Anxious for Springtime!

The weather has been quite a tease this winter especially now as February is ending and the spring months are quickly approaching. The flirtation with 40 degree temps make me anxious for the warmer spring weekends - the first official day of spring is March 20, if anyone is interested. I look forward to observing birds return to Wisconsin from winter migration, lighthouse hopping the coast of Lake Michigan, smelling brats on the grill and Cracker Jack as I welcome back baseball, and try out a new hobby...golf. Surprisingly enough, my spring weekends are rather open, but I know it is only the beginning. Before I know it they will be full, and I will be looking for a free weekend. A few events on the horizon include a trip to visit my cousin's new baby girl in April, driving to the Horicon Marsh to welcome back all of the beautiful birds in mid-May, and tailgating at Miller Park. Now I need to find a weekend for lighthouse hopping the coast of Lake Michigan.


Thinking about spring lighthouse hopping, I am reminded of a day trip I took with my two dogs, Bailey and Tanner, around Lake Winnebago a couple years ago. It was a beautiful, sunny, late spring Saturday, and the dogs and I were a little stir crazy. With the whole day wide open, I loaded up the car with a cooler, their water dishes and leashes, a few snacks, and some maps. Said those two magic words, "Car Ride!", and the pups and I were on the road to our first stop, Fond du Lac, Wisconsin. Bailey and Tanner, especially Tanner, were in heaven as we drove down to Fond du Lac, then up to Oshkosh, then to Neenah, and finally back home. We made four stops along the 88 miles of Lake Winnebago shoreline so I could photograph the four lighthouses. Lake Winnebago is the largest interior lake in Wisconsin and has a maximum depth of 21 feet.


As I said, first stop: Fond du Lac, Wisconsin and Lakeside Park in Fond du Lac. Lakeside Park is a beautiful 400 acre park complete with playgrounds, walking trails, a marina, a yacht club, Fond du Lac harbor, and the 56 feet tall Fond du Lac Lighthouse (a.k.a Lakeside Park Lighthouse). It is a white, octagonal lighthouse that is 12 feet in diameter and has a internal staircase that visitors can climb up to the gallery.

Once standing on the gallery, you do see a gorgeous panoramic view of Lake Winnebago. I, however, did not climb the gallery because I had the dogs with me. They were more focused on chasing down the countless seagulls and greeting every person that walked by. (As a note, taking pictures of lighthouses while holding the leashes of two dogs pulling in opposite directions can be quite a challenge. For whatever reason, they do not have the same objective that I do.) The Fond du Lac Lighthouse was built in 1933, which replaced a red light on a tower. It was saved and restored in 1967 and 1993, respectively.

After taking numerous pictures of the lighthouse and harbor, the dogs and I took a nice long walk through the park. Some park patrons were brave enough to pet my crazy dogs and thought it was cute the three of us were having a day together in the park. Hoping that I exhausted them on a walk, we headed back to the car for a drink of water and figured out our plan to Oshkosh. As Tanner laid down in the back seat, Bailey climbed into the front seat. Wishing she could help me navigate, she just looked at me with a look that said, "so what's the next stop, Mom?" In fact our next stop was Rockwell Lighthouse or Bray's Point Lighthouse in Oshkosh. I will save this story for my next entry.


Hope you are looking forward to spring as much as I am. Until then, take care and talk to you soon!