An Epic Journey - all puns intended!

 

This adventure came with some unique surprises. Our housesit was on the outskirts of Mt Horeb, population 7,500 - not counting the 40 wooden trolls who inhabit the area.  We wanted to experience The Driftless Area (southwest Wisconsin) during the winter months, and stayed in a lovely home situated on the edge of a bluff looking down on rolling hills. We discovered some whimsical attributes of the property starting with a custom built two story tree house on the property, miles of trails, and well appointed outdoor sanctuaries and firepits from which to enjoy the beauty! 

That, along with a quaint and proud community nearby captured our interest. We were able to have lunch with family who drove in, and shopped the local stores, including a decadent chocolatier named Driftless Chocolate.

And then, we discovered the hidden treasure that was the Epic Systems Campus, the largest electronic health records vendor in the US with over five billion in annual revenues and 14,000 employees. It was hidden in plain sight; located on a sprawling 1,600 acre "intergalactic headquarters" complex just outside of Verona Wisconsin (about 10 miles southwest of Madison), much of it underground. 

To provide some reference as to the magnitude of this corporate HQ, the cover photo of this blog is of the auditorium where 14,000 employees can meet monthly for their all-staff meeting! There are six buildings and each one is a fantastical setting and work of art (i.e. two of the campuses are named Wizards Academy and Storybook-as in fairytales!).

The campus is a labyrinth of themed passages and large open common areas.  The directions for the self guided tour worked (during working hours and weaving through offices) like a treasure hunt, encouraging visitors to find the landmarks along the way to each destination. And when one gets lost (inevitable!)  -  no worries because EVERY Epic staff member is trained to stop with an empathetic smile and guide you through the never ending corridors. 

As a devoted Harry Potter fan, Phyllis voted that we visit the Wizards Academy building first - and we were not disappointed! We encountered dragons,  and wizardry items, pictures, pictures, and magic around every corner. After about two hours, of constantly being overwhelmed by the detail and variety of decorative features, our brains hurt from trying to process all the clever whimsy. For us, it put Disneyland to shame! There's so many buildings and themes we didn't have time for and we're sure we'll go back!

Another adventure; we wanted to visit the winter digs of the Dane County Farmers' Market,  America's largest producers-only farmers' market.  Last year, on another housesit, we had visited the summer market which is situated literally around the capital building in downtown Madison.  The Winter Farmer's Market is located inside Garver Feed Mill, which is also in Madison - we were grateful to be indoors due to the weather.  

It was a cold Saturday morning when we made our way up north to the market - and it was worth it!  Vendors proudly showcased their products and produce - like parents showing off their offspring - which in a way was true. We were inspired by the organic vibe of everyone in attendance, likeminded souls drawn to healthy alternatives in a world that is more and more processed and impersonal. As you would guess, we returned home with far more goodies than we should have - and didn't have a bit of guilt about it!

Later that evening we cozied up by the fire and reflected with heartfelt gratitude about how our nomadic lifestyle has provided so many rewarding and enriching experiences - it continues to be an epic adventure!