A Bloy and his Blog

I just returned from camping at Wisconsin’s Northern Highland State Forest.

read the rest of: Camping “up north”

While I was camping last week, I took a day trip across the Mississippi River to Great River Bluffs State Park in Minnesota.

The above view of Queen’s Buff is your reward after about a mile hike through the woods. My jaw just dropped as I emerged from the forest and saw the spectacular scene.

read the rest of: Great River Bluffs

It was a great day for a hike yesterday, so I did a little exploring and headed to New Glarus Woods State Park.

read the rest of: November hike

Despite the threat of rain, I decided to do some exploring today and visit a park I’ve never been to before, Yellowstone Lake State Park.

read the rest of: Yellowstone Lake State Park

Today (where I live) the sun was shining and the temperature was in the low 60′s. I was lucky enough to have the day off and I got to thinking… this could be the last gasp of Indian Summer. I did have chores to do around the house, but they could wait. I decided to take a drive out to Governor Dodge State Park, which is about 40 miles west of my house.

read the rest of: Indian Summer or The road to Winter

It was such a beautiful day today, I decided to head out with my camera and find some signs of Autumn.

read the rest of: Looking for Autumn

With a fresh blanket of snow on the ground and the sun shining, I thought it was a good day for a hike. So, I found the box my snowshoes were in (yes, I still have boxes to unpack) and headed over to Elver Park. The largest park in the city of Madison, Elver Park is only about two-thirds of a mile from my house and one of the reasons I chose to live where I do. While the wind was a little brisk today and the park full of sledders and cross country skiers, it was great being in the outdoors and hiking through nature again. Something I haven’t done for many months. There was even some solace to be found: watching the snow sparkle in the sun as the wind blew it off the pine tress I was hiking through.

When the wind on my face told me it was time to head home, I reluctantly did so, but not without feeling the charge of energy I get from being in the outdoors.