I wasn’t too sure about this one when I first turned in. I’d never heard of it before. I just found it on “parks near me” on the GPS. I was pretty sure the GPS had no idea what it was talking about at first. It directed me down what looked like an abandoned alley alongside a strip mall.
But then the alley opened up into wide fields and a nearly frozen pond. A fountain splashed in in the remaining open water and a greenway trail lead off into the woods.
It’s mostly a neighborhood trail at first, edged on both sides by housing areas and the drone of highway traffic. But it’s pretty and restful and filled with the chirp of woodland birds, and for a time, a distant honking of geese.
The pavement ends abruptly, and narrow leaf covered nature trail winds along the edge of a ridge and then farther back into the woods.
Carefully placed fallen logs outline parts of the trail. Red blazes on trees and rustic signs guide the way in between.
I’m not really sure where all it goes. I walked and took pictures and paused for the scolding of a startled explosion of birds from a brush pile. They took to the trees to chirp and flutter their displeasure at me. Only the occasional flash of red from a pair of cardinals in the mix was visible for more than a second.
A slushy mess is coming in tonight. The clouds are thickening, it’s already growing dusky, and I have a long walk to return to the truck. I have to turn back for this trip and save the rest of the exploration for the next time.
Rambling ... 