By Joann M. Ringelstetter
In early May of this year, Bucky on Parade, a free public art event a dozen years in the making, was unveiled in the Madison, Wisconsin area. The project featured 85 statues of Bucky Badger, the official mascot of the University of Wisconsin–Madison. The statue below of Bucky in his football uniform was designed by FAST Corporation, the company from Sparta, Wisconsin that produced the statues.
The statues would be on display from May 7 through September 12. Most of them would be in downtown Madison, but several would also be located in surrounding communities. A day or two after the event began, I stopped at the Middleton library and was surprised to see “Bucky the Builder," designed by artist Erica Vetrovec, standing next to City Hall. I didn’t know Middleton would be lucky enough to host one of the statues. And a couple weeks later, I realized Middleton was hosting two of them when I discovered “Work Safe Bucky” in Lakeview Park.
On May 10, I spent several hours photographing the beautiful spring blossoms at Longenecker Gardens in the UW Arboretum. After that, I visited Olbrich Botanical Gardens, where I discovered a Bucky statue called “Grow.” As I was snapping a photograph, a woman told me to make sure I saw the one across the street at Olbrich Park. I’m glad she pointed it out because it was a fun one – “Hip Buckster,” designed by artists Brooke Weiland & Evan Schultz, with his 1970s tie-dye shirt and rainbow-colored peace symbol.
As spring turned into summer, I kept meaning to visit all the Bucky statues in downtown Madison. Even with the constant reminder by friends and family who were posting their Bucky photos on Facebook, I didn’t get around to going to see them myself. As summer was coming to an end and the kids were heading back to school, I realized there were only a few days left before many of the Bucky statues would be removed and auctioned off. This is “Baller Bucky,” by artist Brooke Wentland, suited up for a basketball game and standing in front of the University of Wisconsin’s Red Gym.
The upcoming weekend would be crowded downtown due to a Badger football game on Saturday and an Ironman competition on Sunday, so I decided I needed to go on Friday and visit as many Bucky statues as possible. However, that meant fighting weekday traffic and parking problems, along with all the university students walking and riding to classes. So I headed out before dawn and started with one of my favorites, “Major Bucky,” which was designed by artist Rachel Lyga, and honors the drum major and leader of the UW marching band.
Parking near these statues was difficult, so after capturing the first three statues, I parked in the Lake Street ramp and began the long route on foot. First, I captured “#GameDayBucky” by artists Rose Malm and Austin Fath, with his Jump Around shirt. October 10 of this year marks the 20th anniversary of the first time "Jump Around" by the House of Pain was played between the third and fourth quarters. For anyone who doesn’t know what this fun tradition looks like, here’s a short Jump Around YouTube video.
I walked across Library Mall and hiked up Bascom Hill to capture another favorite, “Graduation Bucky,” designed by FAST Corporation.
Next I walked down to the Memorial Union Terrace and captured “Sunset” Bucky, by artists Allyson Casey and Megan Breene, which has all the colors of a Lake Mendota sunset. Then I walked several blocks of State Street, capturing numerous Bucky statues, including “Bucky at the Terrace,” by artist Nicole Rosenbaum. Both of these Bucky statues feature the iconic sunburst Terrace chairs.
I walked back past the Lake Street ramp and over to the Gordon Dining and Event Center to capture “Pucky” Bucky by artist Dan Gardiner. Pucky is wearing his hockey uniform and ice skates and is holding his hockey stick, ready for a game.
I walked from there to the Kohl Center to capture “And On Wisconsin,” a Bucky statue designed by artist Jill Iwanski and representing past, present, and future members of the UW Marching Band.
Whew! I didn’t track my steps but should have. By this time, I must have walked at least 3 or 4 miles. I returned to my car and drove from that parking ramp to another ramp near the Capitol Square where there were quite a few more statues. One very creative statue was “Animals Need Bucky Too” by artist Kathy King. This Bucky statue had collages of pets, farm animals, and zoo animals on the front and back.
Another favorite of mine (maybe because I grew up on a Holstein dairy farm) was “Wisconsin Colors,” located outside the State Capitol and designed by artist S. V. Medaris. This Bucky statue is colored in black and white like a Holstein and he sports a sweater with Holsteins in a pasture, honoring the beauty of Wisconsin’s Driftless Area.
