Tough Day for Photography - Hobbs Woods

© 2015 by Dawn Braun

If you need a place to escape and feel like you have been dropped into a scene from Legend, this is where you want to go. When I allow my gaze to drift up the creek there is always an intriguing bend that I have to follow that could possibly have a unicorn on the other side.
My daughter had agreed to come with me to Hobbs Woods on July 1st as I wanted to experiment with some ideas. Let's just say I have a LOT to learn and she was the perfect model and had the patience of a saint.

On this fateful day we discovered it was too buggy to take any real serious shots and the canopy of trees made any actions scenes impossible. Did I mention it was buggy? It was. What made it bearable was the discovery of a few kittens that greeted a few hikers. You can barely see the calico kitten on the upper left picture, but he/she followed us for about a half hour or so. Really just adorable.

So what you may not recall, Dear Reader, is that Hobbs Woods is across the way from a very large farm, therefore it is a reasonable conclusion that the cats came from there. I hoped I have assuaged your concerns for the cats as I continue with this story as the tale of the kittens does not end here. The calico/tiger kitten had approached us and our plans for actions scenes were focusing on including our new friend. I have about 100 shots with this cat but there is only a few usable ones due to the slow shutter speed.  We spent maybe an hour here before driven back to our car to escape the mosquitoes, vowing another trip the next day.

© 2015 by Dawn Braun

Fast forwarding to tomorrow, the mosquitoes were still just as bad, but we at least had a plan, and a tripod. Here is a sample of what kind of scenes I am developing. When I have a chance, I'll be headed back to Hobbs Woods with my model and costumes in tow. Who knows what will come out of that photoshoot. All I know is that I need to seriously step out of my comfort zone. My next scenes may be similar to the movie Legend or it might be a zombie.

Or both.

Sleep like Sheep by Dawn Braun

or "Sleeping Under the Oak Tree"


I have always wanted to photograph a grove scene and normally I pass them by because I really don't see how to pull out anything interesting.

©2015 Dawn Braun

Such a grove is outside of Fond du Lac, on the corner of something and Hickory Drive, which is a block away from the enchanted Hobb's Woods, a wooded area surrounded by farmland that has a wonderful river/stream weaving its way through.


Today's entry is not about Hobb's Woods but the dozing sheep. I'm not sure if I want to tweak any more but what I really like is the study of textures here and how highlights can add it's own texture to the image.


Some of see a wonderful place to relax, others just see the potential for stepping in sheep shit.

Maybe that should be the title.


Have a Great Weekend to All!  Thank you for visiting!

Letterboxing the Day Away - Lake Geneva - Williams Bay

 photo credit: thecasualperfectionist.com

Gentle Reader, I'm certain that you have experienced a place that seems to be stamped upon your very soul, even after years has passed. Lake Geneva has that kind of hold on me.  I'm sure it is part of a psychological imprint due to the fact that I lived here for four years during a very impressionable time of my life.  Psychology and Insanity aside, I am grateful that I possess this feeling.

So the hubby and I went on holiday this past weekend, staying at the Holiday Inn located at the Grand Geneva Resort.  If you have not gone to this fine establishment, I beg of you to try it.  Even during the "off season" the place was quite busy, but the city traffic was manageable.  If you have never gone to Lake Geneva, always visit during the off season ( anytime before Memorial Day and after Labor Day).  When staying at the Holiday Inn, you have the same access to dining/activities at the Grand Geneva. Their on site Starbucks cafe opens at 6 am and is located inside the main resort building. Try to get in early. Seriously, I lack the patience to be the 4th+ person waiting in line behind people and their travel mates while trying to actively ignore the people jibber-jabbering about their personal nonsense.

So what is a swanky couple to do to wile the time?  Letterboxing of course, but you probably guessed from the title, right?  Letterboxing and eating,  more eating than letterboxing to be honest.

