SNA is

State Natural Areas. They are protected areas of WI native landscape that well, are very unique and protected from development.

My first ever visits to SNAs were Parfey's Glen and Pewitt's Nest. They are very well known ones near Devils Lake State Park.

This weekend I was treated to view two more known but...unknown places along the Mississippi River called Sugar Creek and Rush Creek. 

This widened areas I'd like to explore. 

I also joined a group that does weekend hikes. I plan my first hike with them in the LaCrosse area December 13th. There are gobs [I don't know what else to call them of trails in and around LaCrosse area. The group is called Blufflands Hiking Group.

Why not? Hiking in groups and discovering cool trails I've never even heard of sounds like a fun thing. I can always discover places and trial heads and then go back on my own. 

So Jason came Friday afternoon and we headed out early Saturday morning. He wanted to take a couple of rather easy hikes because  his dog Felix who isn't able to do very long hikes any more. He drove and I got to be the passenger.

We were headed to the Mississippi River.

Here are his dogs. Piper is in orange and Felix is behind her. He loves to refer to them as Tumble and Weed.

We visited Sugar Creek and Rush Creek SNA's above the bluffs of the great river.

The first view is from Sugar Creek.

To the south, an incredible intoxicating view.

Below. Looking the other direction. Highway 35 runs along the river and is also referred to as The Great River Road.

And from these views, indeed it is.

Next stop was Rush Creek.

I'd never gone to explore this area as it is 45 minutes from our house and basically I had no idea how to find trails.

Jason knew of a place we could drive to and park and take a very short walk out to the bluff.

He has climbed the bluff in the first shot below and encountered rattlesnakes in the areas in the grassy west facing hillside.

No thanks. I will go and hike the upper part and avoid the snake-y areas. And I will avoid the times of year that snakes are active.

Looking across the river from the same viewpoint.

A much closer look at Lansing Iowa across the river. The white part in the middle is the last of the metal bridges. It is now closed to traffic as they work on a new bridge.

This old bridge had a metal deck and was fondly called the Singing Bridge.

It also was the main throughfare for those in Iowa or Wisconsin to get back and forth to work. There is a ferry currently running, but I imagine when things freeze up those who have to travel an extra 40 miles one way to cross the river will not be happy. 

We then drove out to Bell Center [Kickapoo River Wildlife Area]. We took a short walk to check it out. I will probably go back after hunting season or in the spring. The area consists of open prairie and hills. It is stocked with Pheasants from a volunteer group.

This looks like it could be another neat place to explore.

I'm thinking it could be fun to snowshoe. It would be an easy place to get out of winter winds while hiking/snowshoeing/cross country skiing. Of course I would have to break my own trail.

The forest and open prairie look quite inviting.

It looks like my feet shall remain busy. 

This is a good thing.

OH!!! One last thing. While we were standing on the last bluff the wind really picked up quite a bit. Something very odd happened. Oak leaves starting drifting upwards from the valley below.

So the saying of the day was--->

The Leaves are Falling UP!

Earlier this week

The nice weather on Wednesday prompted Charlie and I to take another long hike on a familiar trails called Little Canada and Ice Cave Trail. It is a 'lollipop' loop. Meaning
one circles like a lollipop at the far

end of the trail and comes back 

on the same trail.

Charlie took his time. He slowed way down and did more investigating of the sides of the trails. We saw deer, heard some birds, but mostly the hike was quiet and subdued.

I'd taken the first leg on a maintenance/hike trail which cut off about a 1/2 mile of the beginning of the trail. When I got into the huge pine stands which were planted by the previous land owners about 60 years ago I saw this cool vine.

There are quite a few stands of white pines in this area as the farmers who owned these lands had planted them in the hopes of harvesting them for lumber and profit. Alas, the state moved in and they moved out. But that is another history lesson for this area.

Walking through some of these stands makes me wonder what those who are care for the Reserve plan to do as the pines age out and fall over.

I came to several spots where that has occurred over the past winter and just was curious.

We stopped at Charlie's stump where I've placed him often over the years when we've hiked this trail together. I don't know how much longer this stump will survive too.

The winds were pretty cold but when we dropped into valleys we stayed rather warm and when we walked on the ridges we were cooled.

