West of the Lake Gardens

West of the Lake Gardens
Originally uploaded by WheretogoWisconsin

925 Memorial Drive, Manitowoc (Manitowoc Cty)

After lunching at Kurtz's, Dan and Judy showed me where to find this garden that I have never seen before. Previously we had hiked approximately 8 miles on the Point Beach segment of the Ice Age Trail (link to be inserted when post is competed).

The driveway is a beautiful gateway entrance (there are two driveways, it's on the left, the other is a residence, so watch for signs).

The main home is known as the 'Shoebox Estate' and was the first modern style design that most of us recognize as a Frank Lloyd Wright. West of the Lake was named by Mrs Ruth West (lovely double entendre if you think about it) who had purchased the old street car right of way in 1934. Later that year Mr. John West began the building of the famous home and Ruth's beginning of her garden that began with 200 tulips.

By 1950, a 30 year tradition was born to open the gardens annually to the public to celebrate the West of the Lake Tulip Tea event. After the passing of John in 1989, then Ruth in 1990, The West Foundation was used to formally open the gardens to the public, which is now opened daily from Mother's Day to Mid-October 10 am - 5 pm (weather permitting), and continues its stewardship by providing scholarships/grants for the Manitowoc-Two Rivers area.

How to find: From I-43 North or South: Take exit 152, State Highway 42 East (Waldo Blvd., toward Manitowoc). Follow Waldo Blvd. to Lake Michigan (about 5 miles) where it curves left (North) and becomes Memorial Drive. At the first traffic signal (Reed Ave.), turn right at the West of the Lake Gardens. 925 Memorial Drive, Manitowc, WI 54220 (920) 684-8506

What to Expect: Flowers, silly! Free Parking and Admission, self guided brochures take you through all of the gardens known by name: Japanese, Sunken, Rose, Red and White, The Path, Mae West, Formal and The Loop. The gorgeous view of Lake Michigan makes for the perfect backdrop.

Cherney Maribel Caves County Park

a.k.a Maribel Caves (Manitowoc Cty)

*Sidebar: I duly promise to post my adventures while the memories are buzzing fresh in my mind. I began this post a few days week ago, and honestly it's a struggle to recall the experiences.

My first visit to this park was in March 2009. That day I was scanning the gazetteer looking for my next destination. If living in Oshkosh has done anything for me, it's driven the desire to go elsewhere. It's a fine town and it suits our purposes but does nothing to satisfy my need to explore. Maribel Caves had interested me for a time and finally made that my plan on that March morning. The snow was cold, the colors crisp, the shadows sharp. Hastily my freezing feet retreated and a resolution to return was born.

Fast forward to May, a fine spring day for a Road Trip. From Oshkosh, the Town of Maribel is 1 hour 12 minutes of rural highway driving, 2 full hours when slowing down to look at cows. Seriously, I saw one Brown Swiss Cow whose udders was painfully weighed down by milk that she could not walk normally. I remember those days, and shudder from the mammary (ha-ha, I could not resist).

Before my arrival at Maribel, I saw a sign on the corner of Park Rd and Blake and took a quick detour. "Southern Brown Wildlife Refuge" This park does not appear on any Google Map or Brown County Website, so therefore it must've been a fantastic hallucination. Following the sign for about 1/2 mile (little over that I believe), I found the entrance to the park. It has your typical nature trail with your typical flora and fauna. Nice place to take your dog (note: dogs must be leased at Maribel Caves). Sadly, only a small number of pictures turned out.

My jaunt into this newly developed park was a successful venture if only to publish it's existence before the new maps come out. The coolest find - a bees nest in a live tree.

The Park

The Cherney Maribel Caves County Park was open this time, and the park was relatively busy. I found a quiet trail and commenced my exploration. To be honest, Devoted Reader, I had no idea on the size of this park. It's larger than I expected. According to the park website, it occupies 75 acres, though the DNR sites 13.5 acres. I know nothing of calculating land sizes, but 13.5 seems to make logical sense.

This park is very much like Horicon Ledge (Dodge County Ledge), with the large glacial rock formations, the mossy boulders, the slippery crags, the spiders, the bats - need I go on? Alright, I was a bit overboard on the bats, but the environment is very similar (The main differences are that Horicon Ledge has Ledges, and not Caves).

The Caves
Follow link to view video footage from the caves

Of the caves: there are several: Tartarus, Coopers, Pancake, Spring, and New Hope. On this day the Wisconsin Speleological Society was working in the New Hope Cave. The entrance to this cave is closed to the public unless one of the volunteer groups are on working on site and will give tours. I did not explore the entire cave, as you move deeper in there is water present and my shoes were open heeled clogs, so I stayed and listened to one of the Spelunkers (to be named Savvy Spelunker) who talked about the excavations of the caves. It was really quite interesting, but I'm afraid that I don't remember all of it, other than when he discussed the Tartarus, he believed there was more another part of the cave yet to be revealed - see the Cherney Maribel MySpace blog entry for a more thorough explanation. The cave on this day was reletively dry.

