Madison, WI

Started walk at 7:00 a.m.

For a Monday morning, I was late getting started and yet there was not even a hint of a sunrise on the horizon. The sky was overcast and the temperature was just above freezing. If there was a moon cresent because of the new moon it wasn't visible in Madison. I read later that this lack of a lunar siting caused confusion for Madison Muslims as to the official start of the Ramadan religious fast.

Once again I didn't hear the owl or hear any birds on my walk this morning. The backwater cove still has open water in many places. Today, I see a family of ducks swim silently out of the dark towards the island. All is basically quite.

I forgot my new high-tech Nissan thermos this morning and had to revert to the low tech styrofoam. The coffee was good -- Costa Rican -- but not as hot as it could have been. Cranberry muffin -- moist and tangy.