I don't even know what to say....

I've talked before about meeting my Geologist friend on a New Year's Eve hike in the Kickapoo Valley Reserve. Little did I know how our friendship would develop into a relationship good for the both of us.

Let me be clear. This is a friendship.

This friendship has extended to my husband. Hmmm, let me clarify.

I got a text from Jason asking if I'd like a day this weekend to get out and go hiking. He'd come and stay with Rich and make sure he stayed safe for me to take as much time as I wanted to go hiking and photographing.

He volunteered.

He volunteered to drive two hours to come and spend the day with his fluff ball dogs and care for my husband while I took a DAY OFF. No limits on time. Just go and do what I love to do.

Jason showed up and immediately Rich and Charlie were ecstatic. Rich, because he enjoys Jason's company and gift of gab. Charlie, because he likes his hiking pals Piper and Felix...oh and let's not forget Jason, his other most favorite human who has dog treats.

Rich and Jason settled down with a cup of coffee and I started to chat with them. Rich said, "I thought you were going hiking?" Jason smirked and said, "Get going! We have this!" [or something to that effect]

I grabbed my backpack and hesitated. The guys shooed me out the door with a "Take as long as you like!"

I started down the Visitors Center Trail and then stopped, stunned. This was the first time in 10 years that I didn't have a time limit on my hikes. Always, always before, I tried to get out and back within at least 3 hours. Since my last exploration in the first week of January, I've not been able to go hiking at the Reserve.

I literally had to sit down on a rock when it hit me. Jason and Rich said, "Go do whatever you want and take your time."

Wait. I had a free day with no time restraints. If I wanted to wander about for hours AND take my time, I could. Is this what freedom feels like?

I was able to stop and ponder lichen on fallen oak branches. I could sit in the dirt and gaze at the Kickapoo River and listen to the sounds of the water and the birds. Since I was taking my time I searched the south facing bluff for signs of ephemeral plants.

The twin leaves of the Spring Beauties were emerging from the leaf debris. And then I spotted a patch of Wood Anemones. 

Normally, I would have taken a quick shot and moved on. But I didn't. I swapped out lenses to try out my Lensbaby Sol. 

...and why not? Why not take the time to explore something much different.

I did move on after enjoying some quiet time out of the cold wind. It was cold and cloudy with a breeze from the NW. But overcast days do make for good photo opportunities.

I could hear Canada Geese squawking and making noise in the west pond, so I headed through the muddy trails to get close to an area where I could hide on the pond bank behind some brush and photograph them.
To my delight I did find the Trumpeter Swans again this year!

I didn't have my 100-400mm lens as it is pretty heavy to go brush busting with, but here they are!

Ducks are so spooky! However eventually I will hopefully have the freedom at some point in my life to set myself up in a blind and sit for a long time to catch beautiful ducks.

I moved on and went off trail to follow the river. The winds kept me busy putting my hood up and taking it off. The sun would flash out for a moment and then disappear. I wasn't worried. I was happy even if I had to wear gloves.

I heard a Ring Neck Pheasant calling, I heard more Canada Geese, Ducks flew overhead to other ponds, and Song Sparrows sang. Blue Jays complained, and a Northern Flicker chatted from a scrub oak tree.

And after trekking through lowland fields I was amazed to find this bird alighting on a scrub oak!

Further beyond this mystical yellow bird was an area that I knew Sandhill Cranes like to hang out.

Photographing the Cranes was very tricky. They were beyond an area of thick brush next to the Kickapoo River. They were walking along quietly. I felt like I was spying on them. I did get one decent shot I think. They reminded me of secret lovers looking for a place to hold a tryst. 

The highlight of the day was laying on the multi use trail in the sunlight and seeing this fellow.

The black top was warm from the sunlight that emerged and I had the Reserve to myself. So Why Not?

I think I laid on the ground watching this guy for at least 10 minutes. Something I generally don't have the luxury of time for.

I'll stop right here as I've got to get out now and continue with cleaning up gravel and cleaning up the multiple flower gardens I have as well as many other household chores waiting for me. 

There are more photos, but I'll save them for another time.

When I got home, the 'boys' were laughing and having a great discussion.

Sometimes having someone else around to talk to is more interesting as old stories are new to the visiting friend. It worked out so well, we are going to try it again.

Just stuff

This is our Mini horse crop out. We purchased him from a friend many years ago. His job while we were still breeding for mules was to tease the mare and get her ready.

He is an expert an not getting wrapped up in the tie out line. I've dubbed him my self propelled mower who also does fertilizing at the same time.

He may as well be out in the yard instead of his winter pen. You'd think after doing nearly 20 years of yard work, he'd pick up the pinecones for me and pile up the sticks.

Lazy pony! He just does his thing.

