Invited
to Explore
My Rustic Roads Odyssey
Where The Signs Beckon
Look for signs of brown, yellow and white,
Official markers that point the way.
Here's where Rustic Road journeys begin,
Roads into nature, into yesterday.
My Rustic Roads Odyssey
The Invitation
Wisconsin has 126 designated Rustic Roads (as of 2026), stretching approximately 760 miles through 61 of the state’s 72 counties. These roads run from less than a mile to more than 37 miles in length. Some are gravel and dirt, others paved, and still others a bit of both.
More than a decade ago, I embarked on a personal odyssey to experience these quiet roadways. Exploring these roads inspired reflection, thoughts that I'm sharing here. But words alone are insufficient, so I'm also presenting some of the many images gathered. I hope that this inspires others to go out, explore, and discover.
Although an ambitious undertaking, I've come to recognize that exploring Wisconsin’s official Rustic Roads is only an introduction, an enticement, an orientation, a spark to urge those who are truly curious and appreciative of less-traveled roads to go even farther. Unmarked by official signs are countless unofficial rustic (small “r”) roads, brimming with their own stories to tell and sights to observe.
My Rustic Road Odyssey enhanced my appreciation for the land and reminded me how much we have become detached from our environment. Through this experience, I came to understand that the land doesn’t belong to us as much as we belong to the land.
The Rustic Roads are calling. Go forth and discover!
Dear Traveler:
The sections that follow feature text about My Rustic Roads Odyssey interspersed with thematic Gallery sets of images made during my journey. Enjoy!
About The Author/Photographer
Kerry G. Hill grew up in Rockford, Illinois, an industrial city northwest of Chicago. His parents, both raised on farms in Arkansas, had migrated to Rockford in 1950.
After graduating from high school, he enrolled in the Medill School of Journalism at Northwestern University, where he also majored in history, and minored in political science and anthropology - studies inspired by his experiences as an exchange student to Saipan, in the Northern Mariana Islands.
Upon graduation, he worked as a reporter/photographer and editor at daily newspapers in Wausau and Appleton, Wisconsin, and Belvidere and Crystal Lake, Illinois, eventually ending up at the Wisconsin State Journal, in Madison. There, he served for more than 10 years as the national/international news editor.
He left the news business in 2001 for the University of Wisconsin-Madison, where he directed communications, first for the nationally ranked School of Education and then the International Division.
He has been an advocate for global education, serving as president of Global Wisconsin, Inc., a non-profit advocacy group, and as a member of State Superintendent' Tony Evers' International Education Council.
After retiring from UW-Madison in 2017, he received training to Teach English as a Foreign Language and began coaching non-native speakers seeking to improve their English communications abilities.
His personal interests include photography, history, and exploring places near and far.
Gallery: Exploring Wisconsin Rustic Roads
Behold, myriad Midwestern vistas.
Glorious gifts to surprise and delight.
Across all seasons. All terrains.
Exquisite palettes of color and texture.
My Rustic Roads Odyssey
Where The Road Begins
By nature, I am an explorer, driven by an insatiable curiosity. As far back as I can remember, I've always felt compelled to investigate whatever I might find in the next block, across the next road, around the next curve, or over the next hill. I just felt this need to go 'there', onto the next 'there', and to the 'there' beyond.
As a young boy, I considered the bicycle as nothing less than the greatest invention of all time. The bike gave me my first wheels, my means to investigate places farther and farther away.
Getting my driver's license and first car further extended my reach, increasing my capacity to go wherever my inquisitiveness led. I appreciated how 'The Tank'—the name I gave to my clunky old Buick LeSabre—could transport me from one place to another, but I found my greatest joy in simply being able to wander, to meander, to lose myself, to explore. My ramblings often led down roads less traveled—quiet byways where life seemed to amble on at a slower, more relaxed pace. These are the journeys that I sought back then—and continue to seek today. These are the expeditions that recharge my battery and renew my spirit.
In addition to a relentless urge to explore, I have also long felt called to share, to tell stories about where I've been, to let others see what I have seen. This desire to observe, to learn, and to report led me into a career in journalism. In this line of work, I could share my experiences both in words and images. Photographs carry power and feeling beyond what words alone can convey. Photos allow viewers to bring more of their own perspective into the experience. Used together, words and images can be powerful.
