Madison, WI

Started walk 6:35 a.m.

Thirteenth day of Spring!

I wore my winter coat, hat and gloves. It rained during the night and was overcast in the morning. There were patches of light blue sky between clouds on the north/east.

The island is almost gone and there was a flock of about 45 small, round, black ducks floating nearby in a close grouping. These ducks have small white or light yellow beaks. When they heard us coming, they flew as a group to the far shore with their legs running on top of the water for at least ten yards during take-off.

It started raining on the return trip during which I saw a lone male mallard close to the ugly duck (which I have been told to refer to as a Dr. Suess-type duck). I believe the mallard was courting the Dr. Suess duck. All the other ducks have paired-off, it's getting late in the season and the Dr. Suess duck is starting to look good. It's 2:00 -- bar time.

Coffee -- Costa Rican -- Good. Cold Blackberry Muffin. Don Kiko cigar.