5/19/16 Stillwater River Trail

About 60 with a mix of sun and clouds- possible rain later in the day. Kelley was reluctant to get in the car but she had not got any exercise yesterday so I thought we should do something. I chose a nice easy walk along the Stillwater River.

All winter I have been using a small point and shoot because of it's lightness and ease in keeping it protected under my coat. Today I got out the heavy dslr with the nice macro lens. Unfortunately I did not check the settings, which must have been odd because I ended up with a lot of messed up pictures- under exposed, very noisy, etc. So I am not happy with several of these pictures.

First chance to get in the water

Wildflowers!

There were lots of bright dandelions

Poor focus but they were so pretty after our long winter.....

A section of the trail

 The river, at another spot where Kelley can get in

She never did get enthusiastic, except for the water, and here she is lagging behind

Looking across the river

First insect- not a clear shot but maybe a hoverfly

Last chance for the water

A pretty day but not a very good day for Kelley. We did get in an hour and a quarter walk and she got to lay around the yard in the sun the rest of the day - I did garden work. 

5/17/16 Frye Mt. Trail

50's, sun and clouds, but no bugs. We would not go to the summit because of the distance- no view anyway as it is wooded - and shoot for about two hours hiking.

The trail is mostly a nice walk in the woods, a few small streams.

and the Bartlett Stream for which there is an alternate route when the water is high. Today it was quite low.

We crossed several old stone walls, all in bad repair.

Interesting fungi

Another shot of the trail

It had been about an hour when we reached the road and I thought we would take the road to the alternate route ( not on this map) for a different way back.  Kelley did not like walking on the road so we took an old woods road that we had crossed on the trail on the way out and return from there, the way we had come.

Kelley found her way into some wetland we passed.

Back at the Bartlett Stream

Wildflower !

A nice hike. Kelley did well on this pretty day and, of course, liked all  of the water. Very peaceful, as we had the place, as usual, to ourselves. 2 hours 

5/15/16 City Forest

Off and on rainy day so when it looked like it was clearing we headed to the forest for an hour. We just walked down to the pond and then a ways down West Trail.


First stop - the beaver pond

A dandelion, while waiting for her - we saw no other wildflowers

Reeds along the pond

 Old leaf

Doing her water shake

There were quite a few new leaves but other than these  I managed to get them badly out of focus.

On the way back

In Michigan, where I grew up, Robins were thought to be a sign of spring. This sign is distracting but there it was. Parts of the forest are university study areas, hence the sign.

Last time before we head up the hill

Turned out pretty well. No bugs?? , didn't rain again until we got home. 

5/13/16 Redman's Beach

We found this trail exploring one day. It is not on any maps I know of and then one day we met a hiker who had developed his own maps and he gave me this one and another for the area. On this old map it is called Black Beach.

Sixties and hazy sun but buggy - black fly season is here.The trail starts from the end of Dynamite Brook Rd. road and I think these boulders are to keep out ATVs.

 

A small stream crosses the trail - easy for Kelley but tricky for me, balancing on wet logs.

These new leaves were so fresh looking

At the beach

We saw no people on the trail ( we never do) but saw two men fishing on the pond

We walked down the beach until a small stream that empties into the pond stopped me.

Once again, no problem for Kelley

Back into the water as we head back along the beach

One of the campsites - there are only 5 or 6. We stopped here for an apple break.

Still lots of old leaves on the trail

Back at the stream that crosses the trail

More new leaves

 And finally some flowers. this was some kind of flowering bush.

A very nice day except for the bugs which do not seem interested in Kelley - later the deer flies will be a problem for her. Kelley did well, though she slowed down the last half hour. 2  1/4 hours

5/10/16 Newman Hill-Hinds

Upper 40's when we started and upper 50's at the end - beautiful day.

First small pond

First wildflower

and some other signs that spring has finally arrived.

The beaver pond that encroaches on the trail - the trail is temporarily closed to protected a pair of nesting herons.

Two more small ponds

Kelley did well today, seeming to enjoy the trails and, of course, lots of water. 1  1/2 hours