Friday, November 04, 2005

A shameless plug for my home --that’s right, home-- state

I’ve been asked that over and over and over (etc) again: why do I continue to live in Wisconsin? As if I am the type that should be scheming and planning exit strategies to leave this state that has the climate of the tundra and requires two flights to get to any major non-Midwestern city.

I answer in terms of work. I answer in terms of friends. I even sometimes answer in terms of the Farmers Market. [Do I really stay here because of the Farmers Market? Of course not, but people nod their heads as if this makes perfect sense.]

What I don’t mention is the natural beauty of the place.

This omission has not gone by unnoticed. A friend, himself a transplant from New York, has taken it upon himself to shake me loose of my fixation with the big city. And I have had to admit with great shame and embarrassment that I really do not know Wisconsin, even in and around Dane County (of Madison), all that well. I have never climbed up Observatory Hill in Paoli, or Gibraltar Rock outside Lodi. And my ignorance extends over the Ice Age Trail – I’ve never walked it, and the Merrimac ferry – I’ve never used it to cross the Wisconsin River.

As of today, I’ve done all the above. Okay, people, let me tell you this: move to Wisconsin. It is one hell of a beautiful state.

It’s Fall. Of course I can’t get away from nature’s forceful use of bright, audacious color. But don’t assume that this Wisconsin flattery is merely one of those passing fancies: here on this perfect Autumn day, gone tomorrow.



Madison Nov 05 052
Gibraltar Rock


Madison Nov 05 060
Gibraltar Rock woods



Not far from this sandstone formation, we pick up the Ice Age trail. It doesn’t make much sense to me really. It’s not as if some types walked here during the Ice Age. Who even went for walks during the Ice Age? No matter: it is divine. And we struck it at sunset.


Madison Nov 05 065


Madison Nov 05 072

Within a spit’s throw (perhaps people don’t think well of Wisconsin because they think we use phrases such as “spit’s throw;” we don’t. really), there is the Merrimac Ferry. I asked my friend “where do we buy tickets??? The ferry is docking!!” He looked at me as if I were the Ninny-supreme, as opposed to the Ninny who got this unfortunate nickname in grad school 30 years back. “It’s free.” Of course. Because coming from a childhood in New York I would be entirely skeptical that any form of movement from point A to point Z could be free.


Madison Nov 05 081
across the Wisconsin River



I was to be taken to the next round of scenic places but I am beginning to put my foot down to navigating country roads after dark. It’s pretty scary in these parts where there are no bright street lights and hot dog vendors at every intersection. It’s just you and nature out there. Though I happen to think that the natural world is much like me: interesting maybe, quirky at times and very likely to do things very imperfectly. Hey, take a look at the geese flying in this (imperfect) V formation.


Madison Nov 05 087



11 comments:

  1. Sounds like a fun day. And, yes, the photos are awesome. Truly awesome.

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  2. Lovely!

    Thanks for the glimpse of autumn, we don't get that hereabouts, y'know...

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  3. Wow, did you take those photos? Remember, keep the best places secret.

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  4. wow, the gibraltar rock photo is breathtaking! really stunning....i love our state. thanks!

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  5. Finally, some Wisco love. It's great to see... and the pictures are spectacular. Yay!

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  6. Taking the photos was a dream. The light was good, my comapnion was patient and knew where the good spots were.
    Asia: I'm thinking that if I never made it to these nearby corners, not many others will.
    Annie and Ang: yeah, this year I finally accepted this state as my home. Took me long enough.

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  7. Nina, that photo of Gibraltar Rock is absolutely stunning! And as a (former) lifelong Wisconsonite, I'm ashamed to say I've never been there.

    You made me a little homesick...

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  8. okay... did I just spell "Wisconsin" wrong? Oh, lord.

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  9. I second the commotion: you may have the lawyer's mind, but you have the artist's eye. Beautiful photography, beautiful editing. Do you use a tripod for these, or any tricks for capturing the light so wonderfully?

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  10. Jenny: I love it when people correct their mistakes in a second comment. (No, I am not a comment whore, it's just cute.)

    Jeffrey: no, no tripod for this camera. I'm only learning about it, but I do love that it performs remarkably well in these tough light situations.

    Many thanks.

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  11. I'd highly recommend visiting Palfrey's Glen up near Devil's Lake on your next Wisconsin sight-seeing excursion. It's a short hike into the very old seabed of Wisconsin. It's very cool (literally) and simply amazing.

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