Increasingly, the camera has become an essential companion when I venture out. The camera gives added purpose to my wanderings and a means to capture moments along the way. I've embarked on many excursions with the intent of creating photo sets to collectively tell stories or reflect unifying themes. I make photos mindfully, approaching each image as a moment in time, captured as is, without manipulation. In framing each shot, I barely fret over details. I don't seek perfection. It is what it is. It either works or it doesn't.
My photographic muse inspired a search for stories and themes that tickled my curiosity. For instance, I had become fascinated by public expressions of art, such as sculptures and murals, which led to an interest with barn quilts. For the uninitiated, barn quilts are those square (usually 8-by-8 feet), colorful works that increasingly have been adorning barns and other rural buildings. Apparently, these works—made of wood, not fabric—are called quilts because many follow patterns that have been adapted from traditional quilt-making. Some feature abstract designs. Others carry meaningful images, patterns, and symbols. All are works of art, displayed with pride, to brighten up everyday settings.
When I came across a brochure that listed the locations of barn quilts and historical murals in Marquette County, I immediately saw an opportunity for my next photographic expedition. I spent a few days roaming the back roads and small towns of this central Wisconsin county, locating and photographing quilts and murals. During one stop at a farm, a conversation with the owners planted the seed for another project. They mentioned that Green County, in southern Wisconsin, boosts an even larger array of barn quilts.
My research revealed that, indeed, Green County did have a large collection of barn quilts. Once I was able to obtain a map with all the locations, I had my next mission. Over the course of three days, I rambled up and down Green County's quiet back roads and rolling hills, photographing barn quilts and basking in the rural landscapes.
I emerged from this journey with images of more than 120 barn quilts. I was delighted when Green County's visitor's office agreed to use several of my photos to promote tourism. I also displayed nearly two dozen images in an exhibit at a Madison coffee shop. But more than attention, it was the experience that left me yearning to explore more back roads.
NEXT: Call of the Rustic Roads
Gallery: It's All About The Trees
Trees, trees, trees.
Shaping the rustic character of these roads.
Yet so easy to ignore.
Stop. Look closely. Look up. See.
My Rustic Roads Odyssey
Call of the Rustic Roads
I found my next call to action in a booklet that I’d picked up at a Wisconsin Tourism display. As I thumbed through the guide to Wisconsin’s Rustic Roads, the dedication to photographer Bob Rashid caught my attention. I knew Bob. I had hired Bob when I needed top-notch images for a publication that I had managed. I enjoyed working with Bob.
The last time I spoke with him, in September 2008, he gave positive feedback on photos that I had shared with him. Bob’s encouragement meant a lot. Then, just a few weeks later, Bob suddenly passed away. The community outpouring was a testament to what a talented photographer and kind, sensitive human being that he was.
I later learned that Bob’s interest in Rustic Roads was rooted in his boyhood experiences, growing up around Ripon, Wisconsin. His family often went for Sunday drives to enjoy the scenery of the countryside. It reminded me of the Pleasure Drive concept, an effort to set aside roads for leisurely enjoyment, which I had read about in a book about Madison history.
Over the course of a couple of years in the 1990s, Bob had traveled on and photographed every route that had been designated as a Rustic Road and published a book to showcase his images. I managed to track down a copy of Wisconsin’s Rustic Roads: A Road Less Traveled (Lost River Press, 1995). Much to my delight, I had obtained a copy that Bob had autographed. The book featured Bob’s images and text by a variety of writers. I learned that Bob had been an advocate for Rustic Roads and, through traveling exhibits and radio programs, urged more people to explore these roads less traveled.
Like Bob, I drew some inspiration from my childhood. Growing up in a blue-collar city, I recall family trips to the Southern backwoods where my parents were born and raised. As a result, I had become increasingly fascinated by rural areas. By this time, I had already begun to explore and photograph some of Wisconsin’s backroads. Now, the thought of following Bob’s example was incredibly appealing. In addition to honoring the memory of a talented photographer/artist and kind friend, I recognized that such a project would take me to parts of Wisconsin where I’d never been. The thought of rambling around these nooks and crannies was thrilling. The Rustic Roads were calling.
