Saturday Snowday with Christmas Wreaths

So last week Wisconsin received it's first real taste of winter and I was deciding whether to head out for pictures or to stay in my jammies.

The snow won.

Donned in my snowpants and every bit of skin snugly wrapped as what you are supposed to in Wisconsin if you are smart and not fashion conscious.  Imagine Ralphie and brother Randy from A Christmas Story.  

Attractive, I know.

Today's post is really just a follow up with my winter adventuring.  Because of the weather I had taken careful precautions to protect my camera, which had the unintended effect of poor focusing due to my autofocus being hampered by a hair band or the edges blurred by the edges of grocery bag.   The lens hood I thought was firmly attached flopped off into the snow not 50 feet from my front door.  Not the greatest start but I was determined to press on.

Today's scene is what I consider a whimsical composition to celebrate the contrasts of harsh snow and Christmas cheer.   In real life the streetlights were not lit and there are no lighted wreaths hanging joyfully.  This largely stark scene at Menominee Park has been dressed up as I carefully tread into the world of creative compositions using Photoshop Elements.  

If you look at my compositions you will see that I really am a minimalist at heart.   I love trees, silhouettes and simple sunrises. So I was happy that this scene turned out as I'd hoped; highlighting the blowing snow,  This area is the only stretch of parkway that is free from the wires and frames of the Celebration of Lights displays.  So really in order for me to get a Christmassy feeling it would have to be in post production.

A lot of really neat compositions can be made just by throwing together different scenes, adding textures, custom brush effects and with a lot of patience and perseverance they can be on par with original paintings.   On my Flickr account I follow the work of Cheryl Tarrant.  She seems to make it look so easy and after a handful of years I really haven't made a dent in my creative works.

Today's composition is just a beginning for me.  The next week or so I'll be staring at this from time to time to determine if any further tweaks are needed.  Maybe boosting some contrasts or remove the opacity levels of the wreaths so they stand out more.   All in all it was a fun exercise.   The lights added to the streetlight and wreaths were done by using the steps outlined by Bitesize Business School.  

Celebrating First Real Snow in 2016

I can see from my window that a proper Wisconsin winter has finally arrived.  It's easy for me to pick an appropriate photo which is from my Death Watch collection Winter Ledge Homestead.   The sound track for this post was from Skyrim.  As mentioned in my Facebook post, if God needed a soundtrack for creation I would have recommended this.   At the bottom of this post is the video for your listening pleasure.  You are most welcome.

Yesterday (Saturday) I passed a couple walking with their ski poles.  It was somewhat kooky looking but knew that it was all in preparation for today's treat of gliding on skis whether on a trail or just across town to get a coffee or cocoa.    I recall a glorious evening when I strolled through Main Street in West Bend one wintery evening with a friend. No cars in sight, just a ghostly ribbon of road only visible by the amber colored streetlights.   From the top of Barton Road one could have probably skied to downtown.  

As I am writing this I'm cognizant that this is probably the best chance I'll have to get some fresh winter photos and really I don't have to go far if I don't want to.  So Gentle Reader I'm weighing this decision as I'm still in my pajamas and resting quite comfortably in a warm home to watch the snow fall and consider baking Christmas cookies.   But some of my best photographic memories are ones where I'm surrounded in the worst weather. So you know my conundrum.

In fact, the snow fall is very much like what I encountered when taking Winter Ledge.  Usually I listen to classical when driving in snow but the Skyrim soundtrack is also perfect considering the game's environment includes snow covered mountainous regions. I could probably do a full essay on Skyrim's soundtrack but perhaps another time.


The snow is still falling and I have a decision to make.

Maribel Caves Hotel - Hotel Hell

This lovely stone building has since been demolished by a tornado that ripped through the area August 2013 though the photo was from 2009.   I came across this gem while working on some older photos and felt it needed it's own page here in WheretogoWisconsinland.    

Legend has it that this location was frequented by Al Capone and John Dillinger, though here are plenty of places that discuss/debate/debunk the history of this place but the sad truth today is that if you visit you will find a dangerous pile of rubble.  Before August 6th of 2013 it was a trespassing hazard.  Now it's a safety hazard.    So I am one of a few brave fellows who wandered the skeletal building before that fateful day.

©Dawn Braun

Places that have cataloged it's history is Unexplained Research - Motel Hell, Wisconsin Sickness - Hotel Hell, Manitowoc Herald Times Reporter - Maribel Caves Hotel

Where to find:  North of Cherney Maribel Caves State Natural Area, 16612 County Road R, Maribel, east of Hwy 43.  From Maribel, take Hwy Z east past Hwy 43 overpass, then turn left on County Road R (or N.Packard Rd).

What to Expect:  A pile of stones, some part of the structure still stands but like I mentioned it looks really unstable.  It is next to a great hiking stop with lots of the same rock formations as from the Dells and Dodge County Ledge Park, locally known as Horicon Ledge 

Path to Asylum Point - Oshkosh Wisconsin

This small patch of oak trees is part of Asylum Point Park, leading the adventurer to what in 1871 became Northern Asylum for the Insane.   Today it is Winnebago County Mental Health Institute though the area continued to be recognized as Asylum Point/Asylum Bay which is also a county park.  I realized that I have not given this a proper Wheretogo post and am amending this today.  

Standing at this point, if you turn around to face the south there will be the restored Asylum Point Lighthouse, which I am sharing from my Fine Art America page.  This relatively small park has been a great source for many of my favorite photos.

