Skip to main content

Day 3 - Madison, WI

Another gorgeous day!

I woke up early to a beautiful, sunny day and I decided to take a road trip to see the Wisconsin side of Lake Michigan.  A local had told me that the Michigan side is so much prettier, so I need to see this side first.

It was about an hour and a half drive which I really enjoyed since it wasn't pouring down rain!  

I saw a "Brown" sign on the highway for 10 Chimneys National Historic Landmark and decided to go check it out. Turns out it's a big house that someone built at some point.  I was kind of hoping it was some big rocks or other natural land form. I've discovered that I'm not really interested in old mansions.  Had I been with someone who wanted to see it, I'm sure I would have enjoyed it.  But when you're by yourself you don't have to do anything you don't want to. 

I arrived at Grant Park after driving around Milwaukee and along the lake shore.  I walked down a wooded trail that opened up onto a beach.  It was gorgeous! 
 

It didn't take long for me to realize that there were biting flies everywhere. It was horrible!  Remember that scene in the movie The Birds where she is fighting off all the birds?  OK, so it wasn't that bad...but it was awful. Those suckers hurt when they bite and they attacked me all the way back to my car.

After I found another beach, I sat in the car until I'd confirmed that people weren't swatting flies.  There was a bit of a breeze which I think helped.  Finally, I was able to lounge on the beach soaking in the sun and people watch. 

It's hard to believe this is Wisconsin when I turned to the left.  It could be a tropical location.
 

Turn to the right it's easy to believe I'm near a big city.



The lake shore had such interesting rocks. Several different colors of what I think was granite and other I couldn't identify.  They were all smooth and rounded from their time in the water.

I wonder if this drives Geologists (and amateur geologists, Darren) a little nuts when they see a really interesting rocks, but have no way of knowing where it came from originally.  There was also a lot of sea glass mixed in.  It was a very different beach than any I've ever been to.
 

After a quick stop at the Avenue Coffee house in South Milwaukee, I took the long way back to see some of the countryside.  It's really similar to Missouri; farms, rolling hills and corn everywhere!

Diner at local Mexican restaurant and then back to my Airbnb.  Long day!  

When I got back my host mentioned several places that I should have gone to while in Milwaukee...most involved shopping.  Don't get me wrong, I love to shop, but I'm just not interested while I'm on my gypsy travels.  I'm not cooking so not interested in buying ingredients, I have limited space in my car for souvenirs and knick-knacks and I already packed way too many clothes. 

I'm glad I got out and enjoyed the sun...it's supposed to rain today.  Ugh!




Comments

  1. A beach! Now you're talkin'! It definitely looks more like you were in Florida instead of Wisconsin. Are you hitting the library while you're there?

    Kristy

    ReplyDelete

Post a Comment

Popular posts from this blog

Day 23 last day in South Padre

So sad to say goodbye to the beach.  But I'll be back some day.  It's less than 15 hours from home...that's totally doable.  Here's a link to where we stayed. link   This was a perfect place for a late September vacation.  Very few of the condos appeared to be occupied.  We had the hot tub all to ourselves last night! Today we rented chaise lounge chairs and an umbrella and just enjoyed the beach all day long.  We had an amazing dinner at Pier 19 where we were able to see dolphins out the window.   Now were getting things ready so we can get up at 4 am and start driving home.  

Day 24 - Home - Trip Summary

MILES: 7,780 STATES : 15 Missouri Kansas  Colorado  Wyoming  Montana  Idaho Washington  Oregon  California Nevada  Utah Arizona  New Mexico Texas Oklahoma  TRIP PHASES: 4 To the west coast Pacific Coast Highway  National Parks Beach Vacation FLAT TIRES:  1 ECO SYSTEMS:  20 Prairies Foot Hills Mountains Geysers  Sulphur Springs Lakes Continental Divide Rain Forests Ocean Beach - Pacific Ocean  Redwood Forests Vineyards  Almond groves Yosemite El Capitan  OK, not an eco system, but unlike anything else! Sequoia Forest Desert Death Valley (see El Capitan note) Canyons...some of them even grand Gulf of Mexico  Beach - Gulf of Mexico  NATIONAL PARKS/FORESTS: 15 Yellowstone National Park Olympic National Park Hoh Rain Forest Redwood National Forest Yosemite National Park Stanislaus National Forest Sierra National Forest  Mariposa Grove of Giant Sequoias Inyo National Forest Death Valley National Park Zion National

Day 18 Grand Canyon and the end of Phase 3

Today we went to Grand Canyon and Petrified Forest National Parks.  We are officially done with Phase 3 of our trip - the National Park Phase.  And frankly...we're both relieved.  The National Parks, while beautiful and awe inspiring...were also kind of a bummer.  They were crowded, had limited parking and generally felt like a tourist attraction.  Mindy went to several of these when her boys were young...35+ and 20+ years ago.  Hearing how the parks have changed over the years was kind of a downer.  That being said, I'm so glad I went and was able to this countryside, it is truly unique and majestic. Now that we're done with Phase 3, we both feeling a little energized!  We're ready to get up early tomorrow and begin Phase 4...which we've decided to keep secret.  If I told you what we're doing, you'd think we're nuts.  Better to keep quiet than to confirm that thought! First view of a canyon on the prairie   First overlook into Gra