Madison, WI

Started walk at 7:45 a.m.

The temperature dropped during the night and the freezing rain left a coating of ice on the both the sidewalks and paths. It was very treacherous walking and needless to say, I was a little amused when I saw a runner taking short chicken steps toward me. As we passed, she flashed a shy smile and commented that the sidewalk was slippery. I wanted to tell her that I thought she was running with a few laces loose, but instead, all I offered was the cautionary note, "Yes it is, be careful."

I was a little concerned about the slickness of the stepping stones we would have to cross but was pleased to discover that the warmth of the running water kept them dry and free of ice. Soon after crossing the stones I looked up in an oak tree and saw a big hawk that appeared to be sleeping. I approached the hawk for a photo and it made no move to fly away. However, it was perched too high in the oak and I couldn't get a good shot. On the return trip I found the hawk perched in a dead tree less than 20 feet above our path. Again, I approached with caution so I wouldn't scare the bird away. And again, my concern proved unwarranted as the hawk couldn't care whether Chance and I were a mile away or camped right beneath it. It looked directly at us and didn't even ruffle a feather. I got a pretty good photo and continued on my way.

Besides the hawk we saw yellow finches, red cardinals, black crows and one big blue jaye. We also saw a woodpecker and a flock of very small birds that flew back and forth in the wind like a school of swimming minnows. I assumed they were some kind of finch.

Today, a flock of ducks were paddling and feeding in front of the island where only days before there was ice and snow. El Nino!

The coffee was good -- Costa Rican. Cranberry muffin -- dry.

I still cannot say enough about my Christmas present. This Nissan thermos is great. I can still enjoy the taste of hot coffee right up until the end of the walk. I love it.