We walked through the endless pines, the wind played music in the top branches. I stood and watching the boughs sway back and forth.

Below is one of the double ice caves or in geologist terms, rock shelters that are below the trail in a deep dry run. Actually a bit of water trickles through the rocks creating an ice curtain in front of 'cave' and thus earns its name as an Ice Cave.

Here is my neighbor Bill in the cave on the right in the winter of 2022. That was probably our last winter hike together.

It is a tough climb down into the shelters and tougher coming out!

Still, it is worth it!

Below are a couple of trail signs indicating that these trails are horse and bike trails. When I see the signs upside down like this I always think about a horse meeting a bike and freaking out. You can make up the rest of the story.

However, the rule is, pedestrians AND bikes stop and step aside for horses. Bikes are to pause for hikers also but rarely does that occur. I won't go into that now. 

This is the view that looks toward the river towards the end of the lollipop loop. I just like the combination of colors.

When I reach this spot in the trail, I nearly always pause to see if I can get a 'good' shot of these trees, roots, and rocks.

The weekend was planned with new areas to explore that most people don't even seem to know about! 

Jason the Geologist was coming to visit and had a plan....

Stay tuned....

Another brilliant night

 ...it was much dimmer and shorter lasting than the previous night.

However.
I felt it was 
my duty
to get out
and see what 
I could again.

I did make a huge mistake though.

I made some half decafe/half regular coffee. I thought it would be nice to have a thermos of warm coffee while standing in the cold...

Duh...duh...doh.

So pardon me if I am not focused.

Very little sleep because I was thinking about everything else while trying to sleep! 

Note to self don't try that again! Give away the coffee hubby used to drink or dump it!

The sky was very very faint from 6:30 to 8:00. The Aurora could only be seen with a camera. However, there were some neat pillars! 

I thought since it was not so brilliant, I'd try another Star Trail shot. So I set things up and let the camera do its thing while I sat next to the car and watched the sky. I listened to coyotes hunting and calling. I listened to owls talking in the distance.

The cattle gate that I was sitting next to creaked on its hinges sounding like an elderly person dragging a walker across linoleum. I sipped coffee and decided that I really did love the night sky.
Then there were flashes of light.

I was not hallucinating. An old beat up pick up was coming across the ridge with a spot light. They were shining for deer. I haven't seen that in ages. The truck cluttered and clattered towards where I sat next to my 'Ru. I had to stop the camera or the shot would have recorded the bright light when they shined me.

It is legal to shine for deer but not after 10PM and not if you have a weapon in the car. I never thought that shining was anything but a waste of time since most places you shine are not your property. They were legal, it was only 7:30.

I did get this though!

The truck passed, clackety clack and the smell of burnt oil. I watched them from my high vantage point circle the ridge roads of our Township.

I went home. Charlie was rather pleased. Then I decided to take a look with my cellphone to see if it was all done. I've seen some incredible shots done with iPhones! I don't have one, but the colors were there!

I set the camera up on a tripod in the yard and got it doing its thing. I cursed the airplanes but they use the airspace also.

The red light in the windows are from when I went inside to get a drink of water. I thought I was being smart and used the red mode on my headlamp.

I was surprised at how sensitive cameras can be. The house looked pretty spooky.

I took one more try from the back door looking up into the hill behind our house. I am still working on how to perfect star trails, but I am getting there. 👇👀

IF there is another chance tonight, I'll try.
I saw a Flickr friend use his cell phone 
to do a Time Lapse! 
That would be cool!

The new moon is November 19th. I'm thinking of trying to do just one more try at star trails and get a complete circle around the North Star.

I intended to take my photos from Wednesday's hike and show you the fun Charlie and I had. Alas.
That will have to wait.

Jason, the Geologist and his Tumbleweed Dogs are coming this weekend so I have to get things set up for his visit.

One night of color.

My good friend Jason, the Geologist, texted me at 7 ish last night and said there was a good chance at seeing the Northern Lights.
I was sitting on the couch with Charlie and reading. Feeling rather sad as it was Veteran's Day and the 11th. 
The 11th hit me hard as it marks 8 weeks that I am missing someone ... and he was a Veteran. In fact I cancelled my gym workout. It was a workout that was honoring Veterans. 

