A Bloy and his Blog » Landscape

Cold walk in the woods

Jonathan — Sun, 29 Jan 2012 01:32:58 +0000

Even during the cold of winter, a walk in the woods does wonders for my soul.

Taken at the Lakeshore Nature Preserve in Madison.

Into the mist

Jonathan — Sat, 17 Dec 2011 16:53:35 +0000

All lines lead to downtown

Jonathan — Sun, 11 Dec 2011 23:22:59 +0000

I’ve noticed the sun setting along the railroad tracks at the corner of Fair Oaks and Thurber avenues before, and wished I had my camera. It happened to be in the car when I drove by today.

Some photographers say you should bring your camera with you everywhere you go. I guess this proves their point.

First snowflakes of the season

Jonathan — Fri, 11 Nov 2011 02:41:06 +0000

And so it begins…

Towering prairie grass

Jonathan — Sat, 08 Oct 2011 15:35:31 +0000

Cherokee boardwalk

Jonathan — Mon, 03 Oct 2011 00:58:08 +0000

I just love the look of the weathered and uneven boardwalk at Cherokee Marsh.

And what a gorgeous day for a hike.

Fields of gold

Jonathan — Thu, 15 Sep 2011 14:46:11 +0000

Last weekend, while hiking at Lake Kegonsa State Park, I discovered this golden soybean field bordering the park.

It’s funny how an unexpected scene, completely different from your original destination, can give you the best photos of the day.

The panorama below was created from two pictures using the photo stitching software Hugin.

“Secret” places

Jonathan — Mon, 01 Aug 2011 01:14:58 +0000

I spent last week camping in Wisconsin’s Northern Highland-American Legion State Forest. One of my favorite things about that area, are all the secluded, “secret”, places that are just a short distance off of bike trails, hiking trails, and roads.

If you get off of your bike while riding on the trail near Crystal Lake, you’ll discover this above scene just a few dozen yards away (along a short hiking trail). Yet hardly anyone stops to take in its beauty.

The Mann Creek Wildlife Area (above) is located on a small turnoff along Highway N.

Some secret spots are only a matter of timing, like Big Muskellunge Lake at dusk. It’s located in a spot that is usually filled with people during the day, but no one else was there the evening I visited.

The Black Lagoon (below) is reached from a short walk along a boardwalk that juts away from the main Star Lake Nature Trail.

I’ve been camping in Northern Wisconsin for many years now, and almost every time I visit, I find a new one of these secret places. I wonder, how many more are out there waiting to be discovered?

Atop the bluffs of Wyalusing

Jonathan — Sun, 05 Jun 2011 16:08:20 +0000

Last week I was camping at Wisconsin’s Wyalusing State Park, which has spectacular views along the bluffs.

The park is located along the spot where the Wisconsin River flows into the Mississippi.

On the other side of the Wisconsin River, the city of Prairie du Chien (above). A little further upstream, farmland.

The view from the other side of the Mississippi River, in Iowa’s Pikes Peak State Park isn’t bad either. Wyalusing is on the corner of the bluff pictured below.

Finally, a view of the sun going down from my campsite.

Awaiting winter’s end

Jonathan — Sun, 27 Feb 2011 15:25:20 +0000

With the few inches of snow Madison got yesterday, came the realization that winter has seemed especially long this year. Like this snow covered basketball court, I’m anxiously waiting for it to end.