Verona to Janesville
Janesville, WI, May 15, 2025 by Greg in Wild / Roger Carpenter
Since leaving Verona on May 10, it was hard to stay present in the trail right in front of me. The reasons for looking ahead to Janesville five days ahead included the vast majority of the 78 miles were on roads or rail-to-trails. The hot temperatures on some days made me wish for more patches of shade to rest within. To compensate for the less than ideal conditions, I indulged in grocery stores for fresh foods, any place with an espresso machine, NA beer, or ice cold soft drinks. Those existed in towns named New Glarus, Montello, Albany, and Evansville. Those towns were also the best sources for water. Some parks have wonderfully pure well water that I pumped into my water bottles the old-fashioned way (muscle power). I focused my attention and photos on little things: wildflowers, interesting features of the towns, the nice campsite in a county park named Magnolia Bluff. Despite setting my tent near the parking lot, it was a quiet and restful night. I needed the rest because I had a 28-mile roadwalk the next day.
Like always on this hike of the IAT, a reward materialized when I entered the Robert Cook Memorial Arboretum just a few miles outside of Janesville. In contrast to the chaos of the county and state highways, where so many drivers ignored speed limits and courtesy towards pedestrians like me, the Arboretum was a secluded paradise of greenery. In the early morning fog, I mentally transported myself to a tropical rain forest, perhaps on the island of Kalamantan, Indonesia. It was escapism at its best, even if the feeling lasted for just a few miles. I used my camera liberally so I would not take the flowers and green foliage for granted. It was just three weeks ago when the cold, westerly winds buffeted my face and contorted my hat as I approached Antigo. Now, I can embrace the Wisconsin spring and look forward to the next and final 325 miles!
In my next post I will write about Janesville and why I spent a zero day with my brother, Brian Carpenter, walking through town.
May 13: Evansville and two of the many historic homes built in the mid-1800s. The IAT is routed through Evansville to showcase the neighborhoods such as this one.
May 14: The above four images are from the Cook Memorial Arboretum outside of Janesville.