That was just a bit too much for me. I'd decided I'd have a personal pity party and ignore FB and Social Media.

I was not going to get up, but then I walked to the back door and looked out. I could see the Aurora Borealis with my naked eye. It was stunning.

So I set up my camera to photo night skies and took the tripod out to the driveway.
This is what I saw...
👇👇👇

 There were airplanes flying in the left corner, lights from my neighbor across the ridge, and light from our house in the window.

I decided to drive up to the ridge where I watch sunrises and park. Maybe I'd get a better view.

Wow. I was in for a show.

I texted Olive and Cybil so they could check it out. Olive has a beautiful deck on the back of her house. She woke up her little boy and took him out to watch the show.

I sent cell shots to Jason, my son, and got texts from our friends in Missouri. They could see the light show also!

I used my Olympus camera which has Starry Sky Auto Focus on a tripod. I won't bore you with the other settings. But the Aurora was so bright, it blew out the exposure a couple of times!

The temperature was 35 F with a light frigid breeze. I wore insulated boots, coveralls, and a glove. I had to use my right hand to answer texts [I should have just ignored the messages!]. 
I set up the camera to do a star trail exposure and let it run for 19 minutes. It took 456 photos and stacked them in camera.

The colors merged and changed which I thought was crazy wild.

I tried another at 22 minutes. [At least it gave me a chance to stick my hands into my pockets while I sat out of the wind next to the car.]

The colors and the streaks of light were wild. Red and Green and Yellow.

The lights were even in the East. I took this shot looking over another farm not too far away. Their yard lights where quite bright but the sky was brighter.

After about 2 hours, I called it and went home to warm up. Clouds were moving in and I felt ecstatic.

I was somehow convinced that some ol' Veteran I loved had arranged this show for me. 

I went to bed as the clouds moved in.

Charlie woke me at 4:30. He had to get some business done. I followed him out and looked north.

Then I ran back in and grabbed my camera which was still set up from last night. The moonlight even caused a moon shadow on the house and lit up the gravel driveway.

The moon was bright, but I could plainly see the Aurora again.

Off I went to try and get a shot of it from the pasture.

I did several shots, and decided not to drive up to the ridge again.

It even showed faintly to the south.

I took one last shot from the back step and decided to go in and have coffee while the sky started to brighten in the east.

I consider this to be one more 'Once in a Lifetime Event' for me. How lucky am I to live in a relatively dark sky area?

I know it was a natural phenomenon, but I prefer to think that hubby put the show on for just me to cheer me up. It worked.

I'm feeling full of light this morning. Don't let anyone tell you that seeing the Aurora Borealis like this is not uplifting and amazing.

One night of color and a morning with pinks and reds just for me.

Hello Winter

with darkness...and cold.

You have a certain appeal for me.

No flying skeeters and No-seeums. Fresh cool air. Cold crisp nights and days. 
Warm blankets and a cuddly dog at night.
Candle light.
Soups.
Stews.

Frigid winds. Leafless trees.

Bitter.

Bright clear sunshine on cold days. Low slanted sunny days.

Ice.

Snow.

Colors of delight in 

the forest

of invasive Barberry plants.

Glistening paths through the woods with a happy dog who also loves cold weather.

The pleasure of seeing the moon in the morning through the naked trees.

...and now in the logged area of the forest...

magical morning light as the sun comes over the hillside.
 

Welcome winter. 

You are a good friend.

November is also...

A time for cleaning. Like Spring Cleaning, but Fall Cleaning. 

Thursday was a get 'er done type of day. Now I am no fixer type person like Sandra is. But I'm in the same kind of mood for cleaning and organizing. I think many of the other Bloggers I follow [and some I just visit regularly when I can] are all doing the same sort of thing.

Sorting.
Cleaning.
Organizing.
Getting our indoor lives straightened out so when the frigid air comes, we can enjoy our comfy spaces.

I cleaned the walls, tore everything out of the closet of our bedroom and separated the clothes that would go to Bethel Buttik [they pronounce it Boutique!]. I donated the clothes in hopes that they will be used for those who need them.

So my mess looked something like this...