I took a short walk in the woods on the way to go pick up my mail. I'd ordered a skort to try out this summer. A skort is a skirt with shorts in them. My son's wife wears them and says they are super comfortable. I thought I'd give them a whirl.

I also ordered a new t shirt for myself. I thought the graphic was appropriate for me. The shirt features a compass with the words below it: "All who wander are not lost..." 

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My youngest son and crew made a date to come and visit this weekend. Hmmm. More about that later or not. My eldest son predicted a Circus. He was right but I'd call it a Circus of Drama. It was not beautiful like the Cirque du Soleil but a train wreck of consequences.

It will be a very long time before I decide he and his crew can visit again.

'Nuff said.

We did take a hike and I got to see the wonderful Swans! They were so beautiful. I didn't bring my long long lens because I was herding kids like cats. But I did catch one pretty decent shot of the Swans.

A couple of my younger grand kids enjoyed floating a rubber ducky in a lazy little stream we found.

When the Duckie got stuck, they'd push him along with sticks.

The shot below is a photo of my second oldest grand daughter, Lily. She is carrying her puppy named Oakley in her jacket as he was tired and cold.

The kids enjoyed the hiking and adventures. 

Well. In other news, the weather turned frigid on Sunday and will warm up once again through Tuesday and then we are back to winter with a freezing mixture which is typical for March.

I have a 'date' to go hiking with another 19 yr old tomorrow. She was my neighbor for a few years. I've known her and her siblings and mom since she was 9 years old. I'm looking forward to that.

First I have to take some naps to get back to feeling human again after the circus came.

That time of the year?

 

With the arrival of Robins and Redwinged Black Birds, I get into the bird hunting mode. I blame Aurora over at equine expressions for that.

Saturday morning I did my 'duties' around the farm and because we have - had earlier daylight, I was finished and headed out to the Reserve to go birdwatching or at least walk around and pretend I was a Birder.

I did hear the Sandhill Cranes and the Canada Geese down at the ponds as soon as I stepped out of the car. I also realized that I had underdressed for the weather. I was instantly cold in my spring lightweight jacket and I had to pull up my hood to cover my ears.

I decided not to let the cold temps and wind stop me, so I went on down to the Big Pond to look around.

The Geese were noisy. I found a spot to use my long lens as binoculars and scout the opposite shore where the majority of the birds were hanging out.

There was a scuffle going on and so I took some shots and then looked at the shots I took. I found ducks!  I found what I think may be Mallards.
I don't know if March 9th is the early for them or not, but it was a first for me.

...and another scuffle which included
Canada Geese.
I shot through some brush, but still

managed to get some action.

Right then I got the urge to drive over to the Mississippi River and do some exploring. But I have time constraints and decided to just settle with what I could see in the immediate area.

That turned into a 2+ mile walk around the backwaters of the Kickapoo River.

It seemed that I was only going to see the Geese on this trip out. I could hear some black birds and many sparrows. Twice I almost got a shot of Chickadees, but they were so fast! Catching them near the bird feeder at home is easier, but there is a certain challenge of trying to get them out 'in the wild' so to speak.

I finally heard the Sandhill Cranes and saw them circling overhead and managed to catch a couple of shots. They didn't turn out the best, but there they were! The darn things kept fling low and through trees!

I did catch up with them after they landed though. I had to stand still behind some thick brush and look down onto the marshy area next to the river.

I came out next to Star Valley and decided to head back to the car. I stopped to pull down my hood and turned to see this:

These are steps that once led to a house on old Highway 131. I am standing on the old road that was the original highway and looking at steps for a home that was torn down.

I was really surprised as I must have walked past this spot hundreds of times. It made me wonder what it was like to live along this river and  road many years ago before the Government decided to take this land and turn it into a reservoir and dam to hold back flood waters.

None of that happened and many years later the Kickapoo Valley Reserve came to be in existance.

I was getting ready to put away my camera when I heard a bird call that I thought I recognized.

I kept turning around and looking for the source of the call. A flash of blue caught my eye and I took this shot which is again...NOT very good.

But there it was, a Kingfisher!!!

I did a little happy dance. Three years in a row I have been able to find a Kingfisher in this particular area. I call it dumb luck, but maybe it isn't.

It was worth getting cold through and through to see this just before I walked up to the parking area.

I am grateful that my Subaru has heated seats. When I got in, I turned the heater on full.

What a success. It was worth getting half frozen.

It must be that time of year!

Wild things

 My pal couldn't make it on Sunday morning, so I packed up my long lens and headed out to the ponds at the Reserve.

I know. I go there a LOT. It is 20 minutes or so by car and has nice trails along with nice access to a river.

The serious bird photographers this time of year are wandering up and down Highway 35 along the Mississippi or taking trips along the Wisconsin River where the wildlife is truly amazing and abundant.

