Day 2 - Madison, WI

I tried my store-bought cold brew coffee and it was really good. Not quite as good as the coffee house stuff, but I was able to go back to bed to drink it so that made up for it.

The weather was perfect!!  Blue skies and 70s.  Yes!!  I decided to explore Verona, WI which is a suburb/extension of Madison. 

My Airbnb host advertises that she's close to the Epic campus so I had looked up to see that Epic is a software company. Okay, that makes sense that there are probably people traveling there that would want stay at her place. When I checked in she encouraged me to drive by and tour it, she says it's quite something to see.  So I tried to visit it today but unfortunately it's closed. It appeared they were preparing for a large event...a lot of activity and a massive tent set up.

Even though I didn't get to tour it, I saw enough to take these pics and know that it is a little wacky. There were lots of people walking around and it felt similar to a college campus. Bicycles and pedestrians everywhere and no one was wearing even business casual clothes.  

Here's a link to an interesting article that describes the founder as either a lunatic or a visionary.  But I did think the solar panels over the parking area is brilliant!  Shade for the cars and power too! Wonder how well that does in Wisconsin winters?

 

 

Next up was a hike on the Ice Age National Scenic Trail.  I'd never heard of a National Scenic Trail but apparently this is one of only eight in the US.  This one features Wisconsin's "world-renowned" glacial features.  It's a 1,000 mile trail, all within Wisconsin.  If your curious, here's a link to the web site for this trail.

 I hiked in about a mile and a half (with my pepper spray and "stabby thing") and found a place to sit and enjoy all the wild flowers, birds and blue sky while I ate my breakfast...at noon. I'm on my own schedule these days I guess.  

I'm not certain that I was always on the Ice Age Trail.  I think most of my hike was actually on a city maintained trail, but it was a great place to hike with high usage by cyclists and walkers. 


I stupidly wore the wrong shoes and no socks when I started hiking and within a mile I had the beginnings of a blister on my foot. Looking through my bag I had no Band-Aids, socks or anything that would be helpful.  So I improvised and used a $1 bill.  I did have to frequently adjust my "sock" but mission accomplished...no blister. Now I'm not sure how I'm going to spend that bill knowing it's been in my shoe!

I realized all I really wanted to do was to sit and read (I've enjoyed this book so much) so I found a coffee shop, True Coffee Roasters, and another cold brew coffee. It was awful, it tasted like some left over hot brewed coffee over ice.  Might explain why they're going out of business in 10 days.  (Am I becoming a coffee snob?)

After hanging out at the coffee shop for as long as I could without feeling guilty, I stopped by Toot + Kate Wine Bar.  They have 14 different bottles of wine in a self service bar....I've never seen anything like it and wish I'd gotten a picture.  You exchange your credit card for a wine card which you put in the machine and choose which wine and quantity you want dispensed; a tasting sample, full glass or a glass and a half.  When ready to leave you exchange the wine card (which has kept track of your purchases) back for your credit card and pay.  It's an interesting concept.  Only women and gay men there which wasn't really a surprise...but I was able to sit there and read forever!!

Back to my Airbnb.  I used to think having a good roommate was all about finding the right person, now I think it's all about finding the right house. This place is big enough to give everyone their own space.

I finally finished my book and immediately downloaded a new one.  I've so enjoyed just sitting around various places reading.  I hereby vow to stop teasing Kristy about her reading obsession...who am I kidding...Kristy you have a problem.

Finished up my day listening to music and cruising the internet.  At one point I heard my host vacuuming. I realized that's one of many things that I'm not doing while I'm a gypsy. No vacuuming, washing sheets & towels, no dishes, basically no housework at all. Kind of makes me happy.