Whoopsie Saturday

 

So, I decided to join up with a 'hiking' group and at least get some ideas of all the neat hiking trails that are near and around LaCrosse. This hike was actually in the middle of the city limits but through a park and a nature preserve that had been made by a generous land owner.

I'm in the middle of the pack on the first photo. I got to meet some nice folks. Most are casual walkers and not hard core hikers. One lady made that comment as she noticed that I was wearing Yak Traks and apparently looked as if I were prepared for a long journey. [I just keep a backpack full of gear in case it is needed]. Most of the walk was paved, but the snowy trails were iced and slippery.

I nodded and said I did a lot of solo hiking, so always hiked with a backpack.

We went to a private preserve called Hugelheim. It was a nature preserve developed by a fellow named Paul E. Stry. The loose translation of the name means house on a hill in a forest.

The excitement happened back at the parking lot. I was in my car and looking up a place and waiting for the others to leave....when BAM.
I got hit by one of the other hiker's. Uffdah. The lady pictured in the blue coat in the first shot backed into me hard.

I jumped out and at first nothing looked damaged but scratches. My tail light was still intact but I could see a broken clip in the right rear quarter panel. 

She was all crazy like and apologizing that her back up camera must have been dirty. I just looked at her. [In my mind I thought, WTF how can someone be that stupid not to check around when they back up!]

We exchanged phone numbers and I went over to the dealership and they suggested to go get an estimate as it looked like the rear quarter panel clips had been broken. I know these cars and that means the whole back section comes in one piece and they pop that off and put in a new one. Uffdah.

The scratches may be able to be buffed out.

I hung my head before going home. I wasn't angry I was just totally bummed. But life happens, I guess, and the last thing I want to do is make new friends and immediately be pissed off at them.

My drive home was quiet and now I know that I can take Charlie on the next hike. Dogs on leash are allowed. He'd enjoy it.

Let's top that off with waking up with a nagging tickle in the throat that feels suspiciously like a sore throat.

I'll attribute that to spending 9 hours in the courtroom with 80+ people on Tuesday.

I'm supposed to care for my friend's littles this week while she and hubby go to chemo treatments. I am hoping this is not a cold.

My conclusion is that group hiking is not really my thing, however I am learning about all these fantastic and free places to go to and explore afterwards on my own.

Those last 3 shots are the only ones I took on Saturday while walking with the group.

I could have really spent a lot of time where the group photo was done.

The best part is that I am learning all about these amazing area.

Update.

Fever of 101.8 tested negative for COVID.

This sucks.

A funny thing happened

-----while at the dealership last week.

Charlie chose a Crosstrek.

Seriously. He did. 

I've had one before but had to go back to the Outback for more room for wheelchairs, oxygen tanks, and equipment to transport both MIL and hubby. 

Now it is just myself and Charlie. A little me and a little dog.

We went back to the Crosstrek because of fuel efficiency and the huge upgrades in safety and reliability. I know there is a lot of argument for never buying brand new, but my reasoning was the excellent warranty I could get with it. Plus they negotiated a trailer hitch installation for a bike rack I wanted.

I argued with myself for a long time over it. Was I wasting money? Was I being foolish? In the end, I decided that since I no longer had the other half with me ... the dude who could fix everything ---- >
I'd go ahead and check it out.

So I asked the salesperson to open up the back of an Outback and the back of the Crosstrek that were on the show floor. We put down the seats and I crawled into the back end of the Crosstrek with Charlie to act as if we were sleeping.

I jumped out and said, "I'll take a Crosstrek." 