Still, I recognized the challenge that I was facing. When Bob Rashid set out to photograph Wisconsin’s Rustic Roads, he had only about 67 or so roads to cover. The guide that I’d picked up listed 111 roads, and an online search revealed that a few more had been designated since the 2012 guide had been produced. (And later, even more roads were added.) That meant covering nearly twice as many roads as Bob did. Such an ambitious mission seemed daunting, but I drew inspiration from one of my favorite literary characters, Don Quixote. I saw this as a noble quest, and a possible dream.
In September 2014, I sallied forth on a multi-year odyssey, to locate, navigate, and photograph all of Wisconsin’s Rustic Roads. Over the course of three years, I completed the quest. I had amassed a collection of more than 6,000 images. In addition, the journey sparked a bit of reflection -- unanticipated thoughts generated by what I’d seen and experienced. Now, it’s time to share the experience, in images and words.
Several years after completing this task, an updated guide (which now included many of my photos) listed even more roads. I felt called again to take up the challenge, and bring my collection up to date.
NEXT: What Exactly Are Rustic Roads?
Gallery: Into Nature's Garden
Bits of color here, and there
Adorn these roads.
Take time to enjoy the wild blooms
Take in Nature's display.
My Rustic Roads Odyssey
What Exactly Are Rustic Roads?
Throughout my journey, I kept coming back to one central question: What does it mean for a road to be “rustic”?
The word rustic comes from Latin, meaning “of the country”. This adjective might be used to describe something made in a plain and simple way, something rough, coarse, lacking in refinement, unsophisticated, primitive, etc. But rustic also can be something noble, honest, pastoral, picturesque, unpolished, or natural -- something that is charming in its simplicity.
The Wisconsin Legislature created the Rustic Roads system in 1973 to preserve many of the state’s scenic, lightly traveled country roads. The stated goals of the Rustic Road program are:
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to identify and preserve in a natural and essentially undisturbed condition certain designated roads having unusual or outstanding natural beauty, by virtue of native vegetation along with natural or man-made features associated with the road.
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to provide a linear park-like system for vehicular, bicycle, and pedestrian travel for quiet and leisurely enjoyment by local residents and the general public alike.
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to maintain and administer these roads to provide safe public travel, yet preserve the rustic and scenic qualities through use of appropriate maintenance and design standards, and encouragement of zoning for land use compatibility, utility regulations, and billboard control.
Features of Rustic Roads can include rugged terrain, native vegetation and wildlife, and open areas with agricultural vistas. The program is designed to single out lightly traveled roads for cultural or historical significance. Rustic Roads can be paved, gravel, or dirt, and not scheduled for major improvements that would change their rustic characteristics. And the posted speed limit on a Rustic Road may not exceed 45 mph.
Anyone who travels around Wisconsin recognizes that countless roads can be described as rustic. But getting an official Rustic Road designation requires a petition by local residents, a review by local governing bodies, and then an application to the state’s Rustic Roads Board, which awards the designation.
Each Rustic Road gets a number and is marked by brown, yellow and white signs with a drawn image inside an outline of the state. A Rustic Road may consist of a single road or a route that encompasses multiple roads. Wisconsin’s shortest Rustic Road (in Columbia County) runs less than a mile; the longest (in Marinette County) stretches 37 miles.
NEXT: Through the Eyes of the Photographer
Gallery: All About Water
Water flows.
Water reflects.
Water shapes.
Water is everywhere.
We are drawn to water.
We are water.
My Rustic Roads Odyssey
Through the Eyes of the Photographer
Bob Rashid, who had a degree in philosophy, often cited Holly, his wife and an artist, as a major influence on how he approached his photography. Bob had said he looked at subjects with a painter’s eye, which is reflected in many of his Rustic Roads images.
I enjoyed watching Bob work. He would always take great care and diligence in setting up and composing his subjects, never rushing or taking short cuts. I appreciated his patience, his calm demeanor, and his gentle sense of humor. I could always count on him to produce top-quality photos. And I simply liked spending time with him.
My approach to photography comes from different sources. My experience with the camera began in earnest when I took a news photography course while working toward my journalism degree at Northwestern University. Although primarily been a writer and editor, I’ve done a bit of news photography along the way. Working on small newspapers early in my career required being able to do it all. Toiling in the daily news trenches sharpened my skills for telling stories through both images and words.
After moving into editing positions with larger dailies, my education in news photography continued. I worked alongside some truly gifted news photographers at The Post-Crescent in Appleton and the Wisconsin State Journal in Madison. What they taught me about composition and visual storytelling had a significant influence when I began to develop my own photographic vision.
