Flyover country

Most Americans who live on either coast think of the midsection of the U.S. as a big boring blob, disparagingly known as "flyover country." That's fine with us. We like to emphasize that it gets cold and snowy and miserable here in the winter — not to mention storms like tornadoes at other times of the year. We're glad people dismiss us and don't touch down here. We're happy keeping our splendors secret from the rest of you.

JOHN HART

The image above shows Lake Mendota and Lake Monona embracinging Madison's isthmus. Downstream are Lake Waubesa and Lake Kegonsa. If you enlarge the photo you can see our state Capitol in the center at the high point of the isthmus.

"Would the state Capitol or the University of Wisconsin System’s flagship campus be located in Madison were its landscape not dominated by lakes" is the questions posed in the cutline of this stunning photo by John Hart of the Wisconsin State Journal newspaper from a recent series of articles about our lakes. 

The image above is from the UW Alumni Association and is one of my favorite views of the campus along Lake Mendota. That's Bascom Hall at the top of Bascom Hill, the symbolic heart of the campus located at the foot of State Street at the opposite end from the state Capitol. Walking to class over Bascom Hill in January with the wind roaring off the lake is an unforgettable experience.

For the last couple of years I had a monthly committee meeting on the other side of Bascom Hill. Parking is limited on campus which resulted in me hiking over the hill to my meeting and then walking up to its location on the fourth floor. I was quite pleased with myself every time I made that trek as it did not take me any longer to do it than when I was a grad student back in the 1970s. 

Comments

[Barbara H.]

Even though Madison has been on my radar since my college days in NE Iowa, I did not know it had so many lakes around it. It's kind of strange how we can know so much about a place and still not really know it. Great pictures.

[Peter/Outlaw]

Don't forget hot and humid in the summer. There's so much beauty in flyover country; Your pictures are proof. Kudos to you for making the trek across campus at grad student speed!

[Alison]

We emphasize how wet and dark and rainy it is here in the Seattle area in the winter and as a result I think everyone thinks it's like that all the time here. I used to try to disabuse people of that notion, but I don't do that any more. So, yeah, it rains here all the time. Even in the summer. All summer. Nothing but rain and dark skies ever. So depressing.

[Rae Kaiser]

Lovely post. And how wonderful that you got to go to school here. I consider myself lucky to have now lived in Madison for 10 years and 9 of them on Lake Monona.

[Lisa at Greenbow]

You do live in a beautiful part of the country. Good for you being able to hike into your meeting at a good rate.

[Kris P]

I'd love it if people flew over and ignored Southern California, Linda! My father was born and raised in the beautiful state of Wisconsin, although I admit I've never been there; however, I understand the 2020 Garden Bloggers' Fling will be held in Madison so I may get a chance to correct that omission.

[Michelle]

Those are such lovely pictures of Madtown.

I really stopped by because I just finished Educated by Tara Westover and had to say thanks for the great book recommendation you gave awhile back. What an incredible read!

[Linda Brazill]

I don't think I can say I'm glad you liked the book, because it is not a book you exactly like. More one that impresses and astounds!

[Linda Brazill]

Madison is three times the size it was when I moved here in 1972. There are some advantages to that like a huge increase in great ethnic restaurants. But the traffic and sprawl are certainly the downside. And bigger cities would laugh at what I am complaining about. We've had too many stories over the years about Madison being great for kids, bikers, whatever. Please stay home is my mantra these days.

[Linda Brazill]

When we moved to this house it was the first time in 30 years that I did not live a block or two from one of the lakes. At least I always drove to work through Vilas Park so I could still see water every day.

[Linda Brazill]

I haven't been to southern California for years but I share your concerns about overcrowding etc. So interesting that your Dad was born in Wisconsin. And yes, I have heard that a couple of bloggers are working on Madison as the 2020 Fling location. So maybe we will meet.

[Kristin]

I agree with keeping Madison a flyover city. Here in KC, we don't mind that people want to live in Johnson County, KS instead of in KC north of the river. They can all stay down there!