I took out the frame that was under our bed and replaced it with the original frame we've had for 30 years. The little frame was lower and easier for hubby to get in and out of until we swapped to a hospital bed.

And I flipped the bed position around. Hey, it makes sense for me and it feels right for now.

I had to prepare for the snow and rain event we are supposed to have tonight. So I cleaned Little Richard's stall and set things up for him.

Then I got with the program and finished the up with the chair. I sanded it and put the final coat of acrylic satin finish on it.
TA-DAH!

I'm sure someone could say that I mixed up all sorts of colors that may not really go together. However, the chair is full of whimsical colors. 

Whatever happened to make me happy at that moment was the color that went on the chair. I see that now...

I will have to work on those other two chairs! I won't know exactly what colors they will be until I start. The chair gives me an idea of what I should do.

You read that right. I don't plan, I just do what the chair seems to want. I imagine this one wants to be pretty. Don't you think?

I have begun to write a very detailed To Do List for each day so I can keep on track. I also make sure that I have adventure days. I have to equal adventures with work so I keep in balance.

My 'work' around the house and farm days do include an hour of walking the forest with Charlie. He needs to get out in the woods and so do I. 

How else would he be able to make sure that all creatures great and small know they are on his land???

I enjoyed the forest enough before it started raining to do some play time. My mind says that we are all on an epic journey of sorts. That journey is called Life.

We must give into it and live a life as we can and enjoy it.

I re-joined CrossFit --> Legends and am so happy for the movement and friendships I have in that class. I need to continue to work on my balance, strength, and friendships to continue to be healthy.

It is snowing now and we are expecting to have almost an inch of snow on the grasses by morning. I can't wait to wake up to a new day.

And to those that wonder. 

Yes. 

I miss HIM every single day. I still ask him questions and opinions on what I am doing. I see him laughing at me in a gentle way and telling me to 'Go ahead. Your going to do it anyway, no matter what I say!'

Wyalusing State Park

The last time and only time I was at this State Park was in 2016, some neighbors and I got together and decided to explore Wyalusing.

Side note: My father had some great stories about working in the CCC Camps when he was young.

My grand daughter, Lily, was with us and the first place we went to was the overlook. I wrote about it in a blog back then called To There and Back. I'd let Lily use my camera to take a shot from the overlook. The trip was in August and we'd had a rainy year.

2016

Lily's photo:

My photo 2016:

November 5, 2025.

It sure looked different! The bridge in the distance goes across the main channel of the Mississippi at Prairie du Chien and crosses to Marquette Iowa. The bridge in the foreground crosses the Wisconsin River and heads through Prairie in the distance.

It was rather cold and windy on the bluff, so I decided to take a trail that went down into a valley.

Charlie was the perfect gentleman and walked as is he'd been leash trained all of his life. We went a trailed called The Sand Cave Trail which is a 2.4 mile loop with two little Sand Caves or as I'd call them, Ice Caves in the winter.

The trail is well worn and well marked. The only issue I would see is the roots that could make it difficult for others to navigate.

It was also a beautiful trail.

Just before we got to the Big Sand Cave, we were lucky enough to have this guy pose for us.

The Big Sand Cave:

I didn't take any photos of the second Sand Cave. I would like to go back and see it in the winter.

I wanted to get back to the Long Valley Road and walk down to see the boat landing and come back up the Sentinel Trail.

The trek is surrounded by the pink line below on the map.

Well, we almost made it. We made it to the purple area I think. 

Charlie was pooping out and I decided to walk back up the road to the parking area instead of navigating the rougher trail with him. 

Charlie got a lift part of the way back up the Long Valley Road.

The road that went down to the boat launch was mesmerizing.

Look at the amazing curves in the road!

It reminds me of the stretch of curvy road in Door County that is Highway 42. It is one of the most photographed stretches of road in Wisconsin and supposedly was influenced by a landscape artist.

This road is not as dramatic as the photos I've seen of Hwy 42, but I think I discovered something pretty special. Not only that, I didn't have to drive to Door County to see it.

I found it undeniably beautiful with its shadows and colorful foliage.

We had an amazing day and look forward to exploring all of the other trails. 

My Garmin did indicate that we traveled 7.56 miles on foot.