One of the characteristics in New Hope Cave is called Moon Milk - a white creamy deposit that is created by the water seepage from the cracks (life lines) in the cave ceiling. There is some question whether it is a chemical or bacterial reaction. Either way, it doesn't drip on your head, if you are worried about that kind of thing. The formation of caves themselves is fascinating, and it all has to do with the way water wears away rock, leaving crevasses for moss and other lifeforms to exist. This is over millions of years

One Last Reason To Visit ** Trespasser Alert **

Maribel Caves Hotel, "Hotel Hell"

You'll just have to visit. Trust me, plenty of others have been there before you. Check your principles at the door, because you are trespassing and you might get a ticket for your troubles.

Maribel Caves County Park was worth the Road Trip, and I will place this as my #2 Wheretogo Winner. A declaration was made when I arrived home, travel worn and sunburned.

Wheretofind: From the junction of I-43 and State Highway 147 one mile east of Maribel, go east on 147 0.3 mile, then north on County Highway R 0.6 mile to the entrance of Cherney Maribel Caves County Park, proceed 0.25 mile to the parking area.

What to Expect: Please call ahead to see if there are cave tours: 920-682-0356. Dogs are allowed (leashed). Trails are mild-medium difficulty. Wear appropriate shoes, especially if you plan to investigate New Hope Cave.

Barkhausen Warterfowl Preseve

Suamico (Brown Cty)

Link: L.H. Barkhausen Waterfowl Preserve, also Birdbrain

This was my first spring trip for the Wheretogo site, and last Friday (Apr 17th) was a fantastic day to spend a vacation day to wander the countryside. I chose this place because of their impressive efforts in tracking the birds that visit. Yes, yes, I have become a birdite, not a proper birder mind you. Once I have a camera that can use a telephoto lens, then we can say that I've entered the realm.

The morning was wide open-anything was possible. To be outside with my face to the sun, my camera slung across my shoulder, it is truly when I am the most content. Currently I have a blog post titled "Euphoric Recall" that I've been working on, and so far it's the most fitting explanation of what my excursions have been like for me, psychologically speaking. That's the scientist in me talking, but what I seek is a spiritual connection, and that usually happens when I go exploring. OK- that's enough about me.

What I must confess, Gentle Reader, is that I did trespass. The main waterfowl section is blocked off (to leave the waterfowl in peace I am guessing). Technically you are supposed to stay
on the marked trails. Of course the geese tattled.

Aside from the Canadian Geese, I also spotted a pair of Sandhill Cranes, Great Egrets, the Mallards, Woodpeckers, Pelicans on high, garter snakes, a turkey, and a plethora of turtles.

The trails are marked easily, winding around marshy as well as wooded areas, and you will find observation blinds in a few places as well. The brochured map makes it look small, but it's not. The last time I was here my daughter and I got stuck in a marshy area, and we each lost a shoe that was stuck firmly in the mud. We still laugh about that. Good times.

If you have not been to Barkhausen before, this is the perfect time for a Road Trip. Pack a lunch, bring your kids (leave the dog at home, they are not allowed, for obvious reasons). Trails are open sunrise-sunset.

It is open year 'round, grooming the trails for x-country skiing at the Fort Howard Paper Foundation Wildlife Area. To find it, take Lineville straight to the dead end. Lockup you car when you do this. The house on the end appears to be occupied, and that's all I will say on the subject.

Wheretofind: 2024 Lakeview Dr, Suamico. Hwy 41 to Green Bay, exit Lineville Rd (Cty M), head east to Lakeview Rd. (Cty J). Turning Left and travel approx 1/2 block will get you to the Barkhausen Entrance, or continue as mention before to the Fort Howard Wildlife Area. Hours for West Shore Interpretive Center are Mon-F-ri 9am-4pm and weekends noon-4pm. Trails are open sunrise-sunset. For questions-call the Brown Cty Parks Dept 920-448-4466. Remember - No Dogs.

What to expect: A well planned, well developed park setup. It is probably a very busy park, but the layout offers a lot a room to be left alone. The lack of swings is not a deterrent for fun. The nature center offers plenty of activity to keep one's brain from going astray. The Brown Cty Parks website does a fair job at keeping current activities listed, you still are better off going to Barkhausen and grabbing a Trail Guide or the Birds of Barkhausen brochure.

Kaukauna Abandonment

Kaukauna Abandonment
Originally uploaded by WheretogoWisconsin

It sure was nice getting out Sunday afternoon.

Kaukauna is an interesting burb - After visiting 1000 Islands Nature Center, my daughter and I drove around, checking things out. If it wasn't for the reputation of the Paper Valley Stink, I'd consider living there. If you have been through Poy Sippi, then maybe you can see what draws my eye. And in Kaukauna, that's how I found this broken down farmstead.

This road was much, much older, and dead-ended at the
second abandoned farm. It seemed obvious that these were the only properties until the land was sold off and other homes were built. There was one other home that I found most intriguing. It had no real parking space, no garage (other than the road), but it had plenty of lawn for people to relax and hang out (which I did, not on the property itself). It was well cared for and the general feel of the place was peaceful, pleasant. I snapped a few, hoping to capture that essence. I am not sure if I was sucessful.

What I did see was a striking amount of abandonment for the size of this town. Honestly,when you consider the history of the paper industry, then it really is not that surprising. We also saw a lot of homes that were under renovation, which was heartening to see.

As for the rest of Kaukauna, we didn't see any Pelicans. Lots of jumping carp (no decent shots of that, sorry). They go by Bighead or Silver Carp I could be naming the wrong fish, but if I am right, please read up.