On a Whim

 I do like night skies, so I do follow a place called Driftless Stargazing on Social Media. I noticed a post about a Guided Star Gazing walk at a place I've wanted to check out for quite a while. The land is managed by the Mississippi Valley Conservancy and is open to the public for a variety of uses.

Hunting [in season], Hiking, Fishing [in the Kickapoo River] ... Bikes, Dogs, and Camping is not allowed.

It is a Nature Preserve/State Natural Area that is know for its Dark Skies.

There is a trail that goes up and around old bluff tops and prairie grasses. There are some cliffs/bluffs along the river. How could I not want to explore those!

Not my photo:

So.

I signed up to go on the walk. This is a new thing for me. What could happen? I could meet some other nice folks and maybe make some connections. Or I could be bored and never want to join up with any other of their activities.

I met two people who have mules. All the folks there loved the night sky. I met a gent who used to ride in the same areas Rich and I did many years ago. 

The two leaders had laser pointers and started naming the stars as the appeared in the sky. By the time it was fully dark I learned a few things. I can find Pegasus and of course the North Star, the Big Dipper, and the Little Dipper easier than I used to.

I'm no astronomer, but I do love the night sky.

The evening was warm enough that we didn't need coats and best of all, no Bugs!

I 'friended' a woman who would like to go hiking at the Reserve but only knows her way around the paved trail. I offered to take her on a hike if she was interested some time. She was nice. Who knows?

When I got home, I sat out on the porch with the dogs for a bit on the old camp cot I'd cobbled back together. 

I decided to take a shot of the Milky Way which won't be visible all winter. This is the view from my porch. The glow at the tree level is from lights far off on the ridge.

Then I set up my camera to take a Star Trail. I set the timer for an hour. After checking on it a few times, I laid down on the cot with the pups and snoozed a bit.

This was the result below. It is obscene that I can let the camera do the work instead of taking 260+ photos and putting them together in Photoshop.

I put the camera and tripod away and grabbed a couple of blankets and a pillow.

The night was so pleasant and starry, I didn't want it to end. So I plopped down on the cot to gaze at the sky. The dogs snuggled in with the blankets and me.

I woke up to the sounds of Robins landing in the yard at predawn. 

Some folks go clubbing on Saturday nights. I spent it with the stars.

Hannah and toilet paper...

 So I promised a strange story about Hannah and toilet paper. 

I feel restless in the Fall season. I used to feel that time was slipping away from me. Perhaps it is the loss of daylight that occurs.

Perhaps, it is the trees dropping their leaves and the landscape going through a dramatic change.

Perhaps it is an internal clock reminding me that life is finite. 

I started to check emails, blogs, and Flickr. When I felt something slipping away. I put my camera in a backpack and grabbed my keys. The dogs were not letting me get away with leaving them again. 

We loaded up and off we went. Me? To seek something. I didn't know quite what, but it would come to me.

The sun came up, a bright orange globe predicting an unusually warm October day. 

I forgot the beeper controls for the dog collars. I forgot breakfast. I did remember leashes and my camera. 

The drive was so amazing. On the ridge, the day was bright and warm.

Along the highway next to the river? 

Highway 131 is twisty and follows the Kickapoo River Valley. I think I once counted crossing the river 13 times just getting to a town 12 miles away.

I ended up stopping at Big Valley.  I parked and we piled out of the car in the early morning light.

I called my cohorts to follow me and they complied. Hannah was frantic with puppy energy and must have left her brain at home. My destination was the small bluffs overlooking Warner Creek. I thought the morning light and the view would be worth the little climb.

My goal was the pine tree in the center of the photo below.

We followed the designated equine trail and then went off trail towards the bluff. Charlie walked by my side and Hannah bounced ahead with springs in her legs.

These bluffs that have a stream running under them along with the pines, the soil, the moisture, and the little micro climate have made this an amazing place to find fungi. And we did!

The American Yellow Fly Agaric aka Amanita chrysoblema mushroom! There were hundreds of them!

The beautiful ones are always so poisonous!

There were so many of them on the bluff. 

I was horrified to see that someone had walked along part of the bluff and had been kicking over these beauties. What the He11 is wrong with people? 

I squatted down to start photographing them, when I noticed Hannah had something white in her mouth.

I do have to watch her carefully. She tends to try to 'taste' everything, though not as bad as she used to. I was afraid she'd picked up a piece of the Amanita.