This didn’t begin until after I’d left the daily news grind to work in communications at the University of Wisconsin-Madison. By this time, advances in digital photography had made it possible to pursue photography without having to invest in darkroom equipment. Even the pros had shifted to using digital by this time.
A few years before photography had developed into a full-blown passion, I’d started studying and practicing taijiquan (tai chi) and qigong. The mindfulness developed by practicing these internal martial arts began to permeate all aspects of my life and influenced how I influenced how I interacted with the world.
As such, I approached photography as a mindful pursuit, but with the story-telling mindset of a journalist. When photographing locations, I seek to convey a sense of place, in a given instant. Without expectations or preconceived notions, I go out somewhere – a town, a park, or a Rustic Road – and capture with my camera whatever catches my eye from moment to moment.
NEXT: What Matters Most is The Odyssey
Gallery: All Them Critters
All around, wildlife abounds.
Crawling, creeping, dashing, soaring.
From tiny to large, from slow to fast,
The fauna lurks amid the flora.
My Rustic Roads Odyssey
What Matters Most is The Odyssey
Those who see roads as little more than a means to get from here to there miss the point and value of The Rustic Roads Odyssey. Through The Odyssey, we can learn and grow, explore and discover, understand and celebrate. The Odyssey itself often matters most, especially when it takes us down quiet, rural roads.
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These old roads take us deeper into our world, into our past, and into sacred spaces of beauty and peace, as well as our history and heritage. They invite us to slow down, to breathe deeply, and to focus our senses on what’s around, to appreciate the here and now.
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I’m attracted to old roads, particularly those where I’ve never been before. Looking down one of these paths, I can’t help but wonder what I might find down that way, what I might see. It could be a road that crosses an open landscape, stretching, shrinking, and vanishing into the horizon. Or maybe it’s one that weaves and winds, dips and rises, and disappears around a curve or over a hill. All of these roads, in their magnificence and mystery, speak to the explorer in me. My curiosity compels me to go, to deliberately lose myself, to see and experience what lies beyond.
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To explore, I must move forward. At the same time, I don’t want to rush the experience, so I make frequent stops, shut off the engine, and step out of my car. In these moments, I savor the surroundings, breathe in the essence of this place.
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The power of a still photograph lies in its ability to direct attention, to drown out visual and audio distractions that are superfluous to the photographer’s vision. By confining and directing viewers’ gaze, an individual photo presents a single point of view. When making an image, I want others to see what I see. This is the essence of my photography.
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Also, I recognize that a single scene may be viewed from more than one perspective. I often photograph a scene, anchored to a particular spot, from a wide angle and then with a zoom, producing multiple but distinct images, from the big picture to the narrow focus. This variety of perspectives is also an important part of my storytelling.
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But still images can convey only so much. Visual artifacts alone can’t convey the sounds and sensations present in the moment when they were made. My expeditions were accompanied by a soundtrack provided by nature, plus the occasional background of distant human activity. Movements within these symphonies included various birds calling, creatures rustling through the brush, breezes whispering, rain pattering, and, at times, the overpowering roar of silence.
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Encounters with animals provide an added treat. Winged creatures have included hawks, eagles and vultures soaring overhead, cranes in a field, turkeys in a meadow, a peacock and peahens crossing a road, and a myriad of songbirds. An occasional deer or black bear has wandered through, as well as smaller critters, such as beavers and woodchucks. I was able to photograph some, but many of these encounters were too brief and fleeting. On a couple of roads, I stopped to observe a turtle slowly making its way across the pavement.
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Sounds were accompanied by sensations. I felt variations of heat and cold, dampness and dryness, and the touch, gentle or otherwise, of the wind. At times, I sensed an indefinable spirit or aura permeating a location. These sounds and sensations made me feel alive and, at the same time, acutely aware that I was a small part of something greater.
The finest moments of The Odyssey engaged all of my senses, and recharged and renewed my spirit. Each expedition spurred me on, eager for the next.
NEXT: Unwrapping Roads, One by One
Gallery: For Grins & Giggles
Suddenly, they appear, seemingly out of place. At first.
A bit of creativity, amusing those who pass by.
Unexpected, but welcome,
Bringing smiles into the miles.
My Rustic Roads Odyssey
Unwrapping Roads, One by One
Exploring a Rustic Road involves unwrapping a series of gifts, one at a time. It’s essential to allow each road to tell its own story.
