Monday, July 06, 2009
stuff to do
Ed has “stuff to do” in Lake Mills today. If you’re not a Wisconsin reader, then you probably don’t know Lake Mills: about 20 miles east of Madison, it’s a sweet little Victorian town (or at least parts of it can be called that), clustered expansively around a small but quite beautiful lake.
I have “stuff to do” as well, but my stuff is highly transportable. You want to bike over with me? – he asks. Oh, so much…
That’s how I find myself doing “stuff” (for me – reading cases) on a bench on the village green of Lake Mills, as Ed does his “stuff” (playing tennis with his buddies) a small distance away.
Let me put in a plug for the Glacial Drumlin State Trail from Madison (or, more accurately, from its eastern out post – Cottage Grove) to Lake Mills (and beyond), especially for those who love bucolic scenery, a flat ride, and limestone pebbles under their tires.
I have to say, with a beautiful, mostly sunny sky, it is a heavenly spin. The reward is, in part, in the destination. The lake is the real spirit here– choppy and wavy today due to the wind, but serene nonetheless.
I had wanted to take my “stuff” to a café, but nothing resembling a café is open and so I pick a bench on the green facing this important storefront.
Every once in a while, I look up to do some significant people watching. My Styrofoam cup of bad coffee from an eatery on Main Street is perhaps not a highlight, but everything else is so supremely pleasant that I do not mind.
Toward evening, the men finish their game and Ed and I bike home.
You could not have a better day of summer stuff.
I have “stuff to do” as well, but my stuff is highly transportable. You want to bike over with me? – he asks. Oh, so much…
That’s how I find myself doing “stuff” (for me – reading cases) on a bench on the village green of Lake Mills, as Ed does his “stuff” (playing tennis with his buddies) a small distance away.
Let me put in a plug for the Glacial Drumlin State Trail from Madison (or, more accurately, from its eastern out post – Cottage Grove) to Lake Mills (and beyond), especially for those who love bucolic scenery, a flat ride, and limestone pebbles under their tires.
I have to say, with a beautiful, mostly sunny sky, it is a heavenly spin. The reward is, in part, in the destination. The lake is the real spirit here– choppy and wavy today due to the wind, but serene nonetheless.
I had wanted to take my “stuff” to a café, but nothing resembling a café is open and so I pick a bench on the green facing this important storefront.
Every once in a while, I look up to do some significant people watching. My Styrofoam cup of bad coffee from an eatery on Main Street is perhaps not a highlight, but everything else is so supremely pleasant that I do not mind.
Toward evening, the men finish their game and Ed and I bike home.
You could not have a better day of summer stuff.
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I had my first lawyer gig in Lake Mills. It is a great, small town. Too bad you didn't find the local ice cream shop; I went there several times a week to get a malt for an afternoon snack. And, the "sliders" at the American Legion you pictured are extremely greasy, but really, really tasty. Thanks for the memories!
ReplyDeleteLake Mills is a wonderful town, and Rock Lake is one of the nicest lakes in Southern Wisconsin. I was lucky enough to live there for about two years. We loved walking everywhere around town and down to the lake.
ReplyDeleteWhat an interesting town and great photos. Am I correct in thinking you rode close to 40 miles in a day?! The farthest I made it was last summer in search of a burrito. Maybe 10 miles. But uphill, downhill, part way along the beach at high tide in semi-soft sand and, oh yes, some backtracking, too. Phenomenal day... and a well-earned burrito!
ReplyDeleteI'm so enjoying your summer!
Amanda