There were many more Bucky statues around the Capitol Square and along adjoining streets. I certainly had no plans to capture all 85 statues, but I worked hard to visit almost all of the ones that I felt were the most creative. I enjoyed my adventure and met some really nice people along the route. But after walking a couple more miles, I was ready to head for home. The last Bucky statue I captured was the beautiful “Celestial Bucky,” designed by artist Christy Grace and standing high on Observatory Drive at the Lake Mendota overlook.
There will be a Bucky on Parade Finale Party at the Kohl Center in Madison on September 29. Thirty of the Bucky statues will be on display and up for auction. Proceeds from the event will benefit Garding Against Cancer, the Madison Area Sports Commission, and other community charities. For more information, visit the “Bucky on Parade” website.
And for photos of Bucky statues not featured in this blog post, visit our Bucky on Parade photo gallery.
Happy Shunpiking!
Joann
Photos in this blog post can be purchased as wall art, paper prints, downloads, phone cases, and keepsakes by clicking on the photo. You will be taken to the gallery website where you will see a big blue "BUY" button. Or to see all photos available, click on the "Browse Galleries" button on the menu at the top of this page. Thank you for your interest!
Shunpiking To Heaven Backroads Blog
Sunday, September 23, 2018
Tuesday, September 11, 2018
An Anything But Ordinary Tuesday
By Ruth A. Ringelstetter
Just like the day President Kennedy was shot, if you were old enough to have clear memories, you remember where you were.
September 11, 2001 started like an ordinary Tuesday. I was at work by 7:00 A.M. It wasn’t until coworkers who started at 8:00 began to arrive that I knew something was wrong. Those who had their radios on had heard that a plane had hit the North Tower of the World Trade Center in New York City. The terrible news was continuous throughout the day and for many days after.
Joann and I have never really talked about that day. We have an agreement that even if we speak about something unpleasant, we’re only allowed a minute or two to kvetch and then we turn our attention to the backroads.
It wasn’t until 2016 that we stumbled on a memorial in Ohio dedicated to 9-11 and including a piece of twisted steel from the Word Trade Center site.
The program of giving 9-11 artifacts to communities began in 2010, after New York City claimed thousands of artifacts. The artifacts were free. They had to be used for a public display and the application had to describe the display so that they could match an artifact to the project. Some pieces of steel were so large that they were cut into smaller pieces, some as small as 6 inches.
The program gave more than 2600 artifacts to 1,585 fire and police departments, schools, museums and other non-profit organizations in every state and 10 other countries. The artifacts were stored at JFK International Airport's Hangar 17. The last artifact left the hangar in the summer of 2016.
After finding our first memorial, I started to research before our trips to make sure we weren’t missing any in our travels.
On the first day of our 2017 trip to Ohio, we visited Rockford, Illinois and their First Responders and 9/11 Memorial.
And just last fall, at the end of September, we made our way to Soldiers Walk Veterans Memorial Park in Arcadia, Wisconsin.
This park had also been on my list to visit for several years. It is 54 acres, and the largest Memorial Park in the United States, outside of Washington D.C.
The park is about 40 minutes north of La Crosse and is free to visit. You can visit their website to find out more.
Whatever you do today, take a few minutes to remember those who perished that day, and those who have died since from illnesses related to their work at the site.
We will never forget,
Ruth
Photos in this blog post can be purchased as wall art, paper prints, downloads, phone cases, and keepsakes by clicking on the photo. You will be taken to the gallery website where you will see a big blue "BUY" button. Or to see all photos available, click on the "Browse Galleries" button on the menu at the top of this page. Thank you for your interest!
Just like the day President Kennedy was shot, if you were old enough to have clear memories, you remember where you were.
September 11, 2001 started like an ordinary Tuesday. I was at work by 7:00 A.M. It wasn’t until coworkers who started at 8:00 began to arrive that I knew something was wrong. Those who had their radios on had heard that a plane had hit the North Tower of the World Trade Center in New York City. The terrible news was continuous throughout the day and for many days after.
Joann and I have never really talked about that day. We have an agreement that even if we speak about something unpleasant, we’re only allowed a minute or two to kvetch and then we turn our attention to the backroads.
It wasn’t until 2016 that we stumbled on a memorial in Ohio dedicated to 9-11 and including a piece of twisted steel from the Word Trade Center site.
The program of giving 9-11 artifacts to communities began in 2010, after New York City claimed thousands of artifacts. The artifacts were free. They had to be used for a public display and the application had to describe the display so that they could match an artifact to the project. Some pieces of steel were so large that they were cut into smaller pieces, some as small as 6 inches.