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I approach each Rustic Road as a unique experience -- a slice of time and place that can never be fully replicated, defined by this exact moment, as seen through the eyes of this particular beholder. I had come to see what this individual byway chose to reveal at a singular moment in time.
Along the most rustic of roads, encountering fellow travelers can be a rarity. I’ve photographed many roads on which I could count the number of passing vehicles on one hand. In fact, I’ve explored a few roads without seeing another traveler.
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But these Rustic Roads offer evidence of human activity, starting with the existence of the road itself. Perhaps there are weathered cabins or battered, rusty trailers that serve as hunting camps or temporary lodging for loggers. Elevated deer-hunting stands dot the rural environment.
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I came to recognize a yin and yang of Rustic Roads, of closed and open. Rows of trees shroud some sections of road, creating a sort of tunnel or cocoon, and a sense of mystery, as well as shelter from the elements. Spacious, open roads evoke feelings of boundless freedom, and roads that seem to go on forever, with no obstacles in sight, under wide open skies.
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At their best, Rustic Roads offer a variety of sights that evoke a range of feelings. Those that evoke the deepest feelings, in my view, are the best of the Rustic Roads. Many of the best are gravel and dirt roads. I have found these, the most rustic of Rustic Roads, to be among the quietest and most isolated.
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Gravel and dirt roads refuse to be taken for granted. These roads serve up uneven surfaces that require greater attention to navigate. Driving on gravel engages more of the senses, with the snap, crackle and pop of tires rolling over crushed rocks.
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During dry times, each and every vehicle that passes through kicks up clouds of dust, often accumulating a layer of road dirt as a souvenir. Wet (or snowy) roads present the challenge of getting through without getting stuck. On such roads, travelers often sign the guest book, by leaving tire tracks, particularly after rain or snow.
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The first time I attempted to explore Rustic Roads 14 and 50, a pair of gravel and dirt roads in Adams County, the autumn rain had been falling on and off all day. These narrow passages had turned into mushy, soupy mud. I decided that this would not be the day to venture through.
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I returned a couple of months later, after the ground had frozen. A thin layer of snow coated the coarse unpaved surface. Markings left by a few sets of tire tracks suggested that the roads were passable. These roads were now ready to be explored.
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Most leaves had fallen and shriveled away, leaving trees bare, except for the pines, pulling back the curtains on rugged woodlands, frozen marshlands, and rocky outcroppings. The dirty snow accented the rusty browns and weathered grays all around.
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During my time here, I never encountered another human being. I stopped often. The crunch of my own steps on the gravel echoed through the crispy solitude. I felt a constant urge to linger, to breathe in and just be.
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Along these roads, I saw a few side paths, rutted dirt roads that snaked into the brush, begging to be explored. But gates, chains, and cords blocked my way. Signs declaring “Private Property”, “No Trespassing”, and “Keep Out” were nearly as abundant as the trees themselves. I could look but not touch. I could wonder but not wander beyond the road. Some mysteries would remain.
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One such gate was flanked by a “Beware of Dog” sign on one side post. On the other, a stuffed toy pooch was tacked to a tree, apparently on guard duty.
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I saw a few signs of occasional human habitation, a few rusty, old campers that appeared to be permanently parked. Some spots appeared to be woodlots. Elsewhere, I came across some improvised hunting stands -- one simply scaffolding, another a port-a-potty shell perched on a wooden platform. But, on this day, they were obviously vacant, as far as I could tell.
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This, I thought, was about as rustic (and rusty) as it gets.
NEXT: Perplexing Paradoxes of Paradise
Gallery: The Cows Are Watching
Silent witnesses stand, often barely moving.
In crowds or alone, bovine eyes follow the interloper.
What they're thinking, they do not reveal.
But make no mistake, the cows (and others) are watching.
My Rustic Roads Odyssey
Perplexing Paradoxes of Paradise
My expedition in search of Rustic Roads led to all corners of the state, but the distribution of these roads seemed puzzling, at least at first. The largest number of Rustic Roads can be found in Racine and Walworth County, in Wisconsin’s more densely populated southeastern corner. History of the program sheds some light on this.
