5/18/13 Lagrange Rail-Trail

Warmer than yesterday ( 50's) , sunny, and little wind- so pretty nice.
This is one of the old rail beds that have been converted to multi-use trails. They don't seem to be used much by hikers and we met no one today on the main trail. There were some people on ATV's on a side trail we were checking out. We mostly use the rail-trails in winter when the snowmobiles pack the snow for good footing and seldom meet snowmobiles.  We usually start at the Medford end which has more variation- bogs, ponds, and streams . The trail is 11 miles long so we have not walked it end to end in one hike. This end is more like a walk along a country road.

There were lots of flowering trees and bushes

 I think this is some kind of apple and there were a lot of these trees

An old piece of railroad equipment that I though , somehow, looked futuristic

I could not get close to these but they were different than the others

After an hour and a quarter we had found no water for Kelley to get into and turned back.  Down a short path we found  a camp with bog behind it ( and 'no trespassing' signs ). No one was about so down the hill through the brush and Kelley was very happy.

We then continued back toward where we had parked.

I had seen several dragonflies but none I could get close to- nor this one- but it's my first of the year so.....

Not an exciting hike but a nice 2  1/2 hour walk. Kelley would have liked more water but always seems to enjoy just being outside.