Aug 10, 2014

Thumbnail is a shot of a fountain in the warterfront near our hotel, the column has a statue of a great eagle on top. Beautiful.

 

Today we chose the road less travelled again and were rewarded with minimal traffic and winding roads rather than the opposite on both fronts as well as being rewarded by an absoloutely delightful ride. We rode through beautiful lush country alternating from intensive cropping on tablelands and narrow to broad valleys with just trees and little pockets of sweet corn or grassland and beautiful ascents or descents along limestone bluffs. What a treat. This is a sign we came across which explained the strip planting of crops we had seen. What a gutsy move by all involved many years ago and it continues today as they have seen the positive results. 

 

And this is a small example.

 

And the big old sandy Wisconsin River. No matter where we came acoss it there were large areas of sand evident.

 

Lunch in Fennimore saw us across the road fom the Railroad Museum and a model train ride. A universal attraction for all ages and they did good business in the time we were there.

 

A County building in Dodgeville as we tried to find some locals to get diretions to the Frank Lloyd Wright Building we were trying to track down.

 

And this is the waterfall at the entry to 'Talesin' at Spring Green and what a treat it was to visit the property. The Architect lived and worked here on the property his Maternal Grandmother's family lived on. Apparently this was a favourite picnic spot, This was a waterfall built by Frank Lloyd Wright to dam the flow of a natural spring on the property. It was a beautiful place and was no doubt of great solace to him as he rebuilt the home two times after it was burnt down, the first time when his second wife died in the fire, so we saw a combination of the original farming buildings used for the Apprentices and Fellows in his Architectural School to live in, his Studio and his own home. We got there just in time to go on a 2 hour tour of the home and property but that meant we got in much later tonight than we intended.

 

And a shot of what was once part of the dairy and is now apartments for some of those doing an Architectural Fellwoship here.

 

And a shot from the garden towards what is known as the Garden Room which used to be an outside open area until Samuel Guggnheim was coming to talk about Frank Lloyd Wright building a Museum for him and Wright thought it was desireable to have it built in and set his Apprentices the task to do it in a very short space of time.

 

And a view from the garden across the property which was just lovely. I took heaps of photos but outside only as no photos are allowed indoors even so I just love the look.

 

When we did get into Madison tonight we discovered our hotel right on the park which surrounds the Wisconsin State Capitol Building and here it is.

Bits and Bobs:

 

A truly profound sign we saw as we headed out of La crosse this morning. Norm was about to head out onto the road to take it full on when a police car pulled up so he thought .... perhaps not.

 

And a more friendly sign we came across in Viroqua where we had a coffee and found some beautiful homes as well.

Last Night's Accommodation:

Courtyard Marriott La Crosse, 500 Front Street, La Crosse, WI 54601

Lovely comfortable room and hotel. We have had great beds all the time we have been here with one exception but this was the best for me. Ahhh. Staff very welcoming and facilities designed for relaxing guests. On site pool, bar and bistro. Comfortable patio overlooking the Mississippi River complete with gas fire pit. Included parking and wifi. Spacious comfortable room and good value overall.