The field trip destination last Thursday and Friday was Madison, Wisconsin via car onto boat (ferry from Muskegon to Milwaukee), back into car for the drive to Madison, and onto my Schwinn cruiser once I hit town. Why Madison? Why not. I had read about the UW campus what better way to see an area than by bicycle. I was pleasantly surprised by the bicycle love in the area. As the pictures below illustrate, it seems like the bicycles have the right of way over everyone in town and that is not a bad thing. My hotel was about two miles from downtown so I packed the saddle bags, popped the iPod in the ears and had one of the most enjoyable pedals in some time over the two days in town.
As for the UW campus, I have been to East Lansing, West Lafayette, Bloomington, Evanston, Columbus, State College, and Ann Arbor (of course they are listed last - ha) and would have to say Wisconsin's campus is one of the better ones in the conference. Three good size lakes surround the campus with paths surrounding a good portion of them all. That would be a nice study break taking the bass boat out for a couple of hours, eh? Oh, and it is Wisconsin so you do have a few taverns to choose from. The pub crawl via bicycle is a fun one. I felt my age when I told this bartender that I graduated from MSU back in '89 and she came back with "I was born in '89, what a great year!" Yep....I'm still young at heart though! My favorite local beverage on the tour was probably the Wisconsin Amber. Good stuff.
On, Wisconsin!
Trail Head
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| Lake Monona |
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| trail around Lake Mendota |
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| State Street |
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| ferry leaving Milwaukee (about 6 AM) |