I ran over to her and hollered 'Drop IT' 'Leave IT'. One of those commands should have worked but didn't. She pranced around me chewing. Finally I gave her the hand signal to sit and she obeyed.

One more stern look and a soft 'leave it' and Hannah dropped it. Ugh. Gross. Disgusting. Used toilet paper. I walked back to where I'd seen her pick it up and as I toured through the trees I found other places that sported TP. 

I was so angry that I wanted to spit. IF I have that urge while hiking or riding, I do carry bits of TP, but I also carry a plastic ziplock bag to put the used stuff in. Disgusting. First the offenders kick over beautiful fungi and then they do whatever and leave their TP.

I moved on to the bluff site where I wanted to get a photo of Warner Creek.

And as you can see, someone was as interested in it as I was.

I got the shots I sort of wanted. The first one is looking east and the other shot is looking west.

Some day, I'll do this creek justice in a photo.

As we walked a little further down the trail, gunfire erupted in a few areas. It sounded like shotguns so it could have been Turkey hunters, but I did a quick check and there was also gun hunt for deer for youth and disabled people.

I wasn't in a good hunting area, but the bellowing of the guns far off shook poor Charlie.

We headed back towards the car. Hannah was not fazed by the noise at all and wanted to play in the water.

We waved goodbye to the bluffs and headed home.

The Reserve allows hunting on its land and anyone can hunt there. I've met some really nice hunters [bow, pheasant, duck] while hiking in the fall. I always stay out of the area during the 9 day deer gun season. 

The dogs got their adventure time, I found cool fungi and played on the bluffs. Hannah learned to leave toilet paper alone [I think], and a good morning was had by all.

It was time to go home and get those list of to do's done. We did pretty well. We were back home before 10am.

I still had a 'date' with the Mississippi Valley Conservancy to go to Tunnelville Cliffs and do a star gazing walk.

Wyalusing. Knocking off another two trails.

When I did get home on Thursday morning my furred friends were very annoyed that I'd left without them. I did chores and decided that the yard wasn't shaggy enough and other indoor things could wait until I couldn't be outside.

We headed to Wyalusing State Park to chip away at two more trails that I/we haven't done. 

I wanted to go and do the southern trails called Mississippi Ridge Trail and see the Cathedral Tree Drive/Trail.

I'll have to do the Sugar Maple Trail without dogs as they are not allowed in the Pictured Rocks area.

The Mississippi Ridge Trail was pleasant and tree covered. It was actually a pretty wide trail that meandered through the forest. It was wide and not difficult like many of the other trails. When I checked the map it made sense, it is a biking/hiking trail. In the winter the trail is groomed for x-country skiing.

One has to pay attention to the trail usage come winter. Snowshoes are not allowed on ski trails nor is hiking. [unless of course ... there is no snow...]

That aside, it was a pleasant but rather undemanding trail.

It was pretty, it was easy, and the dogs had the best time enjoying the hike.

I'd driven down the Cathedral Tree Dr to park at the picnic area and make the loop. The plan was to walk down the mile and a half tree lined drive and enjoy the light and shadows along the way. 

Boy, was it ever gorgeous. We didn't hurry, we dawdled along [Okay, I made the dogs dawdle because I held the leashes!]. 

There sure is something about a trail or a road that twists through a tree lined forest in the fall. The two photos below look like they are the same part of the road.

They aren't. I just must have loved the same curvature I saw.

I must really like roads that curve to the right? Right?

We really took our time. It is unreal to feel 'unrushed' these days. For so many years any adventures or hikes I went on were on a 'time' limit. I had to be back to make something for hubby or check on him. I still went, but I rushed always.

It feels very strange to take my time and not worry. It seems that my previous life had been on a tight schedule. I am discovering the freedom of doing things on my own time.

A predawn morning on a bluff to start the day and a relaxing afternoon hike with the dogs for the late afternoon.

We saw one truck on the Cathedral Tree Drive and that was it. Of course having the ability to go hiking in the middle of the week is an advantage to avoiding crowds.

Seeing the burial mounds along the way was unexpected. The Park keeps the burial mounds mowed and clean. 

The things one can learn while just hiking along.

We stopped at the picnic shelter and I forgot to take a shot of the sign explaining why the area was called Henneger Point. 

