What a nice hike!

 

Another great hike in the books!

The two images above show how different devices record one's hiking or trekking. My MapMyWalk app said we did 8.6 miles, Candace's Google Pixel watch recorded 9.35 miles.

Who cares? It was a nice long walk/hike. 

The morning started out very foggy. I mean fog like pea soup fog! It had rained off and on all day for Saturday so I expected we'd find some soggy places.

After meeting in the parking lot, we set off. Our shoes instantly got soaked with the wet grass and we jumped or stepped over muddy puddles. I quipped that it looked like we'd get wet feet right away. And we did.

That did not dampen Candace's or her daughter's spirit. They were excited and happy to explore trails on a foggy wet morning. 

I asked her to tell me more about herself. We often meet up at the gym and have short conversations about work outs or other subjects. But a long walk is a great way to learn about someone else. 

I learned a lot about Candace and her daughter on our walk. 

Our feet got wet a few times. We were able to avoid the standing water on low spots and other times we couldn't. So we'd get wet feet and then they'd dry out again, only to get wet again. Shoes and feet wash!

The bugs actually were not as bad as I thought they might be, but bug spray was used especially while walking in the low areas next to the Kickapoo River.

The sun came out just before we were midway through our hike. The woods and nature were amazing and beautiful. 

Below---> Candace and her daughter.

We stopped around 7 miles where we found a flush of oyster mushrooms and several other tiny mushrooms growing along the trail. We peered at beautiful mosses and scenery while we had a short snack break.

When we got back to the parking lot, Candace asked if they could go again. Sure! I asked her if she wanted to do a hard hike. I had planned on my next one being a more technically difficult hike around Hanson's Rock. It involves steep hills and some careful foot placement around rocks and roots.

She and her daughter said they'd love the challenge.

During the hike, I only took my camera out twice. I didn't think of taking photos of the trail or of us. I didn't do selfies. I just enjoyed the company of others who walked with me.

What a perfect morning.