The Geneva Resort has it's own letterbox, that I found easily enough on my own.  Right after reinstalling this lovely cache, my husband texted me to meet up for breakfast. We ate heartily before getting ready to start our next letterboxing search together, called How to Find A Dragon, located at Big Foot Beach State Park (day pass or season permit required) which should have had 3 boxes total.  Unfortunately, due to the passage of time and a recent brush cleanup, the last 2 boxes could not be found. The owner has since been notified and after lunch, we decided to try to find the Sail Away letterbox at Williams Bay (also found here at Altas Quest Entry).  With a hiking weary husband, we located this cache and by then it was time to head back and plan the rest of our evening.

I must report that from our travels at Big Foot Beach State Park we brought home two hitchhikers.

Ticks, that is.   Next to finding those caches, the ticks were the most excitement we've encountered in a long time and I'm still checking my head.

Wheretogo:  To reiterate, there are 2 American Letterboxing sites, the original Letterboxing.org site and AtlasQuest.com.  Both sites contain searchable locations based on city/state.  The letterboxing.org site ALSO includes MYSTERY Boxes, which are varying levels of difficulty. The Atlas Quest site allows you to leave comments. Sometimes the boxes are registered in both sites, sometimes not.  If you decide to start letterboxing, you'll need the following: 
1) A medium-small size stamp. You CAN make your own, but I paid $3 for a butterfly one at Hobby Lobby. The size will be important, most of the logbooks I find are pretty small, about 2 x 3" max.
2) Stamp Pad - again small-medium size.  Because I'm a beginner I chose one that can be washed out if the ink gets on your skin/clothing.
3) Logbook.   I'd make it a medium size - 5 x 7" or smaller.  
4) Compass.
5) Plan A, and a Plan B.  
4) Appropriate clothing/footwear.  Be ready to walk through brush and over difficult terrain  During the spring you will want to protect yourself against ticks; in the summer you'll need sunscreen and mosquito spray.   Should you be letterboxing in the winter, you'll need boots/gloves/hats.

Whattoexpect:   A pleasant scavenger hunt. The clues are varying degrees of difficulty, many requiring calculations in order to know what heading is needed. In fact, I learned that a math teacher used Letterboxing as extra credit for his/her Algebra/Calculus students.   How cool is that!?  If you think about it, you can probably find a way to use this with any subject matter. LETTERBOXING LOCATIONS!

Cliff Mine Cemetary - Allouez

 (Keweenaw Cty,MI).
Rarely will I include a non-Wisconsin location but I feel it's selfish to disinclude this wonderful cemetery.

Many years ago, back in the late 1980s, I was traveling in the UP looking for waterfalls when we came across the Cliff Cemetery. When we were there it was completely overgrown, and the aire it lent was one of loneliness;of history discarded, abandoned. This was on the heels of traveling through some of the poorest country I have ever seen and that is what shaped my perspective.

Funny, it was in 1999 where Patrica Hamp worked on cataloging the headstones.  Now that I am updating this in 2015 and technology has solved a minor mystery:

On the first stone listed it's written as: 
His labors securely laid in this his last retreat, unl???ded our his silent dust we ????? Of friendship ????

The complete phrase, found in the

Bibliotheca Sacra - Volume 6 - Page 222 

His labors done, securely laid in this his last retreat,
Unheeded o'er his silent dust the storms of life shall beat

It is also used in

Christopher Columbus - Page 249 

Life's labors done, securely laid
In this his last retreat,
Unheeded o'er his silent dust 
The storms of life shall beat

04/08/2015: While cleaning up this blog I found a few other sites regarding this history of this cemetery.  Read up on the history in the Cliff Mine Archaeology Project Blog.

I was happy to see that others have been here, but truthfully I had hoped it remained a hidden secret, patiently waiting for my return.

Ledge View Nature Center - Chilton

 (Calumet Cty).

There are a lot of ways of getting to the Ledge View Nature Center, and you are best googling this from your location. Excellent interactive activities. I really enjoyed the indoor bat room, and the bee hive exhibit.  It is exactly what our little family needed and the only downside is the travel time.  For me it's a serious Road Trip.

Chilton is such a cute little town. I had serious considerations of moving there.


One special draw to this place are the caves: Cave tours start in April and end in November. These are underground caves and a change of (warm) clothes is recommended as well. A guided public tour is offered most weekends and some weekdays through the summer.  The only access to the caves is on a naturalist-guided tour during a scheduled visit. Because the public tour size is limited, reservations are recommended. 


