Go through Madison, and out the other side...

• Start in Richmond Centre around 7.30.
• Head off down the highway with the constant threat of rain, but never more than light drizzle and cool air.
• Had to get to Spring Green for 10 am for a tour of Taliesin
• Plenty of time, so take it easy.
• Got to the visitor centre with time to spare.
• Nice bumper sticker
• Some nice postcards

Off to the school of architecture - after a little route finding - to be shown around.




Probably best summarised (by me, for me) in my pics on flickr from the trip:
"We were treated to a bespoke tour of Taliesin today.  One of the many occasions I'm so lucky to be a part of this trip.  I happily confess my comparative ignorance on architectural issues within this group of peers.  But in a way I found ignorance to be a slight advantage today.

I've been aware of Frank Lloyd Wright and his work, but not really appreciated the influence fully, I'm a planning guy rather than architectural, so know of the more plannery stuff.  But coming to learn about his style, influences and what he influenced in the place he grew up, and returned to to create this place over many years was an absolute joy.  I felt like a kid walking round in a big house ripe for a game of hide and seek.  

You really could do with longer than a two hour whistle-stop tour in lycra to really appreciate all the nuances and details in the design.  But the nature of our trip means we have to pass through fast.  And make the most of it as we do."




So onward. A quick pilgrimage to the grave (or maybe just memorial to, need to double check these facts) of Frank Lloyd Wright. Possible quote of the day.  Referring to the grave marker along:
 "these are all Wright"
"Well clearly they're not alright otherwise they wouldn't be here"




This quote though is closely followed by that of one of the notoriously loquacious members of our group referring to a third party by saying "he likes to talk a lot doesn't he."  Within the wider context of the last few weeks, and particularly earlier this afternoon I couldn't react in any other way but laughter and a "Seriously?"

Having left Spring green it felt like a bit of a slog to get to Middleton for our meeting at 4pm.  There were a couple of neat little hills towards the end though that gave a little boost.  We've been advised that they are the marking point of where it all gets a bit glacial, and there are "no more hills from here".  If I had a dollar for every time...

So Mark, a planner from the city of Middleton met us, escorted us to the Electrical Theatre Controls HQ.  Where in the foyer they have basically a massive stage set, based on the paintings of Edward Hopper I just had to get a picture of me in the Nighthawks diner.  Which is in fact the reception.




we rode on to see an example of New Urbanism in Middleton Hills, where the guiding architectural style is that of 'following' Frank lloyd Wright.  Again I will bow to the experience and knowledge of my esteemed collegues architecturally.  And though it appeared a lovely neighbourhood, at least with a degree of design integrity, it's still very spread out and American.  But then, I am still in America!

We were delivered to Madison and shown around some more cycle infrastructure and architecture.

The main things that impressed me

• The size of the University
• The vibrancy of the State Street downtown
• The dome of the Capitol
• the Quality of the kebab I had for dinner
• In a university town there are more pretty girls
• The enthusiasm people have for their home city
• and more than anything... the distance away from all this our accommodation is for the night.

But massive thanks to Mark, Arthur & Sonia (massive apologies if I've mis-spelt, ore mis-named anyone) who were able to give us much more depth than just cycling through and on.  Arthur in particular was able to summarise quite neatly the issue with implementing decent cycling culture and infrastructure, and probably any city wide issue:  it's a trifecta of Policy, Politics and Resources. No new news there, but when being explained in the wider context of how a relatively small city like Madison managed to get cycling up to a 4-6% modal share (there was also extrapolation on the adequacy of that data, which was valuable) it made more sense and kinda solidified the idea that there is no golden bullet to the idea of getting people on their bikes, but there is hope in persistence and vision. And money.

Not that any ideas are solidified as yet of course.  We're still knees deep in research, and getting deeper, especially if these knees give way after a couple more long days in the saddle.