High Cliff State Park

In making reservations, I had planned to break up the drive north a bit; thus our next destination of High Cliff State Park, on the shores of Lake Winnebago.

It was an almost chilly morning as we left, more fall-like than summer.  We took the back roads rather than the main highway, going through some of the prettiest landscapes in Wisconsin as we wound through hills along curvy roads with dairy farms alongside.  Once past Reedsburg, the land flattened out more.  We crossed the Wisconsin River near Portage, and the stretch from there to Waupun was dotted with wind farms like this:

Note: I did not take the above photo, as I couldn't snap a good one while driving past.  Today did NOT have any blue sky!  It was a day of dark grey clouds, though little rain, with gusty winds that kept those blades of the turbines spinning.  

At Fond du Lac, we picked up Rte 151, then 55 and rode along the east side of Lake Winnebago. This is a very big lake, about 10 miles by 30 miles, with the small cities of Appleton, Fond du Lac, and Oshkosh along its shore.  

I think I lucked out in picking this state park, almost at random, as it is a very nice one.  The campground sits at the top of the limestone cliffs for which the park is named, with views of the lake below.  Near the entrance, which is at the lower level, there's a marina and a swimming beach, and there are lots of well-marked hiking trails.  The sites are in a heavily wooded area, so we have some privacy and shelter from the wind which continued to blow all afternoon and evening.

Despite the cool windy weather, Ranger was ready to get out and move a little, so he and I explored the area while Dan napped.  There's a trail that runs along the cliff with a number of overlooks of the lake and rocks.  

As I write this on Monday morning, the sun has broken through but the wind continues. Ranger and I had a early morning walk along the park road.

On the sign near the bathrooms where they post the weather reports: 

 Today:  Partly sunny, high of 65. Tomorrow: Wait and see.  It's Wisconsin---it may snow!