We did the figures on my Outback and I got a good trade. Well, let's say it was close to what I wanted out of it. That doesn't happen often. Then I was shown a white one with the features I wanted. Nothing against white cars, but white is not my color. 

~~~~~~~~

In 2015 we had to trade in our ancient used Outback [2002] as it had over 160k miles on it and we were embarking on a cancer journey that required me to drive 180 miles a day for cancer treatment for hubby. We had 6 to 8 weeks of daily treatments of one sort or another. The aging 'Ru was beat up and had an engine issue we couldn't fix. 

Alex, the salesperson showed me a grey one and then... I saw this outside and said..."NO, the red one!"

Rich agreed and we had our first new 'Ru which gave me so many darn adventures!

It is a smaller Subaru and it was in its first year of production. We fell in love with it. Or more like...I 
fell head over heels with it. Rich was well enough for me to go on a lot of trips for those two years. I put a ton of miles on our little red car between the VA, work, and weekend trips.

That worked well until I had to start carting my MIL along with her wheelchair and walker [and groceries] around to appointments. Then Rich had his stroke, and now I had two people to deliver to appointments along with all the elderly equipment.

This was Morris's Car. He loved it. All I had to do was rattle the keys he'd beat me to the car and was ready to be the navigator.

We decided that with the extra traveling with wheelchairs and other things [with more appointments to learn how to speak and properly swallow after his stroke], we'd opt for more cargo space.

Thus, Rich chose the car. Twilight Blue. I liked it well enough. It was a super nice vehicle. But I didn't adore it. 

So today I went to pick up the new Crosstrek. When I walked into the dealership, I was questioned by EVERYone.

"Where's Charlie????"

I won't make that mistake again. Charlie will go with me next week when I go back to sit with the Tech guy who will go over all of the features with me in depth. 

Subaru does that. They have a person sit with you in your car and go through all the features and how to use them. 

New cars have a lot of electronics and computers to make driving easier and safer. There was a time when I said I didn't want any of that, but now, I'm really pleased with those features. 

For example, I can locate my vehicle with my cell phone. I can remotely start it with my phone and set the temperature control with it also. It has blind spot detection which is exceptionally handy when driving in heavier traffic. The headlights actually follow the direction you are turning in.

That is the feature I love best. After all, I do drive often pre-dawn to get to special places to catch sunrises. Having that feature would make driving our twisted roads a bit less tense.

So as I left today, the secretary and two salespeople asked me to bring Charlie next week. They'd love to dog sit him while I get oriented on the new features of this really cool auto.

As I said, I didn't adore the Outback, I liked it. But I only have 3 photos on file of it.

However.

I already have several of my new blue Su-ba-ru.

Dang it is gorgeous.

I may even give it a name.

Hmmm.

Charlie Mobile.

or
Blue.

All I know, is that I can't wait to do some road trips with Charlie.

Yeah. A funny thing happened when I went to the dealer's last week. And yes. They are still talking about the lady and her little dog that decided to buy a vehicle by simply jumping in the back of it and pretending to take a nap.

PS.
Alex sold us our first 'Ru in 2015. Today, we shook hands on his 3rd 'Ru and 10 years of being Subaru pals. 

The Laugh is on Me~

Over the last year, the Kickapoo Valley Reserve has changed management and has had other changes. Most of them I don't pay attention to as they were changes for campsites and the completion of a new trail that I'd done this summer.

I was using an old map to draw colored lines on the trails I finished. Last year in September, I hiked the south end of the Billings Creek Trail until I ran into a huge deadfall where the trail disappeared. I knew I was close to the Billings Creek crossing but turned around.

My plan was to approach the trail from the north and find the stream crossing from the large grassy area I'd seen on the Google Earth Maps.

Simple, right? Then I could see where the other end of the trail close to where I stopped and re hike the south end to nail the segments needed for the Trail Challenge.

Below is a map of my walk from the Mapmyhike app.

However. The trail through the field was unmarked. So I had to wander up and down the Hay Valley Segment that ends at Cass Valley Road to find some sort of indication of a trail.

There was bent grass that looked like a tractor had driven through the area and it looked like a trail that should have been mowed but wasn't. I was sort of pissed that the only indication of the trail was a tiny sign that barely stuck up through the weeds that said, "No Motorized Vehicles". Normally there is a small sign like this:

Charlie was a trooper, he really tried. Except when he got stuck in the tall grasses and started to cough.

Three inch legs are not that great for huffing through tall grasses. My legs had a tough time too, especially with Charlie in my arms.

But the flowers were beautiful. Except when they weren't because it got hot as we went into the valley. Hot and no air movement. Lots of bees and butterflies. 
I was cursing more than I was enjoying. If I wanted to bushwhack, I'd have hiked my neighbor's abandoned land.

I could see where Billings Creek was supposed to be and we finally followed a deer trail to the bank.

After mucking around a bit and stopping for a water break.  I cussed out loud and made a mental note to ask the Reserve Management -- Why do you put this trail on your Trail Challenge if you do NOT maintain it well?

