New to Me- Gorgeous

 Some of you know that our local state park, literally the most popular one in the state, is mostly closed for the next 10, yes ten, months for some major renovations. The area south of the Big Sable River is still open to walk in. This is in the same general section as where Cathy and I often walk, but west of those trails.

The other factor is that the weather was more like early September today. 74 degrees. Sunny, but windy. I wore shorts! So after a frustrating couple of hours in which I determined that the lawnmower fix is beyond me (pay attention, all you people who think I can do anything), I decided to bag it and take a hike before bell practice.

I knew there were a couple of ponds back there. I suspect they are former sand pits from the Sargent Sand mining company. But I'd never actually been there. I parked off Piney Ridge Rd, and took an unmarked but well-used trail. Came over the ridge to be greeted by this.

Pretty sure it had vistors earlier in the day, but I had it all to myself. A trail went up along the edge.

Soon I was bushwhacking. Loose sand and dune grass. Lots of hills. Very pretty.

Love weathered roots.

Some of the area is wooded, and so I was walking through that for part of the way. Found the other pond- not quite as pretty, although it might have been if I'd had time to go closer. There were occasional bits of old road or trail-ish things that might have been made by animals or visitors. But I was bushwhacking more than trail walking for sure.

The view of that first pond on the way back, from the top of a dune was really nice. It's good size- about 42 acres. It would be fun to walk around, but that isn't all state land, so I don't know if I'd get in trouble for doing it. The other pond is totally on Sargent Sand property.

And just so the maple leaves don't get too uppity from being the only ones featured this fall, here's an oak leaf. Probably black oak. It's sometimes hard to tell when all you have is a leaf. They can be rather variable.

I edited, wrote 680 words in Vacation from DMS, worked on pictures, got groceries. A good day with things accomplished and some fun.

So, the walk was only 2.1 miles, but I think the difficult footing should count for something. It was a lot of fun exploring somewhere new.

Miles hiked in 2024: 514.3

See Piney Ridge Hills

The White and Red of Wintergreen

  Wintergreen is always perky and cheerful right through the winter because the leaves stay green, and you can often find the red berries too, but I don't like to share pictures of the same plants over and over. However, yesterday I found something a little different about the wintergreen to show you.

For starters, the delicate white flowers were in bloom.

Can you believe I learned something new about this familiar plant? The roots are bright red- at least at this time of year.

And when they send up new shoots, those are red too. What fun!

In other news: I spent the morning doing more housecleaning. Why? Because someone returned home from a long trip. Things had gotten to be quite a mess. At least the presence of another person inspires or guilts me into cleaning up from time to time. Anyway... the house is more or less clean. Certainly more than it was a few days ago. Much less than most of you would think suitable.

I also edited, and then wrote for my own book. Currently at 46,600 words. Spent a little time in the trailer, but I have nothing to share about that yet. It rained all morning and then was very humid after that.

See What a Weather Treat

Some Fun from Yesterday

  Sure, mostly I was trucking along knocking out the miles. But I had to take a few fun pictures.

How about the tree with octopus roots?

This stump isn't humorous, but I continue to be fascinated by the trees that grow in a helix.

This is one of the northern maidenhair ferns just opening up, but it has sort of an insect-ish, grasping kind of look- maybe like too many praying mantises. Total contrast with the cool, soothing aspect of the fully opened ferns.

Finally, there was this passive-agressive mushroom that couldn't decide whether to bite me or hug me.

I felt pretty good today- only a little stiff. I went for my 3-mile road walk just to keep limbered up. I will admit that I slept like a log last night! Spent part of the day starting to gear up to get back in the writing groove.

See 20 Miles See Helical

Ludington State Park with Cathy and Marie

  Today was a typical non-stop Tuesday. All good. Marie and I met Cathy at the State Park after lunch, and we set out on the Coast Guard Trail in a biting wind and 37 degrees.

That trail goes east-west across the park, but our goal was to get to Lost Lake. Today we walked up the west side- not a view I've showed you recently. It's a very pretty lake, and there are boardwalks all along this side.

At the north end, this view across the lake is the same one I've shown you at least twice from the top of the bluff, but this one is at water level.

There are already early spring paddlers out!

From there, we connected with the Island Trail- one of my favorites- and headed back. This tree root is on its way to becoming driftwood. Kind of artistic.

This log is only a couple of seasons away from really being driftwood. Lots of textures there.

The sun tried to come out, just briefly, but it made light patterns on the water.

We arrived back at the entrance and the outlet of the Big Sable River at Lake Michigan.

Three happy hikers!

Total distance- about 5 miles, probably a little more, but I forgot to turn on the app, and the trail maps don't have the mileage of every segment listed.

Ludington State Park, Ludington, MI, Lighthouse Trail to Coast Guard Trail, to Lost Lake Trail, to Island Trail, to Sable River Trail. About 5 miles

In other news: We cooked a big casserole for some meals over the next few days, hiked, did grocery shopping, and had bell choir practice. Next stop- rest time!

See Friends and Footsteps

Red Roots

 
Today was the Manistee Book Expo, and after it was done I walked the Riverwalk. This was my most interesting find. Who knew that willows can have red roots?



I thought maybe I was being fooled by two trees growing close together, but I did find some other pictures on line of willows that had roots growing into water that were very red. These were really floating, wafting in and out with the gentle waves.



It was a gorgeous day. A little warm, but not unbearable.



I sold a few books, visited with a friend, took this walk. I didn't sleep well at all last night. Is it too early to go to bed?

	See Manistee Riverwalk Again
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