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Earl Skagan, a highway commissioner for Racine County, was a driving force behind the creation of the Rustic Roads system. As a witness to urban development, Skagan apparently saw a greater urgency in preserving short stretches of rural roadway in his county by having them designated as Rustic Roads. Perhaps he and others view Rustic Roads near urban areas as more precious, because their existence is more precarious.
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At the same time, some of Wisconsin’s most rustic counties -- particularly those Up North -- have the fewer designated Rustic Roads. Perhaps those counties haven’t seen a need to seek the designation for roads that seem unlikely to face threats of massive development. With such riches, how could they choose which roads to single out? Even without official designation, those counties offer an abundance of less-traveled backroads and byways that beckon to be explored.
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While the Rustic Roads designation promotes preservation to a certain extent, it apparently can’t ensure the long-term rusticity of the road.
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In addition to pondering the qualities that define each Rustic Road, I often found myself asking: Why is this a Rustic Road?
The answer often seemed apparent, but not always.
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On roads that feel truly rustic, I get a sense of being somewhere special, removed from the hustle-bustle of daily life. I feel when I’ve reached a place that is quieter, simpler, and invites reflection. On these roads, I could become immersed in nature and/or a less-complicated way of life.
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In photographing these roads, I have sought to capture their essence of rusticity, from broad vistas to small details. On a few roads, however, I found this much more difficult, resulting in fewer images. I came away questioning why these particular roads had been designated as rustic. Perhaps, I suspect, these roads, despite the Rustic Roads designation, had lost much of their once-rustic character over the years.
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In many instances, people had purchased their private piece of paradise along one of these public treasures and put down stakes. I understand their desire to possess their own slice of the pie, especially along bodies of water, but their personal gain effectively closed off a bit of this area to those who want to enjoy the landscape while passing through. I have felt frustrated and saddened to glimpse a pond, lake, or river just yards away, but am prevented by “private property” warnings, from moving in for a closer look. (Disclaimer: I make all of my photographs from publicly accessible points.)
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Embracing the beauty of a Rustic Road too tightly risks eroding those qualities that we cherish. Modern houses, manicured lawns, and elaborate gates, fences and landscaping diminish what once made these roads special. Some Rustic Roads have evolved into pleasant rural residential developments, great for the residents, but a loss for those of us just passing through.
NEXT: Down On The Farm
Gallery: Rusting Into The Rustic
They once worked, shaped the land,
Season after season, year after year.
Now, sitting silent and still,
Implements and vehicles rust into the rustic.
My Rustic Roads Odyssey
Down On The Farm
Questioning development that doesn’t mean that Rustic Roads require an absence of civilization. In fact, evidence of human activity provides the basis for many of these roads.
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In addition to showcasing natural surroundings, Rustic Roads offer opportunities to connect to Wisconsin’s agricultural past and present, as well as history. These roads provide glimpses into the lives of people who make their living tied to the land.
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Farms represent generations of inhabitants who are more attuned to the rhythms of the seasons. Here, we can see landscapes shaped by generations of efforts to balance nature and human endeavors.
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Weathered structures and rusted machinery speak to a sense of rootedness over time. Old farmhouses, weathered barns, sheds, and silos anchor the rural landscape -- well-worn witnesses to the passage of time and seasons. Year in and year out, they endure the elements. Some have fallen into disuse, ruins being reclaimed by the forces of nature.
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Old, rusty implements of agriculture -- decaying tractors, plows, and wagons -- serve as monuments to days gone by.
Farm fields have their own grandeur, evolving over the course of each passing year.
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Early summer reveals rows of crops, just sprouting, tracing the contours of the land, carefully placed to conserve precious soil. Eventually, fully grown regiments of cornstalks stand at attention.
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Weeks later, all that remain are a few rebel stalks, swaying in the autumn breezes, survivors of a recently harvested field.
Rows of stubble left behind poke through light layers of late autumn snow.
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As winter recedes, fallow fields of brown hues await the spring planting. And the cycle repeats.
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With farms also come domesticated animals. Curious cows often stare. Goats give suspicious glances. Horses, meanwhile, don’t seem to care.
NEXT: Water, Woodlands, Wide-open fields
Gallery: Still Standing
Weathered and worn.
Faded wood, rusty metal, chipped bricks and stones.
Enduring seasons ... years ... decades.
Barns, silos, windmills oversee the landscape,
Some still on duty, others retired. All still standing.
