Retirement Reflections Along Wisconsin's Ice Age Trail

Greg and I put on our raincoats before leaving the Robertson parking lot for our hike along the eastern Lodi Marsh on a drizzly late April afternoon. We began our climb as raindrops fell lightly around us. Turning around, we saw gorgeous views with rolling hills and scattered ponds in the distance. The trail became quite muddy as we walked deeper into the woods. The wind picked up, and we were grateful for our hooded raincoats. We passed our first dispersed campsite, and I thought of our warm bed waiting for us at home after we completed our hike. When we reached the highest point of the trail, we had amazing views of the surrounding countryside. Although it seemed as though we were in the middle of nowhere, we had been told that 60% of Wisconsinites live within 20 miles of some part of the Ice Age Trail.  The Lodi Marsh Loop Today was cloudy and cold with intermittent breaks of sunshine. Once again, Greg and I parked in the Robertson parking lot. This time we headed south/west. Th...

Our friend Barb joined us this afternoon as we set out to hike the Fern Glen segment. We began this short walk at the IAT parking lot off of highway J. The IAT Guidebook describes this hike as quiet and hilly.  Because it was spring, the tree branches were still mostly leafless, allowing the afternoon sun to brighten the darker areas of the forest.  We entered the woods and were immediately greeted by delicate looking purple flowers. I later discovered  that they  are wood violets, the state flower of Wisconsin, and usually bloom from April to June, marking the arrival of spring.  The trail ran parallel to the highway for a bit before turning and heading deeper into the woods. We passed through privately owned land as the pretty trail took us up and down hills to its culmination at Bilkey Road.  We then walked along the connecting route that led to the high school where we would begin another day.  Barb treated us to dinner at KD's Bar and Grill in Lod...

Where to begin - that was the first decision we had to make as our dream to hike the IAT became a reality. I thought it would be cool to begin at the beginning - at the western border of Wisconsin and continue straight through to the eastern border of the state. Greg, being the more practical one, convinced me that hiking sections made a whole lot more sense. Completing one segment at a time would give us way more flexibility. We could choose locations based on the weather.  (Hot and humid days, mosquito filled woods, and snow and ice covered trails didn't need to be a problem.)  We could change plans at the last minute if our children needed a babysitter. (Grandparents will understand this.)  We could postpone a hike if we weren't feeling well. And well, on some days, we might just decide to do something different. (Isn't that what retirement is all about?) And so, on April 15, 2025, two weeks after Greg's last day at work, we began our journey. Greg chose the Lodi Val...

Welcome to our blog. We are Greg and Lori, recently retired and ready to explore our state’s scenic trail. We’d love for you to join us as we journey through fragrant pinelands and open prairies, rural farmlands and dense forests, quiet towns and secluded villages across our great state. Facts about Wisconsin's Ice Age Trail (also known as the IAT) It is nearly 1200 miles in length. It stretches from Interstate Park along the St. Croix River in western Wisconsin to Potawatomi State Park on Sturgeon Bay in eastern Wisconsin. It is one of America’s 11 National Scenic Trails. It is completely located in Wisconsin. It follows the edges of the last continental glacier in North America. Facts about us We moved to Wisconsin in 2007 after living in Pennsylvania and New Jersey for most of our lives. We have five amazing children (two by marriage), one adorable granddaughter, and one five year old, very spoiled bernedoodle. At the moment, they all live in the midwest and will hopefully join ...