Wheretofind: Travel time from Oshkosh is about an hour.  Take Hwy 41 North to Hwy 10/114 east through Menasha to Hwy 57 South in Hilbert to Chilton. Take Cty G South just over a mile, entrance is on Short Rd.  Travel time from Fond du Lac is about a 1/2 hour, basically take Hwy 151 North to HHH in Calumetville to Hwy G North to Short Road in Chilton, full street address is W2348 Short Rd, Chilton, WI 53014 ph:  920-849-7094
Hours:8-4:30 weekdays, 10-4:30 weekends


What to expect: Good hiking maps, variable terrain, sightseeing tower (same as Parnell), route to water filled quarry. Across from the parking lot there is a pasture and depending on the time of day you can expect to see cows grazing (fence is electrified,I think) and will approach you for some pulled grass.

So Whats Been Going On Since 2009?

This WheretogoWisconsin blog was started December 9th, 2007. 

Back then, I really had no idea really what a blog was. All I knew then was spending a crapload of time trying to find new and possibly interesting places to explore that were FREE. Gas prices kept me restricted to places that were an hour's drive from my home.   There HAD to be others out there with the same needs and already had 5-6 places to share so that made the first few posts. The others required research and for that I grabbed a gazetteer. It really is the best reference guide for traveling.  For my purposes I kept my travels limited to an hour's drive which is approximately 55 miles from the Oshkosh area.   Eagerly I opened the atlas and studied the pages as if searching for hidden treasures.  My hope is that you will be infected with the need to explore these places as I was.

My last post was at the Point Beach Ice Age Trail as I was attempting to do the impossible: Find a group of people with similar interests while in the throws of a photography binge.  NOT REALLY A GOOD COMBINATION.  

So what's been going on since 2009?

To put it simply, I've been having a torrid affair with Photography.  During Christmas of 2009 I upgraded to a Canon 450D (XSi) and things haven't been the same since.   It didn't change the way I took pictures but it most definitely helped with the quality. Suddenly I was all about shutter speed, aperture, ISO and shooting in RAW format.  Then it became about studying Abandonment.

The best example I can come up with is from my Death Watch series:

Older Camera, an HP Photosmart, taken 01-01-2001
loaded to my WheretogoWisconsin Flickr Account



Newer Camera, a Canon 450D, taken 02-20-2010
loaded to my Dawn Braun/Sistereinstein Flickr Account

You see, Gentle Reader, I never stopped exploring, just changed direction. 2010-2011 was a great year for photography. I signed up to be an assignment photographer and made a few sheckles here and there for Gannett's Wisconsin Outdoor Fun. It's been a few years and my name has since been removed but the memories remain!  Sadly, I removed those from my Flickr albums. Really I could kick myself for holding myself back and also for not sharing those adventures on this blog. To be honest I'm having a hard time seeing how those two identities could possibly merge. 

Today's post is the first step in combining those personalities.

What's new with WheretogoWisconsin:

1)  Post titles include the city/town/village.

2) Google's Map location has been added.  There's been great advancements since the beginning and I hope it helps you better locate these fine treasures.

3) Better Pictures.  Much better pictures.

http://wheretogowisconsin.blogspot.com/2007/12/abandoned-homes.html

Winter Walkabout - Hobbs Woods

Taken February 2015

It's been awhile since my last upload.    I was driving with my adult son Aaron, looking for inspiration and ultimately ended up on Fond du Lac.

For winter subjects I look for brooks or streams with open water and at Hobbs Woods it was exactly what I was looking for. There were a few cars there but the park is big enough (60 acres) that you occasionally crossed paths each other.

One woman was with her two spaniels when one of them broke through the ice. Aaron and I were close enough to help if needed, and within about 10 seconds she was out of the cold water.   The now wet dog saved herself and made a bee line for us.   She had to tell us her story and shook herself off next to us before running back into the snow.   Not exactly the greeting I was looking for and made sure my camera was tucked away.

So if ever you are in the area - Hobbs Woods is located on Hickory Street, heading east, looking for the farm with 7 blue silos known as Cotton Wood Creek Farm.


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.

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.