WI Summer at the Union

Only thing better than the Madison, WI Farmer's Market is the Madison, WI Farmer's Market the morning of your BFF's wedding. It will be a superb b-day week indeed!

Red River

For the fourth of July, I visited a quaint Wisconsin secret locally known as Red River. This is an unmarked part of a river where people park in an unmarked parking lot type area and swim in rapids. While attempting to reach the deepest part of the river, I noticed something crawling on my foot, then saw a crayfish. Soon after, I slid down the rapids on my posterior and called it a day for swimming. Mainly I feared the crayfish. I transitioned from an olympic rapids swimmer into a national geographics photographer of crayfish.

The real reason Red River holds such a special place to me is the unique gathering of Wisconsinites that can be found there. Everything from the [tatoo-ed, smoking, drinking, ride your motorcycle down a steep hill to the river bed] type person, to the [family grill out] crew. I rolled in with my father who sat recovering from a surgery and my sister who sat with a generic brand ipod listening to her biology teacher's class and studying for an exam. We didn't exactly fit into either of the above category of Red River dweller. All types can be found at Red River.

Wisconsin. I love it.

Home Where the Buffalo Roam

This past weekend the sweet Wisconsin pavement passed under me. I saw road signs that said "Next Exit, Wisconsin Fun." It was tough to resist taking each and every exit. Among the many beautiful views, the one that takes the cake is the one of Lake Mendota's waves crashing on the student union's terrace of colorful chairs.

Links for Work Colleagues

Wisconsin is so popular already!!

Read the linked article entitled: "Wisconsin Seeks a Less Cheesy Image"

What's your vote. Cheese or no cheese?

What do you call a fish without an eye?

Fsssssshhhhhhhhhhhh.

Who can beat the day trips into Wisconsin's rolling hills? Previously I would have directed those hungry for Wisconsin's most beautiful location to Parfrey's Glenn, then Devil's Lake. After a memorable Memorial Day, I would remember to mention instead Governor Dodge State Park. Head straight to the boat rental, row across the horseshoe shaped lake to the cliffs, climb, swim, eat spicy beef sticks, and stop at the A&W on your way home. Don't forget the General Store where they stay open as long as they can stand.

Totals:
Swimming adventures = 3
Horses spotted = 32
Bug Bites = 0
Spotted Cows consumed = ??
General store visits = 2

In the General Store:
Guitars = 1
Local Brewed Beers = loads, watch out for Bitter Woman, she's bitter.
Wheelbarrows of Wood = As many as you can squeeze in your trunk for $20
Wax worms = One chewing tobacco container full
Fish on the wall = 6











And following some time in the backcountry, I returned to the city where I ran into a dear friend with her parents at a tasty eatery, Nochspiel. Her mother asked me where I was from. She expected to hear me say Minnesota, because my accent sounded like it was from there, she said. Yes, Canadians poke fun at the same thing. You can take the girl out of the backcountry, but you cannot take the backcountry out of the girl. Donchathink?


Now, for the sad truth. They are taking me out of the backcountry.
Countdown of days left in the midwest: 23