Although we were hiking in a defunct rail corrider, there is a highly active double track line close by. We saw several trains. You know I'm always happy about that.
As we passed Wauseon, we entered the Gene Markley Corridor of the trail. I wish I could find a picture of Gene on line. I have a nice one at home. He was one of the early volunteers with NORTA and was a great supporter of the North Country Trail. He was a big guy, who carried a tiny Jack Russell terrier around on his shoulder.
This picture was on an interpretive kiosk. I took a picture of the picture. Gene was killed in an auto accident. I believe this is his wife nailing up one of the signs on the stretch named for him.
In the category of natural features, this is a patch of beautyberry far outside its natural range. I found some this summer that had been planted in eastern Michigan that was surviving, and now this patch. I suspect it escaped from a garden, but it's apparently surprisingly hardy.
And, it's always amusing to come across folk art. This fish was made from scrap metal on the side of a shed (private) along the trail.
These pigs were advertising a pottery business. Pretty cute!
Bill and I knocked off 15 miles at a pretty good pace. The weather was in the 50s, and the wind wasn't frigid. Amazing day-before-Christmas hike.
Miles today: 15.1 Total miles so far 356.
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4 comments:
Enjoy your day of rest. Merry Christmas.
Love that fish and the pigs.
Have a very Merry Christmas.
Lulu: "Merry Christmas from all of us!"
Merry Christmas, Joan! You (and your support team) are inspirational. My family lives in Rockford, Mi. We have hiked quite a few stretches of the NCT in lower and upper Michigan, and we’ve loved every bit we’ve been on. Good luck to you on your journey. We will be following you!
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