brdgt | Perfect Day

Yesterday Nick and I finally got to walk across Lake Mendota. Last year it didn't really freeze thoroughly enough and we were so stressed with work and Calvin's death. We left around 11AM from James Madison Park, just a few block from our apartment.

As a crow flies it would have been 4 miles from there to Governor Nelson Park (thus, 8 miles round trip), but there was a windsailing race going on in the middle of the lake that we had to go around.

We had been concerned that there would be too much snow on the ice, making it slow going, but it was smooth and safe. There were just a few spots with large cracks and a few spots near the shoreline that we were careful around.

In addition to the windsailers there were some ice fisherman, but mostly it was just really peaceful (and COLD - I believe the wind chill was zero).

Anyway... nice story about a walk, right? About halfway across the lake Nick set up a timed shot so we could do a photo together and then he got down on one knee and proposed with a beautiful green tourmaline ring. I think I said "I can't wait!"

We continued on to the other side of the lake, had some hot chocolate and headed back around the windsailers on the other side, getting home around 4PM. We probably walked about 9 miles. Nick's camera recorded our GPS coordinates:

I had already planned to have dinner with

antarcticlust and then join some other friends, including

purplemb13 for karoake later at the Karaoke Kid, so I was able to tell a lot of people in person right away. Did I mention that we met on St. Patrick's Day four years ago - at the Karaoke Kid? :)

I think I look a little pleased: