox Valley that I have been exploring.

Just a light warning, this is not the kind of park to visit if you live more than 15 minutes away. If you are willing to do some park-hopping, then I would indeed have suggestions to plan an afternoon.

The reason I like this park has to do with the 'come hither' quality in so many areas. I fell in love with the bench swings, I have followed the wooded trails and have found little hidden alcoves and traversed a small brook. It somehow has stuck a balance between a public park and a private escape.

Wheretogo: O'Hauser is on 1987 O'Leary Rd, which is located off of Irish Rd and is between Winchester (Cty Hwy II) and Jacobsen Rd (map). Note: Entrance to park is found when travelling down Irish, go over the tracks and the first left is O'Leary and you will follow that to the stop sign. Go left and you will find the start of their 18-hole Disc Gold Course, go straight and the entrance to either North and South is right past it.

What to expect: There is a South and a North O'Hauser Park. South is the cool park, and the North is where the big fancy playground is. Not to worry, they are right across the street from each other.

1000 Islands Environmental Center - Kaukauna

1000 Islands
Originally uploaded by WheretogoWisconsin

Kaukauna (Outagamie Cty)

The title of this really should be 'Looking for those #@$%! Pelicans' and my search has taken me to KAK-Kawna. I have to laugh when I say that town's name; sounds like someone's choking. Who knows what the town's real name was.

Anyhoo....the Fox River has overrun her banks as you can clearly see at the 1000 Islands Environmental Center due to last weeks storm, the very same storm that days before ripped through a boy scout camp in Iowa. The riverbank trails are the wooded plank type (seen in other pics), and several of those trails were blocked off.

Unfortunately, that barricade didn't stop me, though I have no real desire to gamble my life I couldn't help but try see why the trail was closed. If it didn't stop me imagine a couple of kids or drunken college students.

My review of this park was somewhat handicapped due to the amount of mud I had to navigate when hiking the upper woods portion of the park, which lie across the highway. However, there was much more activity on the main section, experiences which have imprinted itself upon my memory of this place. Like this fawn, for instance. He/she scampered towards me, bleating. I could go on, explaining every detail, but I grieve that it will not be able to convey the wonder I felt. It was a rare occurrance and I believed I was honored by its grace.

HOW TO FIND: The nature center is found on Dodge Street, tucked between the baseball and football park. The easiest way to take Hwy 41 North all the way round Appleton, Little Chute, to Cty J exit. You are coming into Kaukauna from the north on Hwy 55 and this will turn into Lawe, which you will follow into town, over the bridge and when you see Dodge, turn Left and watch for the sports park. You can also come up from Hwy 57, taking Cty Hwy Z west, which turns into Dodge in Kaukauna. Easy Peazy.

What to expect: A better review. Frankly I did not stay long enough to go into the nature center itself. This park has some nice winding trails along the Fox River. There are connecting trails from the main section to the upper wooded one. There is an eagle's nest there somewhere.

Oh, and there's Pelicans.

circumhorizon arc @ 58 degrees

How about some geeky science facts.

First, I learn about sundogs which appear @ 22 degrees above the horizon, which I do see from to time, though for all the years that I have been aiming my face towards the sky it's only been the last 4 or 5 years that I have seen these appear.

Circumhorizon arc, as reported on SpaceWeather.com, are also called summer arc's and fire rainbows, "appear only when the sun is more than 58-degrees above the horizon--in short, during the hottest part of long summer days." My photo was taken June 28th and I think we hit 75-80 that day in Appleton.

Not to be confused with Circumzenithal arcs which appear @32 degrees above the horizon. From what I can see the zenithal is an an actual arc, but the horizon is more smudgy. Check out the different photos from spaceweather site; simply gorgeous.

This source shows what the difference is between the two types, plus what is and is not a rainbow.

Quarry Lake in Redgranite

Quarry Lake in Red Granite
Originally uploaded by WheretogoWisconsin

Red Granite (Waushara Cty)

Photo Credit: www.redgranitewisconsin.com

On a recent Road Trip I stopped at this popular quarry park. This park is right off of Hwy 21 and I  didn't see ANY signs that identified it as a park - just a tiny GREEN sign (no bigger than a No Parking sign) announcing 'QUARRY'.

This is a pretty popular place, people were fishing and I watched a few people walking with scuba gear (reading later that they have lessons here).

When I take these Road Trips I leave with the hope of finding a nice trail. That didn't really happen, and I will continue my hunt online until the price of gas drops.

What I did experience was a battle between 2 crows and a hawk in pretty close proximity to where I was standing, that I almost stepped on two eggs that were on the ground. Judging from the bird sites I visited, these were hawks' eggs.


Now it may be early enough for baby hawks to hatch, but because of the way the hawk was screeching and refusing to leave the area I believed I was witnessing a hostile attack versus the typical harassing to drive a unwanted bird from claimed territory.

This is the closest I have ever gotten to such a battle, and I was mesmerized.


As I was driving out of Red Granite on Hwy 21 (west) I saw a MT MORRIS COUNTY PARK sign and followed it on Cty S. There is a entrance to a State Fishery, but no Mt Morris County Park. Even Googling it took me nowhere. So I concluded that what they considered to be Mt Morris County Park is NORDIC MOUNTAIN.

Here is the 2nd most interesting thing I saw on my Road Trip, I call it a gaggle of cattle.

Wheretogo:  Travel time is approximately 30-40 minutes west of Oshkosh or 15 minutes east of Wautoma on Hwy 21.

What to expect:  A quarry lake. A tiny trail system.

Weather Anomaly

Menasha (Outagamie Cty)

Perhaps someone out there has seen this before. I will show a few pictures that I took Wednesday afternoon. This is NOT a rainbow, and it did not dissipate like smoke, so my assumption was cloud/vapors of some sort, but not of
a natural sort.



I am hoping that maybe someone will see this and understand.


*** UPDATE: see Circumhorizon arc post. ***