Driftless Wisconsin Holiday
As the holiday pace quickens and hurls us deeper into the shopping season, Driftless Wisconsin prepares for winter’s slower tempo. Don’t get me wrong; our calendars are full with Christmas parties, tying up loose year-ends, with time squeezed in for shopping. Yet the landscape of Driftless Wisconsin tells a different story as it prepares for the long winter ahead.
Canoe the Kickapoo River
Two Sandhill Cranes greeted us at the pasture gate and soon strutted away toward the river, their graceful long necks pointing the way. A herd of cattle stood under the canopied shade at the river’s edge, lapping water to beat the heat. Their eyes followed our every movement, wondering who were these strange creatures crashing their beach party.
Dropping into the Kickapoo Valley
In my last blog, I left you wandering along County P through Amish Country, a route that winds through the very heart of Driftless Wisconsin, now in the midst of springtime’s renewal. Traveling east toward Highway 131, it’s easy to get lost in the landscapes that watch over the valley as you drop toward the Kickapoo River. The Kickapoo Valley Reserve borders the river and serves as an introduction to the timeless beauty of the valley.
The Arrival of Fall Colors
Fall has arrived and warm summer breezes have given way to a cool stillness, as if nature was holding its breath for the color extravaganza yet to come. Riley, our three-year-old golden retriever, and I hike up the logging road to the top of the bluff to greet fall’s arrival. Walking the thin edge between summer and fall fills me with anticipation of my favorite time of year.
A Kickapoo River Story
If you follow a river far enough it eventually leads to a story. And although I’ve never lived along the Kickapoo River, it weaves through my life as surely as it meanders through the lush Kickapoo Valley.
The Kickapoo Country Fair and Other Doings
You will never tire of the stunning scenery in the Kickapoo River Valley. But the valley attracts people who enjoy more than looking. They like doing. And there’s a lot to do!
Shaping the Kickapoo Valley
I just returned from Glacier Bay in Alaska, where you can begin to understand the power of glaciers. Entire watersheds have been scoured of vegetation and bedrock by these enormous rivers of ice.