The area was named after Rick Henneger a DNR attorney who dedicated his career in securing thousands of acres for state conservation. 

I used to ignore the signs and the plaques I'd find, but now I find it interesting to see the history behind the places I hike.

We sat in the shade of the shelter and gazed down towards the Mississippi while we had snacks before heading home.

My supervisors in the back seat were silent. I think that meant they were happy campers.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Next up?

Hannah and toilet paper. Honestly, it won't be what you think.

Tonight I am meeting up with the Mississippi Valley Conservancy to go on a 'star walk'. Those leading the hike will be talking about stars on this New Moon night hike.

See? 

I'm actually trying something I'd never would have done before.

Give me Fall

Well, at least this year!

I've had some amazing days and nights.

I climbed this bluff in the hour before sunrise. I brought coffee and sat down to enjoy the show. I couldn't think of a more perfect morning.

These shots were with my cell phone.

It obviously measures light and dark much differently.

The dogs were so happy when I came back home, I decided that they needed some adventuring also.  So I packed a bag and off we went to Wyalusing. 

Fall is fleeting and the day was perfect.

Grab the moments when you can is my new motto. 

So if I seem to be missing once in a while. ---->>

I assure you, I'm off trying to enjoy and explore as much 'Fall' and 'Autumn' as I can right now. Some things can wait. 

Life doesn't.

Fall Beckons.....................

After fighting a gnarly cold from Sunday morning through Wednesday morning, I decided to go kick some stuffy head a$$. When I was in my 20's and 30's I was a distance runner. I'd get a head cold and wait until I could 'just' breath and then go running. Stupid, you know? But I always felt better after getting the 'juices' flowing.

So Wednesday morning after chores I grabbed a backpack and my two cohorts [dogs] ran to sit by my car. The vote was in. I could clean house, make the bed, and dust ----> or take off and do something fun. The weather was perfect in every single way that fall can produce.

The drive to the Reserve seemed to hold the promise of something beautiful.

But since I was still not recovered from the cold [think stuffy nose and stuffy head]. I decided we'd just take it slow when we hit the trails.

And we did. I took nearly an hour for our first mile. I strolled slowly letting the dogs trot ahead looking for interesting scents.

I took a maintenance trail that is almost never used. No bikes or equines are allowed there, but foot traffic is okay.

I know that last year I stopped and photographed this wild grape vine. I've always intended to come back and see it in the winter. Maybe this year.

It almost looks like some sort of alien creature!

The shot last year was much better, but I'll have to wait until later in the year to try it again!

Last year:

The bare branches of some of the young maples under the pines held my attention as the needles have been dropping from the winds decorating the bare branches.

For fun I tried a double exposure in camera. I pointed the camera at the bright part of the forest and took a shot of my hand, then pointed at the dogs for a second exposure. The effect is rather interesting.

I swapped the camera over to B&W and serendipity gave me this view of Hannah. I liked it.

I turned and spotted this highlighted maple branch that looked like it had spikes. It is just pine needles.

We lollygagged along in no hurry, so Hannah ran off in front to be called back to me. Charlie was smart and just walked alongside me unless a smell was too overpowering.

We did greet two horse back riders. But otherwise we saw no other human. In the distant ponds in the valley we could hear Canada Geese and other waterfowl calls. 

Over the years, I usually stop at this stump on the Little Canada Trail. I ask the dogs to sit on the stump for a portrait. I think these two portraits tell a tale at the different characteristics of these two dogs.

Hannah -- a goofy face.

Charlie, so stoic.

The Dragon Tree. Or.

Whatever you might see in it!

This tree has seen so much I can tell by its expression:

It took us a long time to get this trail done, but it didn't feel like it. I'm still learning to try to NOT hurry through each of my hikes but to slow down and take it all in.

Fall:

The smells of fall, 

the dropping leaves, 

the whispers of the wind in the pine trees,

The air carried a kind of quiet promise,

the kind you only hear when the season shifts.

Every trail felt like a story half‑told,

begging to be explored.

Fall didn’t just arrive — it beckoned.

it appealed to our sense of wildness,

of adventure,

and of awe.

Hannah/lost and found and more

Sunday morning I checked the weather and it looked perfect for another campout. I took the dogs with me to set up the tent, they saw my backpack and ran next to the car and sat.

I had to laugh and imagine me explaining that No, they were going to help me set up camp.

