Blue dasher dragonfly on a waterlily bud.
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Black squirrel
Something I’ve never seen in Wisconsin before! I discovered that black squirrels are not a separate species, but have black fur due to a hereditary overabundance of melanin. This black beauty is an eastern gray squirrel.
Tiny pine cone
A perfect summer day
I took advantage of yesterday’s perfect summer weather to go on a long bike ride through the city. If only we could store beautiful days like that and bring them out when needed. How good would it be to experience a perfect summer day deep in the middle of winter? At least we’ll still have our memories to ponder, and photos to gaze at.
View more →Big Bay’s rocky shore
The hiking trails along the southeastern edge of Big Bay State Park (where I camped on Madeline Island) provide excellent views of the granite rocks that line the shore of Lake Superior there.
View more →Hawkweed
Historic depots
While I was in northern Wisconsin a few weeks ago, I made a point of visiting two old railroad depots. Both are now museums run by local historical societies.
The depot at Mercer, Wisconsin, was built in 1906, and served passengers on the Chicago & North Western Railway. It’s the only remaining railroad depot in Iron County.
Gathering nectar
Soaring eagles
I had a LOT of bald eagle sightings when I was in northern Wisconsin.
My favorite happened late one afternoon while I was reading in a lounge chair at my campsite. Dark movement in the sky hit my peripheral vision. I looked up, and there was this eagle, soaring on the wind, scanning the shallows of the lake for fish.
Jonathan’s camping tips
Avoiding Crowds
Don’t camp on major summer holidays. I’ve had very good luck camping right after holidays. For example, arrive at your camping destination on Memorial Day (when everyone else is leaving) and then stay that week.
Getting Good Campsites
To get a good site it is most helpful to do your research. This is especially true of campgrounds you plan on visiting often. If I’m in a campground where I think I might be coming back, I’ll go through the park and make note of the best campsites. Then, the next time I go there I’ll know which sites to ask for. If you do this regularly, in a few years you’ll have a nice database of the best campsites from your favorite parks.