The program gave more than 2600 artifacts to 1,585 fire and police departments, schools, museums and other non-profit organizations in every state and 10 other countries. The artifacts were stored at JFK International Airport's Hangar 17. The last artifact left the hangar in the summer of 2016.
After finding our first memorial, I started to research before our trips to make sure we weren’t missing any in our travels.
On the first day of our 2017 trip to Ohio, we visited Rockford, Illinois and their First Responders and 9/11 Memorial.
And just last fall, at the end of September, we made our way to Soldiers Walk Veterans Memorial Park in Arcadia, Wisconsin.
This park had also been on my list to visit for several years. It is 54 acres, and the largest Memorial Park in the United States, outside of Washington D.C.
The park is about 40 minutes north of La Crosse and is free to visit. You can visit their website to find out more.
Whatever you do today, take a few minutes to remember those who perished that day, and those who have died since from illnesses related to their work at the site.
We will never forget,
Ruth
Photos in this blog post can be purchased as wall art, paper prints, downloads, phone cases, and keepsakes by clicking on the photo. You will be taken to the gallery website where you will see a big blue "BUY" button. Or to see all photos available, click on the "Browse Galleries" button on the menu at the top of this page. Thank you for your interest!
Sunday, August 26, 2018
The Great River Road celebrates 80 years
By Ruth A. Ringelstetter
The Great River Road travels along both sides of the mighty Mississippi through 10 states. It has been designated a National Scenic Byway. And September has been declared Drive the Great River Road month. 2018 marks the 80th anniversary of the road.
At times the road hugs the river and at others, it is a few miles away. It travels through larger cities, small river towns, and beautiful countryside. The Mississippi River headwaters are at Lake Itasca within Minnesota’s Itasca State Park.
As is often the case with us, we haven’t taken a trip yet dedicated to The Great River Road, although spending more time there is on our wish list.
The Great River Road isn’t really one road, it’s a combination of US Highways, State Highways, and local roads.
To help you plan a trip, you can order a map from The Great River Road website. Here you can even find itineraries for the entire route, or smaller sections to suit your available time and interests.
On the parts of the road we have travelled, the railroad tracks closely follow the river. You’ll often see trains and their related buildings.
You’ll also find some historic bridges to cross from side to side. Unfortunately, every year more of these bridges are being replaced with modern versions that are not as picturesque.
Even though we haven’t spent nearly enough time on the Great River Road, we have managed to find things that interest us in the cities, small towns, and countryside.
In Winona, Minnesota, we found the old stone Sugar Loaf Brewery building. It was established in 1862 at the foot of Sugar Loaf, the prominent river bluff from which it took its name. Also known as Bub's Brewery, it is on the National Register of Historic Places.
And we found an old sign for the Sugar Loaf Motel.
Across the river in Wisconsin, we found an abandoned brick farmhouse.
And in Trempealeau, we found a street or post clock. We love finding them, and have to admit, we’ve passed some without noticing them, sometimes more than once!
In La Crosse, you can see the World’s Largest Six-Pack. Don’t miss the statue of King Gambrinus across the street like we did!
In Potosi, you can visit the historic Potosi Brewery. Originally founded in 1852 along the Great River Road and just a stone’s throw from the Mississippi River, the Potosi Brewing Company brewed more than a century’s worth of delicious craft beer before finally bowing to shifting market pressures and emptying its bright tanks for good in 1972. Today it has been restored, is on the National Register of Historic Places, and is the site of the National Brewery Museum.
In Iowa, you’ll find plenty of farm scenes. We visit Iowa often, and even though our main focus has usually been barns, we managed to spend an early morning in downtown Dubuque.
While we were there, we found Dottie’s Café, and by seeing all of the people going in, we could tell that it’s a popular place for breakfast.
Galena, Illinois is such a historic town that you could easily spend half a day or more in town.
From Ulysses S. Grant’s home you can get a bird’s eye view of the city.
The farthest south we’ve traveled on the Great River Road is Missouri, and on our last trip there, we crossed the river into Illinois on the Champ Clark Bridge. Champ Clark Bridge is a five-span through truss bridge completed in 1928. The view is from Henderson Park Overlook high above the Mississippi River on the Great River Road in Louisiana, Missouri. Henderson Park was given by and named for John B. Henderson, a United States Senator from Louisiana, Missouri and a co-author of the Thirteenth Amendment to the United States Constitution.
