Afton Walk

Until this year I have not been able to share any pictures with you of my surroundings--one's I've taken. So, today I thought I would share some I took while walking through this park where we live a few weeks ago.

Of course, we start out at the trail from our yard.

Beginning of trail through the woods winds around and out toward the park.

This is a trail that winds down toward the creek.

Here you see damage to trees by beavers.

This tree was big around as my thigh. Unbeleivable these guys can chew through a tree this size and somehow haul it off to the river. Because of the constant problems with the beaver, the superintendent hired someone to trap and eradicate the beaver. Dennis and I find this attitude backward and do not agree with trapping an animal which would create the very wetlands they want. But who are we but hired help?

Okay, to continue my walk. This day was perfect and quite warm. As you see in the next series the leaves were still on trees here and are very colorful this Fall day.

By this time I'm about ten minutes into my walk. Maybe more, since I stopped to take pictures.

Here are the tall prairie grasses that is grown and many birds use it for nesting, food and cover.

Below are burning bushes which grow on south side of the pine grove. 

This is view of north picnic area as seen from a different angle.

This is looking east across the creek and up to the rise.

Back in the day, this was grazing for milk cows by the McGurrs who first settled here. Atop that ridge once stood the original cabin--long gone now. We live in the house they later built in 1906.

From this point if you wish to hike up the hill there is an observation deck that gives you a wonderful view. Today, however, I stayed in the main park. This park has over 300 acres, lots of paths. My husband, who is now on hiatus, walks a minimum of 1 hour a day. He prefers to go during the early morning, especially when it's still dark. One morning, he heard coyote, and while he had his cell phone was able to film and capture the sound. 

While on my walk, my cell phone rang, and I knew it would be Dennis. He wondered where I was, and said he was heading to the north picnic area. I told him I'd be there in five minutes.

Here is a wooded trail I took as a short cut.

And here he and I are together under the shelter. He takes care of the main mowed areas of this park.

Well, that's my tour. I only did one portion of the main park. There are many more areas, hope to be able to get pictures of them at a future time.

Thanks for joining me!