My Rustic Roads Odyssey
Water, Woodlands, Wide-open Fields
The Rustic Roads Odyssey includes a varied assortment of water, woodlands, and wide-open fields.
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The encounters with water run from small to great, crossing rivers and creeks, passing through wetlands, and skirting lakeshores, plus a few scenic bridges along the way. The journey runs along stretches of the Mississippi and St. Croix Rivers and the shores of Lake Michigan, bodies of water that help to define Wisconsin’s boundaries.
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As humans, we are drawn to water. Water defines us, connects us, and divides us. It gives life and takes life. Water teaches us. It softly murmurs, yields, calms and comforts. Then it rages and ravages, pounds and pummels in powerful displays. It adapts to surroundings and shapes the landscape.
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In short, water shapes and guides our journey.
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Likewise, there’s something special about trees, coniferous and hardwoods. Rooted firmly in the land, they see all that passes by. They cast shifting shadows and filter the sunlight’s access to the ground. Many deliver bright displays in fall and then bare their bones in winter.
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They may gather in clusters, line up in rows, or, in other instances, stand as a lone sentinel over an otherwise open field. The Rustic Roads Odyssey pass regiments of pines, stand straight and orderly, as a military unit at attention. Hardwoods form pillars and arches that lord over many stretches of road, creating tunnels that envelop passersby. Birches add accents of white.
Sometimes, they appear as piles of logs, crops being harvested.
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The presence or absence of trees, along with water, help define the character of each Rustic Road. So, it’s not surprising that numerous Rustic Roads run through or near some of Wisconsin’s designated natural areas.
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Conversely, the absence or sparsity of trees shapes the experience of other stretches of Rustic Roads. Wide-open fields, farmed or not, provide a more expansive feeling, more of a sense of where land and sky meet.
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Clearly, The Rustic Roads Odyssey explores places where Nature and human activity converge.
NEXT: Tapping into the Intangible
Gallery: Signs Are There
Guiding, warning, informing,
Where to go, where not to go.
What to do, what not to do.
What is, what once was.
Myriad of markers tell their stories.
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My Rustic Roads Odyssey
Tapping into the Intangible
Rustic Roads speak most to travelers who recognize that they are truly magical places and best explored with reverence, open minds, and curious spirits. Experiencing each road, moment by moment, enables wayfarers to become absorbed in all the subtleties and nuances of these unique journeys.
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These bucolic byways offer opportunities to cleanse and refresh the spirit. These roads are invitations to be mindful, to leave the brain-cluttering flow of thoughts behind and just enjoy the quiet sensations of the road.
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Listen to the voices that speak without words, but communicate by evoking feelings, reviving primal connections that so many of us have lost. Stop from time to time, get out and pause, look around, breathe and absorb. Feel the sense of being enveloped within something much bigger, something much more magnificent.
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Open landscapes present a free range of possibilities, with clear, visible paths, without blockages or obstacles. Open roads call us to move forward without hesitation or worry.
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Wooded roads shield us, offering blankets of protection, cocoons of nature.
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Curving roads hint at mystery, discoveries to be made around the next bend, over the next hill, stories unfolding a bit at a time.
Farmsteads and their surrounding fields are reminders that we are tied to the land, dependent upon it.
Banish all arrogant thoughts that we are masters of the natural world. Instead, recognize that we must negotiate our place within nature, as grateful and prudent stewards.
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Open up your senses, your heart, to something bigger, something ever-changing, fundamental, yet universal. Deepen your understanding and appreciation for the wisdom of treading lightly upon the earth, and protecting what it has to offer.
Gallery: On The Roads
A few miles tucked in here, more over there,
Quiet treasures around the Dairy State,
Hidden in plain sight,
Rural roads beckon to be seen,
Stories waiting to unfold.
Comments/Feedback
Thanks for visiting Invited to Explore: My Rustic Roads Odyssey.
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My complete On Wisconsin Rustic Roads collection is available on Flicker, organized by county.
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Nearly 20 of my images are included in the official guide to Wisconsin Rustic Roads, which is available online or in print editions at this website.
Comments/feedback are welcome.
Have question? Just ask.
Email: worldwisewisconsin@gmail.com
Phone/Text: +1 (608) 512-9415
Kerry G. Hill
Madison, Wisconsin
By Kerry G. Hill © All rights reserved. Do not use any text or images from this website on other websites, blogs or other media without explicit permission.