6/17 - Day 14

Rock Lake.  Lake Mills, Wisconsin.

Interference pattern.

Birch trees.  The most impacting experience of the Glacial Drumlin Trail for me (aside from the abundant variety of fauna) was the visual and aural qualities of the birch tree.  The play of sunlight as the leaves flicker in the wind, coupled with a soporific gentle rustle, was nothing short of incredible.

Mooooove over, you're in my spot!

Glacial Drumlin Trail nearing Cottage Grove (west end of trail).  Ride through open expanse of nature preserve.

Red-winged blackbird.

Picking up the Capital City Trail at the NE outskirts of Madison.

I traded my bike for a flying cow.  Life-time supply of milkshakes and a trip over the moon had me sold.

Detail, metal-smith shop.

Painting the Capital City Trail along Lake Monona.

Talk about the confluence of cycling and FLW!  It was a good moment... 

FLW Quote regarding the Monona Community and Convention Center.  The structure was constructed posthumously in 1997 according to Wright's master plan of 1938.  More information can be found here.

The urban gestures of the Monona Community and Convention Center are simply brilliant.  Included is the axiality of the capital building with the upper level terrace and street access one level down (not shown here).  This open view corridor extends onto Lake Monona behind me, enabling views for the captial building, its forecourt and plaza, and the Lake View Terrace of the MCCC.

Jacobs House I.  First Usonian House built (1936).  Visit website here.

Interior.  Ceiling light fixture is original to house (corner lamp is not).  Exposed spiraling incandescent bulbs.

Section detail of sandwich wall panel, a trademark of the Usonian home.  Single layer of plywood with damp-proofing membrane to either side, on top of which pine boards and redwood battens are tongue + grooved into position.  Pine and redwood at Jacobs House I only, subsequent Usonians with Cypress.

Bill Martinelli, current caretaker of the house (with owner Jim Dennis), was kind enough to give me a tour and let me explore a bit.  He also had a copy of the original plans and some interesting anecdotes to share (see discussion of site below).

View from Toepfer street.  Jacobs House preceded city's zoning codes, which contributed to the achievement of the $5500 budget (per John Sergeant) since it allowed the house to be close to the street, eliminating the need for a long driveway (and extensive concrete / site work).  What is also interesting is that Wright worked with Herbert Jacobs on the site selection, encouraging him to buy two lots.  Originally Mr. Jacobs purchased one lot to either side of Toepfer street, but Wright had him purchase two adjoining lots (current site), which would give a 120' x 120' site dimension (versus 60'w x 120'd typical lot) and thus better allow Wright to position the house for capitalizing on passive solar strategies (opening to east for morning sun heat gain while shading to west to mitigate excessive gain).

Rudin House.  Erdman Prefab 1957.  Extension of study of low-cost house (late career).

Van Tamlen House.  Erdman Prefab 1956.  Roof strata reminiscent of Oak Park examples.

Another of Wisconsin's fabulous riding trails.  West of Glacial Drumlin Trail.  More info here.

Natural tunnel.  Military Ridge State Trail.

After being spoiled with flat trails for a few days of easy riding, the last 10 miles of the approach to Spring Green were challenging, to say the least.  Taliesin East does not give itself away to the cyclist.

Despite nearly being attacked by a herd of cattle (long story but no joke, thank goodness for barb-wire fences!), I made it to Tower Hill Park, camping only 0.6 miles east of Taliesin East.