Not Quite as Gray

  Today wasn't quite as gray as yesterday. The sun put some effort into burning through, and it bored a flimsy hole in the gray a couple of times.

I walked a route that had a tiny bit different part. I started on the side of the road that gave me a view of the cemetery pond. You haven't seen many pictures of it recently because the shrubs have grown in so thickly you can hardly see it from the road, except in winter. (The rampant poison ivy keeps me away in summer.)

The "new" part of the walk was on Cedar Lane. (I've driven this road plenty of times but not for a while, because it is a dead end.) I expected the usual "joke" about it being named for something that was no longer in existence. However, there is a long line of planted white cedar along the first quarter mile of the road. Lots of Norway spruce and red pine and autumn olive too.

This road takes you down to the level of Hackert Lake. This was the best picture I could get between all the houses. I wish you could walk around the lake, but several stretches are private. This route made a fairly nice walk even though I had to just backtrack to get home, because it has a decent amount of topography for a walk near home.

Saw a lot of sandhill crane tracks. It looked like a herd of them had stomped through this area. It's probably true. This is only about a half mile from where I know they nest.

But I saved the best for last, even though it happened first. This morning's sunrise was picture worthy!

In other news: I wrote a chapter in the morning, and worked on two other projects in addition to the walk. If I could be this disciplined all the time, I'd actually get a lot done.

See Gray But OK

More Grousing and a View from Natahki

 
Today was a work day, and the sun was shining! It was cold, but who could possibly care when the sun is so lovely?

I bring you a ruffed grouse in the red phase. At some times of the year they look more gray. What you can mainly see is how well camouflaged they are. If I hadn't seen the motion of it walking I'd never have spotted it. It happens to be a female, but I only can tell because I blew up a shot of her tail and studied it. She sure knew where I was!



This photo is interesting (I think). It shows her back, but she has that ruff of feathers around her neck lifted so that it fans out and shows the black and white edges.



Finally, this shot is for a new blog friend named Dave Norris. He's a fan of all things Big Bass Lake. I was there today, on a road called Natahki, and got this shot of Four Winds and Turtle Islands in the lake. Dave Norris supplied me with the name. They sure were pretty.



Here's Google Satellite view with my vantage point shown by the yellow lines.



More assignments tomorrow, so who knows what I will find!

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Bass Lake with Loretta

In preparation for Saturday's adventure there are some serious logistics. One of the pieces is that I needed to pick up Ellen's canoe on my car, so Loretta and I did that tonight. And since we were going there, we took a little paddle on Bass Lake, and through the outlet.



Yes, this is the same place that Ellen and I kayak all the time. That's because it's where Ellen lives, and it's easy for her to keep the kayaks there all summer.



It leads out to Lake Michigan. This is such a pretty place. There are often lots of people there because it's also a good place for kids to play. You can drive there too- you don't have to come in by boat.



We just thought this was funny. It looks like the gulls have all bought their front-row seats, and are now lined up waiting for the show to start.

When we got back, Ellen was home (she had a meeting) and the three of us got the canoe on my car. For Saturday, she's bringing a friend with a truck and the two kayaks.

I'm loving this cool week. Next week is going to be more tropical, so I'm trying to enjoy this weather to the max.

See Kayaking on November 21 See Joan and Ellen's Next Adventure

Who Went to Hackert Lake?

The squirrel went to Hackert Lake. Remember, the squirrel is a "hopper," with the large back feet landing in front of the front feet. I think this might have been a fox squirrel because the prints were fairly large, but there's no way to be sure. It could have been a large gray squirrel.


The deer went to Hackert Lake. This deer was just walking along, not even worrying about picking up her feet. I'm guessing a doe... medium-sized prints. Look deep in the lowest print and you will see the two definite hoof marks.


The fox went to Hackert Lake. Why do I think this was a fox and not just some neighborhood dog? The primary reason is that I could smell it. Foxes tend to leave a very pungent scent trail and if you are there on the same day as they were it's very distinctive. Also, notice how the tracks are very much in a straight line, with each foot placed almost straight ahead of the last one? That's more typical of a wild canine rather than a domestic dog.



Maggie and I went to Hackert Lake. I'm guessing that you figured that out! This is a small lake only about four miles from my house. We drove over there and were pleased to discover that although the road wasn't plowed it had been driven enough that I could get through. There is a tiny park and a boat launch site.

Then, we walked down Quarterline Road the other way until it dead-ends. I'd never walked to the end of it. Actually, I still haven't because there was deep snow at the south end, and the road continued for at least another quarter mile. So, I'm assured of an adventure for another day. (Just in case you thought I might run out!)

So, we saw nothing new or exciting, but we had a lovely walk in the bright sunshine!