Eagles and Mice

We spent Sunday morning up at Sauk City and various roads between there, Spring Green and Madison. The main goal was eagle watching up at the dam on the Wisconsin River, but we weren't too successful on that score. Even so, if it was a pretty wonderful (though ridiculously cold) morning. This first picture is of a tree branch there by the river. The steam rising from the river coated everything with gorgeous crystals. This is possibly my favorite picture of the thousands that I've taken. Click on it, and look at the large version. Wow.

There were no eagles within sight at our usual spot by the dam, so we drove back into Prairie du Sac/Sauk, where we found a lone eagle sitting in a tree on a sandbar in the middle of the river. That was encouraging, so we drove into a park which we were familiar with, right along the river. Gunther was with us and he needed a break, too. The first picture is from our arrival at the park, as we headed down a path. As we lumbered towards the bridge, an eagle flew out of the trees and towards the river. That was wonderful! So close, so huge.

We poked around on the paths and along the river til my fingers were nearly frostbitten. If I hadn't been photographing, I would have lasted longer :) Back in the car, we took 60 towards Spring Green...found various interesting roads along the way...some were not actually roads...oh well. Found this lovely deer hiding behind the trees, very close to the road.

Finally decided to head back to Madison, and stop at a dog park so Gunther could have some exercise. The wind was so strong and it was bitterly cold. I had to keep my face completely covered, which made walking difficult. And that explains why I didn't notice Gunther lunging at the snow. Kevin saw, and realized he'd (Gunther) caught a mouse. If you know our dog, you know he doesn't like to give up his finds, so there were several hilarious and icky moments of Kev persuading Gunth to give up the mouse. Kev won, we distracted Gunther from running back to pick it up again, and we all came home.

And then I got in the shower for an hour. Hot, hot water, followed by hot chocolate...eventually I thawed. The hot chocolate was good but I was a little disappointed that the gourmet marshmallows weren't superdelicious...just regular-delicious. For the price, they should have rocked my world.

Heat wave coming!