Note:  This same path (facing north) will also lead you not just to the the rest of the park but to a LETTERBOX. Continuing from that cache will be several trails, some part of the mental heath property and if patient you will stumble upon the old Asylum Cemetery.


Where to find:   See the location link included in the post.  If you are in Oshkosh, this is E.Snell Rd, on the east side of Bowen Street (Cty Rd A south from Neenah on Commercial St).  If you follow E. Snell all the way East, turning right on Sherman Rd which is the entrance road to Asylum Point County Park.  Continue on to the patch of woods and on to Asylum Bay Lighthouse.

What to expect:   This is a popular fishing area at all times of the year and some visitors will bring their dogs.   It's not an overly impressive park but people are keen  on lighthouses and enjoy wandering the small island.   The mental health property has a few picnic tables and in all honesty may actually be part of the Asylum Point Park.  There was never a sign found so I just assumed I was trespassing and was happy to have found a secluded area to rest my bones. LETTERBOX LOCATION!

Jesuit Retreat Center - Fahrnwald Farm

Taken June 2013

One of my favorite compositions, the exposure, depth of field were just perfect which doesn't happen too often.

While working on this upload, I discovered that there is some history surrounding this unique barn originally part of a community known as Perryville which existed from the 1850's and was a ghost town by the Civil War after the passing of widow Ruth Swift The property was then passed around the local farmers until purchased by Homer and Ezra Fahrney who developed a tonic remedy Alpen Kraüter, who owned the land and planted thousands of trees. By 1910 it became known as Fahrney's Woods and would eventually become what we now call The Jesuit Retreat House.

By 1918 a 30 room brick mansion was build on the grounds north of this barn, now known as the Jesuit Retreat House.     I've been on the grounds of the retreat and cannot recall a brick mansion although a published history last updated in 2015 has it still standing.  Another excuse for a Road Trip I believe!

Pictured here is a prayer room. Unfortunately, the full sized RAW file is resting somewhere in a hard drive and the uploaded file was one that I took from my facebook page and has suffered some degradation as it is a smaller file size. Lightroom has really helped but will probably need some TLC through Photoshop.  This is sad, really, as it's one of my best work.


Where to find:
From Oshkosh travel south along the lake on Highway 45 about 15 minutes, approximately 7 miles.
There will actually be a sign for The Jesuit Retreat House on the corner of Hwy 45 and Fahrnwald Road where the historic Farnwald Barn can be seen.


What to Expect:

Probably a no trespassing sign.  I've driven the grounds when it was closed.  There is a winding asphalt drive that is lined with several religious pieces including the Stations of the Cross. There is also a small ornate bridge and several resting places.


To learn more about this property's history on the Jesuit Retreat House Historical Narrative,
and Legends of America.   Or learn more about the Jesuit Retreat House.

Ridge Run Fawn

Taken May 2016

©2016 Dawn Braun

Last weekend  I went hiking with my brother in law at Ridge Run Park and the Kettle Moraine Ice Age Trail that runs along the west side of the park.

Of course we trespassed through the Girl Scout Camp  In all honesty it's the only way to make the trip worthwhile.

Twenty years ago it was a well maintained county park with a ranger and his tastefully painted log cabin style home. Well groomed paths lead to private picnic areas with a fire ring. I recall one of the main shelters had a pay phone of all things.

Over the course of time the landscape has been drastically changed and in January 2016 Ridge Run was made into a city park, the only to accept dogs. Leashed of course.

In earlier days this was where I attempted to teach self reliance to my kids, from how to find the car, to peeing in the woods and avoiding poison ivy.   We leapt after frogs, caught tadpoles, skipped stones, and whistled through a grass reed.

You know, the stuff that country folk do to while the time.

Also at Ridge Run there is a good chance that you will see a deer and it's even more rare to come across a fawn.  This little guy was just off the ice age trail, very well tucked in between fallen tree limbs.  My brother in law, who was in front, completely missed him. It just so happens that vision between women and men are completely different and I'm sure I spotted the fawn by sheer biology.

Speaking of the Ice Age Trail, would you like to see the online map?  There is an effort to have a continuous trail throughout Wisconsin and so far they have done pretty good at keeping their promise as best as they can.

Wheretofind:

There are 2 entrances to Ridge Run (map): 

Back of Ridge Run:   Travel Hwy 41 to Hwy 33 East and turn right at the first set of lights which is N.Scenic Drive W until you get to a severe curve where Wheat Ridge Lane is and turn left down the single lane road (Wheat Ridge Road) and follow it to the parking lot.   Ahead of you is a newly constructed subdivision with retirement condos.  Just note that Wheat Ridge Lane Road ends at the parking lot - the connecting road through the park is a walking trail only.

Front of Ridge Run:     Travel Hwy 41 to Hwy 33 East through 2 lighted intersections.  Turn right onto University Drive where the Mobil Gas station is and the entrance to Ridge Run is just before UW-Washington County entrance is.  Driving ahead there is a playground - continue and the road will wind down to the main parking lot.

Ice Age Trail Parking:  From Hwy 45, exit on Paradise and head West through a pretty busy shopping district, even through the 4 way stop at 18th Avenue which is the corner of Aurora Clinic,
West Bend Mutual Insurance and the West Bend Cemetery.  Continue heading west on Paradise and just after you pass the cemetery grounds the parking lot is on your right

What to expect: A pretty busy park and lots of great trails.  This park is large enough where you can find a quiet trail.  There are modern bathrooms now on both sides of the park. LETTERBOXING LOCATION!

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...