Drifting through a 7° landscape….

The Driftless Area in Wisconsin is a unique geographical region that covers approximately 24,000 square miles and spans parts of several states, including southwest Wisconsin. The region is characterized by rolling hills, steep bluffs, and deep valleys that avoided glacial activity during the last ice age about 13,000 years ago. This has allowed the preservation of the area’s unique topography and fertile soil that supports small farms. The scenic beauty of the Driftless Area and the many old barns drew me to the area last week.  The Princess wasn’t interested in standing in the snow enjoying single-digit temperatures, which opened the navigator’s seat in the truck for my friend Morgan.  We were taking part in a photography workshop focused on barns.

Many of these barns have been around for over a century, and despite their age, they remain sturdy and functional, a testament to the craftsmanship of their builders. With their weathered siding and iconic peaked roofs, these old barns have become landmarks in the Driftless Area.

We had hoped for clean white landscapes with interesting clouds floating by. What we got was blowing snow most of the first day with a dark gray sky. To top it off, the temperatures made into the low teens the first day and not out of single digits the next.  The low temperature didn’t make it easy to shoot, but it did not dampen the excitement at every stop.

Three views of the barn, I wish I knew the significance of the carved star next to the opening.

This just in, Morgan learned that the stars on barns were started by early Dutch and German settlers as a way to ward off evil.

We stopped to photograph a couple of churches that dotted the area

A suggestion, don’t count on your decades-old snow boots to hold up. On the second day, while standing in a snow drift, I commented to Morgan that my right foot was warm, but the left was uncomfortably cold. (Not exactly how I phrased it.) When we got back to the car, where I could see my feet, I noticed that both sides of my left boot had blown out. The rubber had dry-rotted and failed sometime during the morning. This turned into a point of humor for the group.

A couple of logistical things.

• Dodgeville, WI, is an excellent place to stay if you are looking for a motel.
• Jimmy’s Diner serves a great breakfast. Located on Leffler Street.
• Bob’s Bitchin’ BBQ on Iowa Street serves a good burger for dinner.
• Very few places are open in Dodgeville on Sunday morning, plan accordingly.

Dennis