Junk Piles are good.

~~~ Well when it the frost comes out of the ground and you need your driveway redone, things get messy. I've begun to park my 'Ru at the bottom of the hill where the driveway is solid and has a firm base.

Down on the flat is where all the moisture runs to and it gets pretty slimy and slippery during the warmth of the midday. 

I had a delivery from Amazon coming and well, I didn't believe it was actually being delivered by Amazon. Until now our very rural area is only served by the postal service and UPS, FedEx tends to get lost somehow and can never find our house or road. It was one of those things: When I see it, I'll believe it.

While I was making lunch for us I saw someone running across our yard and thought: Wow! That must be Amazon! 

I met the young man at the porch door and he said, "Hi! I'm stuck can you help?" 

I looked out and there was his van in one of the turn around areas below my 'Ru. Normally it is a good spot to turn around in the winter and dry season. An awful spot when the frost is coming out of the ground.

He'd driven around my car to turn around. He asked if I could just pull him out with the truck. And I replied that the truck didn't work. He looked stricken until I told him that I had a better idea than the truck.

I walked over to the junk pile where I'd stacked hubby's collection of expanded metal mesh. If you don't know what I am talking about, it looks like this:

I had 3 large sheets with pieces cut out of it. They were approximately 6ft by 4ft. I had him help me place one sheet in front of his back tires and the other two sheets behind his tires. 

Thankfully he had a lot of common sense and hadn't tried to rock himself back and forth in the grassy section. He would have just dug holes and we would have needed the skid steer or a tow truck. 

I told him to follow my directions and idle forward onto the metal, then we replaced the sheet behind the tires and I had him idle out in reverse. 

I got my package and he explained that he thought twice about coming down our driveway and going around the car, but then so many people complained about delivery. I assured him that I'd never complain when the driveway was bad.

There actually is a place for delivery instructions, which I will edit in the future. Apparently I can tell Amazon to leave the package by the mailbox.

What amazes me to no end is that modern delivery vans are poorly designed with cheap tires and rear wheel drive only. That is fine for most city settings but very poor for rural areas.

When I got the young man safely turned around, he thanked me, apologized, and apologized again for all the trouble. I set my package down in the snow next to hubby's plow. I told him when he was pointed up the hill to get around the Subaru and 'Give 'er hell' getting up the hill. 

He did and he left with spinning wheels but made it up our hill.

I rescued my package from the snow and when I got to the house I got a message via Amazon: Your Package has been delivered, photo:

It looks like it was dumped in a junkyard. That is where I 

put it while rescuing the van....

A survey was attached to the photo asking how the delivery was. I imagine the young man was apprehensive about his new gig and getting stuck in my yard. 

I took the survey and assured Amazon that their driver had handled the package with care and was courteous.

At least the young man had a good story to tell at the end of the day. About the old lady who ran out grabbed expanded metal sheets off her junk pile and got him out of the mud.

I have experience with a mud.

Here are some mud photos from the years past. Now do you see why I hired someone to finally rebuild the lower driveway??

The driveway only looks this bad during the spring thaw when the frost comes out of the ground. Once we are past that, the ground is solid and I tend to forget what a pain it is in the spring.

Last note.
I woke up with a terrible sore throat this morning and mild headache. Geeze. It's been at least 10 years since I've had a cold.

Charlie and I will be spending the day upstairs in the spare bedroom reading and napping.

Have a great Sunday.

Section 50 Cut Off Trail

 I'm getting down to the last few trails for my Trail Challenge at Kickapoo Valley Reserve. Sunday morning I set out to beat the heat and humidity and knock off a trail I wasn't too excited about doing.

Since my pal Bill has bowed out of hiking the trails with me due to some hip issues and family obligations, I have to make loops out of these hikes. Sometimes that means walking double the distance or backtracking.

I'm okay with that.

The map has the trail as a 1.41 mile end to end trail. In order to do that I had to walk up the gravel road to the one trail head and then hike back to my car on the trail and part of the gravel road. I walked just about 3 miles to accomplish a completion of section #50.

The views walking the gravel road were pretty nice. In fact, it was prettier than I thought it would be. The sky was overcast for the most part.

Then the sun broke through as I reached the top of the hill and turned to look back...

I saw a lot of trucks parked on the side of the road and recalled that deer bow season had just opened. It was hot and muggy and all the bucks I've seen still have their velvet. It didn't make sense to hunt in this heat and in this rough terrain.

Then I heard a couple of shots that sounded like .22's. That made me curious.

I found the trail head and set off.

Fairly quickly I ran into one fellow in all camo who was huffing and puffing while he climbed up the steep hill from the roadside. 

We talked briefly. He and a couple of other guys were Squirrel Hunting. He was polite and even told me, "Have a great hike ma'am."

Uffdah! Ma'am! I told him to have a good hunt.

I'm glad I hadn't brought Charlie, the overnight light rain and the humidity would have made it hard for him. The few gunshots I heard would have reduced him to a quivering Pekenhund Puddle. I would have had to carry him.

The trails were quite muddy in some spots and slippery. However, this trail is pretty but not very challenging. It basically runs alongside the gravel road in the woods.

I walked past two fellas that were looking at the woods and talking about ... I assume bow or gun deer hunting spots. We nodded and greeted each other as we passed. I was surprised. Normally, I don't see another human on my morning hikes.

However, different hunting seasons are now open. 

The light would have been fantastic in some parts of the woods had I waited for a late afternoon sun, but I had to pick my hikes when I could get them in and not always plan for the best light.

The Sumac in some places was astounding! Near home, it has just begun to change, but here it was blazing with incredible colors.

I ended up back on the gravel road and headed downhill to where I parked at the 'other' Cut Off Trail Head. I'd hiked that section with Bill and Jason on January 8th. I have one more hike to do in the north east section by Warner Creek and I will have finished that part of the Reserve.

A truck passed me and then parked behind my Subaru. I was curious as the men inside the truck didn't appear to be hikers. When I approached they stepped out of their truck and said hello again. They were the two fellas I'd passed on the ridge.

They were from Michigan and had decided to come to "Weesconsin" to check out the Reserve for deer hunting. They lamented that if they shot a deer there would be no easy access to drag it out. The terrain was really rough and there were so many trails, they had no idea where to even begin!

We talked for a couple of minutes and then I walked down to the bridge to take a shot of Warner Creek. Which...on Google Maps is called Jug Creek. But that is wrong. 
Oh well.

Warner Creek never disappoints me and I always stop to take a shot just like this in every season of the year at this bridge.

The hike was hot and muggy, but not really buggy like I expected. The Fall colors are starting to show and are simply beautiful.

I checked my time and was happy. I'd be home before lunch and could make applesauce and do laundry.

One more section off my list!

Pride Rock? NO! Blackhawk Rock!

It had been a week of brutally hot weather and finally it had broken. I was so pleased.

Sunday loomed in front of me. I stood at Bridge M and watched the swallows light up the sunrise as they flitted about.

I decided then that I wasn't going to let this beautiful day with NO appointments go to waste.

I enjoyed the sunrise and headed home. I did laundry and hung out sheets while Rich slept. Swept the floors and picked up dog hair, tidied up the bathroom and then at 6:30 went for groceries.
When I got back....

I looked on FB and the Kickapoo Valley Reserve was asking for hikers to report back on certain trails. Well, well. I'd wanted to 'do' Blackhawk again in the summer and this seemed like a perfect excuse. I grabbed the large backpack and began to arrange it.
Hmm. What about Charlie? He'd been cooped up in the heat too. And I know he could do most of the 5+ miles of trail...but...did I want his distraction along? I decided that indeed I did.

When Rich woke up I told him that I was going hiking. He made a face. I pointed to this week's schedule where I was driving him to PT three times, to LaCrosse, to Onalaska, and to Madison. I finally said, "I deserve this."

And so.

My very willing little 'low rider' partner seemed rather happy to get out of the house too.
By the way, he no longer gets drooly, slobbery, or sick while riding. He just whines loudly every time I slow down as if to say..."Are we there yet?"

He waited patiently in the back of the 'Ru while I rearranged some items in my back pack and put the little IR camera in a pouch on my belt.

Indian Creek covered bridge:

Yes, I had the Infrared pocket camera

Kickapoo River in IR:

We took the long way and going through this meadow was nearly unbearably hot. I gave Charlie a lift for a good part of the way.

The meadow was full of beautiful wild flowers, insects, butterflies, and horrid Deer Flies. However we survived and got into the woods.

And we started climbing from the valley up the switchbacks.

Soon we were at the trail that led up to the rock.
It is easy to find and a section of it has a lot of growth on each side. I wasn't bothered by that at all.
I noted the poison ivy alongside the trail that was as tall as Charlie and was once again reminded why I hike in long pants and boots.

There is a group called Wisconsin Explorer that has done this trail and calls it difficult. I don't think it is, but then again I am used to difficult terrain.

We made it. To the top of Blackhawk Rock.

I grabbed the IR camera ... when I didn't mean to. But I caught the moment I think...when Charlie broke into the chant from the opening scene in The Lion King.

Okay. He didn't really. But it did come to mind.

The view is inspiring.

So we sat down and had some more water and doggy treats.

I knew the rest of the trail back towards where we'd started would be in deep woods.

Charlie DOES not like deer flies. Nope. After one bite he was climbing my legs to get a ride. I plucked a fern and stuck it in his harness to flap at the darned things. I carried a blown down branch of maple leaves to keep them off my head.

We made it out to the road and walked along County P.  There was a long stretch that had been covered by the Kickapoo River and it still had mud, gravel, and small branches on it.

People who are not from around here sorely underestimate how quickly the 'Poo rises in a torrential down pour.
We don't.

We live with the river and love/hate it.

Our adventure was a success.
Charlie did so well for such a little guy.

Taking him was a very good choice. I had someone to talk to.

Playing with kids...I see....

I had started a long drawn out post explaining what happened to our area and all of the towns devastated by flooding from the 12" of rain falls that we had just north of where I live. Some places had 10", some had 12".

It is too overwhelming to try to even explain.

So I just want to say, that the local people have been helping other local people. It comes from the hearts and souls of those around us.
~~~~