I usually struggle a little bit in putting up the tent, in the end, I get it done. Instead of using the rain cover, I tossed a blanket over the top vent to keep our body heat in overnight.

I turned around and there was only Charlie sitting on the old camp cot I have. No Hannah. So I called, whistled and hollered. I tried her 'beeper' collar. She always come running to that as it means she gets a treat or a pat on the head.

Nothing.

I grabbed Charlie and took him home on the 4 wheeler and put him in the house so I could run down through our woods and call for Hannah.

I spent 45 minutes calling and then realized that since we are surrounded by 600+ acres on the east and 200+ acres on the west, and hundreds of acres of fields and forest to the south and north -- she could have gone anywhere.

I stopped running around. Hannah knew the lay of the land. She'd either come to camp or go home eventually. When Rich and I would lose a hound while hunting, we'd take our coats off and lay them down at the last place we'd been with our hound. By morning, the hound would have made a bed of our coats and we'd pick him/her up.

I got back to the house to grab my chore flannel off the porch and check on Charlie. He was happy to see me and then he ran to the porch door. I asked if he had to go out when I heard a very quiet 'woof'. It wasn't Charlie.

Hannah was laying on my insulated flannel in the sunshine on the porch. I wanted to yell at her and tell her she was bad bad bad and wished she could tell me what happened. 

I didn't. She was so overjoyed at seeing me. She launched into wiggles and smiles. Yup, she draws up her lips while wiggling and shows her teeth in an awkward smile.

I hugged her and gave her a treat for being so smart as to come home and lay on the porch.

We eventually got back to the campsite and got set for an October camp. It was going to be a chilly night with temps dipping into the low 40's. I figured if we got cold, we could just walk home and go in the house.

We left at 5pm and spent quite a bit of time sitting on the old junk cot watching the fire and listening to the forest around us.

At sunset, I walked out into the meadow and took this shot looking east with the pretty pink clouds and the neighbor's meadow. The line of fog is actually smoke from my fire lingering in the woods far off.

Once it got dark, the temperature started to drop. That is when the first group of coyotes started to sing their hunting songs. Not too far off an owl started to call. It was a different call than the 'Who Cooks For You' but it was a Barred Owl --> I think.

The fire had burned low so I banked the coals and we retired inside the tent. It was only 7:30, I cracked open a book and started to read. My cohorts made a bed on my jacket and some blankets and seemed to be interested in what I was reading.

Around 8:30 I decided to check on things outside before calling it a night. I walked out with the dogs and had them do their thing while I looked at the stars.

I couldn't believe my lucky eyes. The Milky Way had not quite set yet. I kept the dogs collar lights on and grabbed my camera out of the backpack.

I thought that time had run out on seeing the Milky Way, however, it hadn't quite set yet.

I was so tickled and happy, I did a little jig and Hannah did one too. Charlie huffed and went into the tent to make his bed. Apparently he was not impressed.

I could see my breath in my headlamp so I know the temperature had dropped again. I thought I'd take a couple of night camp shots so I could remember our 'night out'.

So the night sounds we heard were really quite beautiful. We heard raccoons chirping in the forest. Yes, they do make chirping sounds! A buck not too far off was grunting which sounds hilarious. I am guessing he was chasing a doe who he thought was in heat.

We heard from the coyotes a few more times but they didn't come our way.

The coolest sounds we heard were from the Barred Owls or perhaps they were Great Horned Owls. The songs were odd but definitely an owl of some kind. It sounded as if a Barred Owl couldn't quite get it right and was trying to sound like an adult.

They kept at it every once in a while until nearly dawn. 

I enjoyed the night noises so much especially the owl 'talk'. It was one of the highlights of my night!

By the time 6am arrived, the dogs and I were buried under layers of blankets together. I got dressed and had to convince the dogs to leave their warm blankets and walk home with me in the predawn. 

We walked through our meadow towards home and listened to the group of Robins that were chattering. They were migrating through and gave us more 'songs' to enjoy on our camping adventure.

The outside temperature at the house was 38 degrees F. Hmmm. We survived!

And, I got a pretty good night's sleep!

[I also want to say that Hannah is a huge scent driven dog. She can track me if I hide from her, a playful trick I used to do to all of our hounds. Charlie doesn't have that sort of scent drive, but he has also learned to stay close over the past 8 yrs.]