I turned around and with Charlie in my arms headed back up the valley, stomping and tromping my way through the tall grasses.

I must admit though. The yellow cone flower, golden rod, and some kind of purple butterfly flowers, were quite beautiful. This would be a place to find all sorts of cool insects.

I made it back to the 'Ru and dumped my backpack on the ground. Charlie and I sat in the back end of the 'Ru and shared an apple and he got some doggy treats.

The scenery was in fact quite beautiful and I took these two shots from where I parked with the Infrared pocket camera.

If nothing else, I'd hiked half of the Hay Valley Trail that ran along the road and finished [mostly] the north end of the Billings Creek Trail.

When I got home, I brought up the new updated Trail Challenge Sheet and the on line trail map out of curiosity.

Billings Creek Trail was no longer on their map.
Huh?

Billings Creek Trail was no longer on the Trail Challenge!

Wait. What?

I had been going off from last year's print out and map.

It dawned on me. That trail was a foot trail only. It is a difficult trail and there is no way to get chainsaws in there to maintain the trail. The foot traffic is light. I can't think of anyone else I know that has done this trail on foot.

In the 1990's we rode it on mules and horses and the riders did all the trail clearing. Now?

Well the last laugh was on me.

However.
The footpath still exists and I plan on using it to get to the bluffs above the Kickapoo and enjoy the views that most others won't get to see.

That will teach me for not checking the new updated maps!

But I look at it this way. I still know where most of all the old trails are, so I can explore in areas where there are no other people to contend with.

Because Billings Creek IS worth visiting:

2014 photo

Charlie after our hike. He decided to lay on Rich's chair and sleep.

Duck Egg a County Park

 

Our county has some wonderful parks that are more like State Natural Areas.

They arise out of dam systems in our steep valleys with streams that like to flood.
The photo above is from Lower Duck Egg. There is a parking area deep in the valley next to Springville Branch of the Bad Axe River. 

Think about that name, Bad Axe. I love the images it conjures.

Anyway, the Duck Egg Dam was finished in 1990 as a flood control project. The details of understanding the Bad Axe River watershed and how the water flows is pretty complicated unless you can study the topographic maps. I won't try to explain it.

Around the dam is 700+ acres of forest and valley with horseback and hiking trails. The terrain is very steep.

I parked at the Upper Duck Egg parking area which is a rough gravel road that has quite a few dipsy-doodles in it. Note. Don't bring a low slung car to the upper lot.

Charlie and I headed from the Prairie Trail to the lookout. The plan was to just hike down to the first junction and head back up another trail called the Stagecoach Line.

We got to the lookout which has been cleaned up since my last visit there in 2011 while riding with Rich on mules.

2011 view:

And this week's view:

Well, needless to say, Charlie and I took a right long before we were supposed to take a right on the Stagecoach Line. Poo. We ended up on an old logging trail and looped around back the prairie. 
I took some photos with the infrared camera which doesn't show off the multiple colors of the foliage.

But the images are pretty neat.

I decided to just walk around the top of the ridge and admire the trees while Charlie tried to make his mark on every clump of grass he could find. I decided to review the trail maps and go back on another day.

My goal is to hike into the valley, past the dam and back up the steep hill to the ridge. I recall that the trek back uphill in 2011 was pretty tough. I know we had to let the mules take a breather on the way up.

Sounds like a good workout, right?

Well I need to feed the old guy and head out. Apples and snacks are packed, the day is windy and warm...I'll pick something up for an early supper on the way back.

Oh Dear FedEx

I must say that the FedEx Customer Service people are rather pleasant.

I tracked a package all the way to 'the front doorstep'.  When I looked for said package there was none.
There was no package at my neighbor's house [they sometimes do that] or at the only other two places on my road.

No one is home at the old farm and no one is living at the little shack this summer.
Wow.
So the mystery deepens.
Where was my package delivered to?
What sort of shape is it in after 3/4" of rain this weekend?

FedEx CS told me on Saturday that of course they couldn't find the package until Monday.  This morning I recieved a call from a 'Tracing Agent' who wanted to know if I'd found my package yet.

Nope I had not.  I'd checked with most folks ... all of 7 places on my ridge and no one had seen a package.  However 3 people had seen the FedEx truck.

I impressed on them that my package had been shipped with special delivery and that this is the 3rd time that special deliveries had been messed up.
The regular guy Dave [yes I know his name well, I see him where I work and sign him in daily]... knows exactly where to deliver.

So the Agent called the terminal, had them stop the driver and told said driver that the package had to be retrieved today and delivered today.  I had told her they were Wedding Photos that I am delivering tomorrow out of town.

The Agent assured me that the package would be given to me today.
I think I believed her.

I must mention that Blurb who did the photo album books has credited my shipping fees and is anxiously awaiting the outcome also.
Their Customer Service answered my issue within 10 minutes.

I will be heading out tomorrow, bags packed, computer and cameras in tow to do another 'shoot'.
This will be of my new grand baby Elena Ruby.

Oh Dear FedEx, please find my package!

Because after this trip I'll have another 'special delivery' and I need you to not leave my package somewhere else!