New Year’s Day was insanely windy and cold.  The second day of the new year was still quite blustery and the country roads covered in ice.  Sometimes my eyes are wondering everywhere but on the road which makes for interesting travel on hills and corners.

My co-pilot for this adventure, RWPC President, Cynthia Mackowick.  Presumably, the job of the co-pilot would include some sort of navigational duties, which one would think may include watching the road.  I couldn’t blame her for not being able to do so as the countryside was lit up magnificently from the previous afternoon’s icy fall and the mornings brilliant sunshine.  There was never any real danger as my usual speed on these outings is rather slow, but you need to watch out for those corners that sneak up on you.

Our day took us through my ever-favorite area’s of Pierce County Wisconsin.  From Esdaile to El Paso to Plum City and back around again.  Each day is different.  There is an endless combination of light, clouds, shadows, weather,  and wildlife that offer variety to the familiar scene.  That is one of things I love about photography.  You can photograph the same area over and over and never capture the same image.

The huge chocolate lab that rushed the car from where his owner was stream-side cracked me up.  All bark and no bite, he was, with plenty of tail wagging and of course a bit of slobber.

All that glitters is not gold; sometimes it is snow and ice.  Here are some shots of just that and more.