I 'yam a tired hiker!

So The Grandma said that Charlie needed a rest and that she wanted to take me to something called the Reserve to hike trails.
I don't know what a Reserve is, I do know trails though.

She said it was a good day to go because it had rained and the trails were closed to horses and bikes where we were going and that meant I didn't have to deal with MONSTERS!

 I was so alert and so full of it that The Grandma put on a long line and my chain leash. I was pulling and charging a lot because every time an acorn dropped I was sure it was a squirrel. I kept staring up into the trees and watching for other Wild-ed Animals. 

The Grandma was afraid I'd bolt and get away on the little leash so she had her long cord on me too. I never did bolt, but I sure did a lot of pulling in certain parts of the trail. I even tracked deer, coyote, and raccoon tracks!

The Grandma said she I gave her arms a good workout with my pulling.

I didn't care, I was having a good time. She also said that I was useful going up steep hills and if I stayed with her in the winter I could be her sled dog. 
Neat. What is a sled dog? Charlie wasn't around to ask.

The trails went on and on and on! The Grandma said she knew where we were going even though I was the one leading. Several times I would have just gone off through the woods because I smelled very interesting things in the distance.

On one section of the trail the Grandma kept stopping because there were so many interesting tiny things.

I was really good about that. I sat next to her or tried to stand on top of her to see what she was looking at.

She had strange names for these things. 

Bear's Head Tooth Fungi

Gem Studded Puffball

Oh oh oh! And there was so much more! But these little things really didn't interest me at all. I liked smelling much more. I took the time to watch the trees for squirrels.

I figured since the Grandma and I were out all by ourselves, I would need to protect her from the squirrels in case they attacked. 

She probably needs protection from all the forest things! Which made me think which I can sometimes do...... 

How does Charlie protect her? 

We finally made it back to the car.

...and before we left the parking area....

I hiked with the Grandma and survived the big scary wonderful woods! 

I 'yam a Hiker too!

KVR Trail Challenge ~ Rockton Trails

I once in a while use mapmywalk app to get an idea of exactly where I hiked. It is a fairly useful app and it is fun to see it with a Satellite photo or Terrain photo of the area hiked.

I started at the parking area for the Canoe launch and landing site #12. I'd walked a good half of this route along Old 131 [which is actually Old County P--but I won't explain that].

As soon as we started, it began to sleet. I was surprised but since it was sleet and not heavy rain I wasn't bothered in the least. 

Sleet on Charlie's back:

Rocks on Old 131:

I just love seeing these little rock formations!

Charlie and I walked south along Old 131 to the first Ho Chunk bridge and then took a right to follow Indian Creek Trail. I knew from previous studies of the map, that if I simply took right hand turns at each intersection, I'd likely do just fine.

First Ho Chunk Bridge:

Second Ho Chunk Bridge:

The trail signs at KVR are pretty decent, but having a map in hand is really handy to have also. When I reached one spot in the trail I had 3 choices. Point #9 went up hill into the pines towards Black Hawk Rock, this was an equine trail. Another arrow pointed to Indian Creek Trail. The arrow to the right said Rockton Trail. That was the one I wanted.

Further on down the Rockton Trail, that trail split into two sections, both labeled Rockton trail. I knew I wanted to bear right, but I decided to check the map. One of the trails was a bicycle use only and the other was hiking/riding. 
Curious though. The Trail Challenge it does not specify exactly which trail is to be done except I decided that was a no brainer. I followed the tiny hikers that are nailed to the trees.

I was so surprised to find myself in a pine forest that had been planted many years ago. The trail wound through the pines. The ground was covered with beautiful pine needles and well...

My little pocket camera couldn't capture the sights, smells, and sounds that we experienced. But the colors were muted and amazing under the sleety/rainy/dull sky.

We entered a hardwood forest and simply had to just stop. Well, I stopped and sat on a log while Charlie explored the great smells. 

I put the camera on a delayed timer and walked away down the trail. I'm wearing a safety vest as there are pheasant hunters in the field areas. Bow season is open but those hunters are rarely near a trail.

During Gun Season, I just stay away from all forests even those on my own land.

The trail was just so beautiful along here.

The trail led us to Lisney Road for a very short jaunt before it went back into the woods. And we ended up in the field behind Rockton Bar. 

I counted 12 horses tied to the rails while their owners were probably in the Bar eating burgers. Hubby and I used to go their for lunch any time we were riding the Gov't Ground as it was called years ago.

Charlie set the pace on this hike. He loves the cooler weather and he actually has a pretty fast pace. He can cover a mile in 20 minutes which I consider fast for a dog with 3 inch front legs. 

Sections finished:
#34, #35, and #36.

5 sections left to go.
I want to get those done before Deer Gun Season!

Three of the sections are going to be a bit harder as I will have a 2 mile walk in one direction and then have to turn around and come back. I am curious as to why they include walking along the side of a county road as part of their hiking trail challenge.

Walking along a county road that can be busy at times is not really my idea of a peaceful hike. However, I'll get it done!

Water and butterflies....

I knew that the next two days were going to be filled with water coming down in copious amounts.
As in 2-4 inches of rain. So I went for an afternoon walk to check on the cool fungi and 'enjoy' a record breaking hot day of 87 degrees with incredible humidity.

 The shot above and below is the same fungi, two days apart!

And then because it rained so much yesterday, I thought I'd have some fun ...
the NOAA said waters, creeks, and streams would be dangerous ....

Indeed.

And by yesterday afternoon after doing a house deep cleaning...I sat on the porch...

....and watched a lone Monarch on my last few zinnias....

Goodbye April

The end of April is here and the weather is cold and rainy with gray skies. All the makings of a dull day.
I took one of my Grandmother's spring colored handkerchiefs, a daffodil, and tea cup and put them on an old wooden box.

I thought I'd entertain myself while waiting for FedEx. There was a package I was going to have to sign for and I didn't want to miss it. I'd had issues with the postal person deciding not to deliver to my house for one reason or another.

Anyway. I thought I'd entertain myself by doing some indoor Still Life with some fresh daffodils.

I'd heard that black felt was good to carry in the field to isolate flowers from anything else in the back round. So I draped some felt from my fold up clothes hanger in the living room and set flowers in a tiny vase in front of it.

It worked nicely.

And because I was in the mood for something fun...I thought...

Morel Hunting season is just around the corner.

Goodbye April you were an interesting month.

Stuck inside

Being stuck inside is always a bit of a bummer.

But then sometimes I get out somethings and do some painting, or some still life...
Or
Toys and do some photography.

It can be nice and serious stuff.

It can be whimsical...

Or completely made up stuff that I've messed around with adding layers...

Or some fractal edits and creations...

Or, I can edit through a program called DeepDreamGenerator...DDG and get some more odd and interesting 'art'.

Strange...

Frightening...

Angelic...

Or go back to using things around the house such as discarded toys and old tea cups...

Whimsical...

Cute...

And...things on hand.

I hope not to be stuck inside too long today. Charlie has a yearning to go for a walk.
At the moment, he is content to lay on the porch and watch the world go by.