I have to stay closer to home on my excursions. Hubby gets uncomfortable if I head out too.

When I got to the Reserve there was one vehicle parked in the Visitor's Center Parking lot. Usually people don't show up early to explore the Reserve. I could hear Sandhill Cranes, Redwing Blackbirds, and Canada Geese from the lot.

But motion in the tree ahead of me captured my attention.

Hubby says it was a pine squirrel. Around our home and in the forest we have quite a few grey squirrels but I rarely see the ones colored like this.

I stood for a long time and watched him/her, then moved on quietly. It was such a pretty and cute squirrel.

I went down the railroad tie stairs and along the Visitor Trail to another muddy trail that went between the two ponds. 

March 17th last year I spotted a pair of Trumpeter swans in the western pond. To my great surprise and delight, I found Swans again.

March 26th and I found the swans again!

I sat still and watched them for a while. I was able to observe a bunch of ducks too. I could see a wood duck paddling around the swans and I didn't want to spook any of them.

A gent with a dog came up the trail and he was trying to be quiet, but the movement of them set the whole pond off and birds started to take off.

Of course the Sandhill Cranes couldn't let just the geese make all the noise so they joined in too. But they didn't leave. They were on the far side of the ponds.

I decided to walk down another muddy trail on my way back to the parking lot when I heard a bird and saw a flash of blue across another pond.

It was far away, but I tried to catch a shot or two anyway.

A Belted Kingfisher.

I sure was pleased.

On the way back to the car I thought how nice it would be to arrive predawn and sit quietly by the ponds in a more remote spot and just watch all of the water fowl. 

It doesn't look like the weather will be good enough during this week though. Another Thursday sleet and snowish event. Yuck.

However a beautiful Bluebird stopped by as we were eating supper. So Spring is coming, right?

Hay Valley & Washout Trail ~ Trail Challenge

Hay Valley & Washout Trails, Sections 41 & 44. 1.86 miles & 1.30 miles respectively. Not extremely difficult, but nice long uphill and downhill grades.

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Welcome back to Hay Valley Trail. 
Bill and I headed out from the trail head from Campsite U.

We are trying to get Charlie on all of the trails with us. It might be a BIG feat for such a little dog, but he is a surprising little hiker. 
He does wonderfully in cooler weather, don't we all?

This is trail section 44 which is a gradual but steep uphill climb . According to the maps, it appears that the climbs are up and down of about 200 feet.

Without the leaves and undergrowth obscuring the terrain, we could see that we were going around rock formations. 

If we weren't on a time schedule, I'd have gone exploring once we made the switch back at the top. But both of us have responsibilities.

We found the stone foundation just as Aurora and I did last week. This week there was a surprise waiting at the base of the foundation.

Ginger plants in blossom!

When we got to the intersection #10, I explained to Bill how the Bailout Trail went south and ended back up on Highway 131 just north of Bridge 9. Following the Hay Valley Trail would take us south towards Rockton.

Washout Trail would take us back to where we parked our vehicles. We'd have more gradual uphill sections and down hill sections that would take us across a small stream.
The Trout Lilies were just appearing in the valley.

 

In some spots, these spotted leaves were spotted all over along with so many Blood Root blossoms and Hepatica.

Below is one spot along the Washout Trail, Section 44 that had an amazing amount of Maypoles or Mayflowers sprouting up!

Our total hiking distance was about 3.5 miles.

Section 42 from Campsite U on to Billings Creek Trail head is a 1.87 mile walk alongside Hay Valley Road to County Road F. We will save that for a day we feel like walking on roads.

That area will still be scenic. There is the river to cross at Bridge 6 and some pretty little ponds alongside the road.

Next to where we parked the Virginia Bluebells were all along the roadside coming up alongside the Cow Parsnip which has white flowers in the spring. Wild Parsnip has yellow blossoms. It is a good habit to leave all wild parsnips alone while they are blossoming. 

The Trail Challenge actually has 3 road sections which I am okay with as ... back in the old days we had to ride the roads to get to different sections of the 'Government Ground' as it was called before it became the Kickapoo Valley Reserve.

The Southeast Trails are done!

Map of the hike highlighted

in pinkish color.

 

Canada Geese

Bill watching Geese.

Another stunning shot of a Canada Goose. :-O 👀

Charlie leads the way around the Dam Trail which is segment #5. It was a rather easy hike and the weather was beautiful.

Dam Tower

We hiked back to look at pussy willows and admired this tree which had something that looked like pine cones and also had catkins growing on the same branch! The catkins were not on this tree last Sunday.

Alder Tree

Color me tickled, I figure out one more tree to identify!

Sections 2,3, and 5 finished.

This morning we woke up to a heavy snow fall. It was beautiful. By evening chore time the snow had disappeared and the sun was shining brightly.