It was so pleasant at the park high above the river. In one direction, you could see the Champ Clark Bridge, and just down river, an old Railroad bridge.
And there was pretty frequent barge traffic travelling on the river. We were a little late in leaving, but it was worth it. This bridge too is scheduled to be replaced. And, although that’s great for travelers’ safety, new bridges never have the character of these old bridges. Enjoy them while you can.
We hope you have a chance to travel some or all of the Great River Road. If you’re interested, you can see riverboats at their shore stops in La Crosse, Wisconsin. The schedule is subject to change depending on river conditions.
Drop us a line if you find something interesting we should check out. We always have room on our calendar for more. (HA!)
Happy Shunpiking!
Ruth
The Great River Road travels along both sides of the mighty Mississippi through 10 states. It has been designated a National Scenic Byway. And September has been declared Drive the Great River Road month. 2018 marks the 80th anniversary of the road.
At times the road hugs the river and at others, it is a few miles away. It travels through larger cities, small river towns, and beautiful countryside. The Mississippi River headwaters are at Lake Itasca within Minnesota’s Itasca State Park.
As is often the case with us, we haven’t taken a trip yet dedicated to The Great River Road, although spending more time there is on our wish list.
The Great River Road isn’t really one road, it’s a combination of US Highways, State Highways, and local roads.
To help you plan a trip, you can order a map from The Great River Road website. Here you can even find itineraries for the entire route, or smaller sections to suit your available time and interests.
On the parts of the road we have travelled, the railroad tracks closely follow the river. You’ll often see trains and their related buildings.
You’ll also find some historic bridges to cross from side to side. Unfortunately, every year more of these bridges are being replaced with modern versions that are not as picturesque.
Even though we haven’t spent nearly enough time on the Great River Road, we have managed to find things that interest us in the cities, small towns, and countryside.
In Winona, Minnesota, we found the old stone Sugar Loaf Brewery building. It was established in 1862 at the foot of Sugar Loaf, the prominent river bluff from which it took its name. Also known as Bub's Brewery, it is on the National Register of Historic Places.
And we found an old sign for the Sugar Loaf Motel.
Across the river in Wisconsin, we found an abandoned brick farmhouse.
And in Trempealeau, we found a street or post clock. We love finding them, and have to admit, we’ve passed some without noticing them, sometimes more than once!
In La Crosse, you can see the World’s Largest Six-Pack. Don’t miss the statue of King Gambrinus across the street like we did!
In Potosi, you can visit the historic Potosi Brewery. Originally founded in 1852 along the Great River Road and just a stone’s throw from the Mississippi River, the Potosi Brewing Company brewed more than a century’s worth of delicious craft beer before finally bowing to shifting market pressures and emptying its bright tanks for good in 1972. Today it has been restored, is on the National Register of Historic Places, and is the site of the National Brewery Museum.
In Iowa, you’ll find plenty of farm scenes. We visit Iowa often, and even though our main focus has usually been barns, we managed to spend an early morning in downtown Dubuque.
While we were there, we found Dottie’s Café, and by seeing all of the people going in, we could tell that it’s a popular place for breakfast.
Galena, Illinois is such a historic town that you could easily spend half a day or more in town.
From Ulysses S. Grant’s home you can get a bird’s eye view of the city.
The farthest south we’ve traveled on the Great River Road is Missouri, and on our last trip there, we crossed the river into Illinois on the Champ Clark Bridge. Champ Clark Bridge is a five-span through truss bridge completed in 1928. The view is from Henderson Park Overlook high above the Mississippi River on the Great River Road in Louisiana, Missouri. Henderson Park was given by and named for John B. Henderson, a United States Senator from Louisiana, Missouri and a co-author of the Thirteenth Amendment to the United States Constitution.
It was so pleasant at the park high above the river. In one direction, you could see the Champ Clark Bridge, and just down river, an old Railroad bridge.
And there was pretty frequent barge traffic travelling on the river. We were a little late in leaving, but it was worth it. This bridge too is scheduled to be replaced. And, although that’s great for travelers’ safety, new bridges never have the character of these old bridges. Enjoy them while you can.
We hope you have a chance to travel some or all of the Great River Road. If you’re interested, you can see riverboats at their shore stops in La Crosse, Wisconsin. The schedule is subject to change depending on river conditions.
Drop us a line if you find something interesting we should check out. We always have room on our calendar for more. (HA!)
Happy Shunpiking!
Ruth
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