Yesterday was gorgeous and beautiful after sunrise. Charlie decided he needed a morning walk and so we went.

We walked out along the gravel road and just enjoyed the fresh morning air after two days of heavy rains.

He did a road inspection first. It seemed everything was to his liking.

Next was the hay field inspection.

His conclusion is that it could use a cutting and baling so he could walk unencumbered.

Evidence of the hard rains showed up in the morning light. However, we still have a road and we are not under water.

When we got home, Charlie got a bath. So many days of a short legged dog running through sand, dirt, mud, and wet grass makes ... little dog a bit smelly.
He took his bath fine, no whining no fuss.

Later on we had visitors who wanted to go down to Awesome Creek and go rock hunting.
And boy we did.

The kids asked to bring Charlie. Well, why not?

Rock hunting or creek exploring with Allie can be very interesting. Here she is wearing a plastic bag as a hat. She is intending on catching water bugs and any other cool insects she can find.
This way her hands are free to catch the bugs. Well, that is what she told me.

The basket was for cool rocks to be collected in. We had invited another friend who absolutely loves rocks and loves to look for rocks.

The boys got busy with carving their initials into a log. I had told them it was just fine.

Note Allie on the hunt for something. It was about this moment where everyone got distracted and...Charlie disappeared from our watchful eyes.

Suddenly our fun hike turned into a "Let's FIND Charlie!" I didn't start to really feel upset and scared until he'd been missing and not coming to our calls for about 10 minutes. Believe me, it felt like hours.

We found him, he looked smug and happy. I re-attached his cord and decided not to let go of him. This happened once before in the very same spot, so I suspect that he was tracking a deer trail just above the log that the boys were working on!

We ended up near the Red Clay and everyone wanted to 'paint' themselves.
And why not?

It felt good.

And it was perfectly silly!

Never doubt Allie though. When she gets 'into' something, she goes ALL of the way!

And then she asked if she could...paint Charlie red with clay.

And Charlie was very willing.

He seems to love whatever Allie has to do with him.

We hiked on down to the where my fenceline is and most everyone rinsed off...
except for...
Allie....

The Queen of Red Clay and mud.

Most everyone rinsed the red clay off. Allie didn't want to. I dunked Charlie in a pool of water to get some of the clay off.

I didn't bother rinsing my legs, arms, or face, either. It felt fun to be silly.

I suggested a first rinse before Allie went home.

I knew the water in the small stock tank would be warm and just perfect. The Red Headed sisters were quite curious about the small human in their water.
I was going to dump it and rinse it out later anyway....

When I got to the house with a wet red clay dog and full of red clay myself...my husband stared at me as if I was from another planet.

Then he said, "Oh playing with kids again I see."