October 18, 2008: Madison, Wisconsin

Simply put, the weather could not have been any better on this Saturday morning for a hike. A morning fog quickly being burned off to reveal mostly sunny skies. Temperature in the 40's to 50's early, no bugs, no sweating. However there is an early gun-deer hunting season, so I chose to stick to a more urban setting. The University of Wisconsin has some interesting places to visit that I always seem to put off for another day. This was that other day.

First stop, the Aboretum. Fall colors have a bit to go before peak, but it was good enough.








Took a lazy loop around to a couple of ponds and the natural areas.


Sure walked awfully far from that visitor center in a short time.




A squirrel not too bothered by me taking his photo.














Getting back to the visitor center area, the "garden" area.


As late-morning arrived it brought out the crowds too. Three miles walked here. Here's the track.


But wait, there's much more!

A bathroom break and a short drive later, I'm at the Lakeshore Nature Preserve on the west end of the University of Wisconsin campus. There is a geocache here to look for too, and an old "virtual" geocache at the very tip of Picnic Point. A surprising amount of trail to walk also.


Here's the stone wall at the entrance.


Some great scenery also.


The State Capital dome visible across University Bay on the downtown isthmus.




Some fishermen also were taking in the nice day.


Standing at Picnic Point proper. Virtual geocache now logged.


Looking up the shoreline, the next geocache is hiding off in the distance there.


"The Narrows". The north shore on the left, and you can see the water beyond the south shore on the very right of the photo.


Now entering the Louisiana bayou...well not really. This small swamp sure looks like it though.


This abandoned building is along what looks to be a recreational beach once. I found it interesting because it so closely imitates the architecture of the very nearby Unitarian Meeting House. The UMH is a Frank Lloyd Wright landmark in Madison, but I do not know if this building has any direct connection to Wright. My online search for information about this building just found nothing about it.






Continuing on, I arrive at the geocache location.






It was a quick "Took Nothing, Left Nothing" (TNLN) log and re-hide due to danger of muggles on the trail.

Went a full 2 miles on this leg.


How about a view of both walks on the same aerial photo?


A great day, walked 5 miles total, took great photos, and have the memories to last a lifetime. Lakeshore Preserve could be the subject of a winter hike in the future.