Wednesday 22 November 2017

November 2017 Off on Another Adventure

Ice-grey clouds added to the melancholy mood that is November 11.  We headed towards the border at Port Huron with excitement dulled by somber hearts as we listened to the Remembrance Day Services on the radio and reflected on our Dad’s roles in WWII.  A Canadian Vet who had served in Afghanistan and lost both legs, poignantly said that Armistice Day is the one day in the year that he allows himself to wallow in sadness for his own loss and his comrades.

P1160917

P1160918

Goodbye Bayfield.

P1160919

P1160923

IMG_0919

P1160939

Hello USA.

P1160941

P1160926

We were soon out of the snow and into sunny farmland.  After six hours on the road, we parked at a Cracker-barrel Restaurant  in Gas City Illinois where we had dinner and a quiet night’s rest.  In the morning, we headed further south passing Indianapolis and taking in the sites along the highway.  Most states have great Rest Areas with short trails and picnic areas so Dixie always enjoys those stops.

P1160966

P1160978

P1160988

P1160997

P1170003

Is the size of the cross directly proportional to the number of prayers answered?

P1170012

P1170013

P1170014

We camped at the Wayne Fitzgerald State Park for two nights.  Late fall conditions left pathways filled with crunchy golden leaves, a few grand Maples and Oaks and Beech hanging on to the last of their rust and scarlet foliage and the sandy beaches scattered with broken twigs and branches.  Everywhere we hiked or biked, we saw deer, many, many deer.  The park air was constantly fragrant with the pleasant, musky scent of burning pumpkin, that unique odour that candles produce inside a Jack O’Lantern.

P1170143

P1170041

P1170090

P1170098

P1170040

P1170123

P1170126

P1170079

P1170141

Flocks of Wild Turkeys were all over the park as well.  With Thanksgiving only a couple of weeks away, I urged the ‘Toms’ to lie low but they ignored my warnings.  There was a controlled pheasant hunt in the park and we saw a number of eager men decked out in camouflage heading to the fields.  Sadly, we witnessed a few trophy deer strapped onto truck bumpers.  To our dismay, campers adjacent to us strung up a deer to prepare for the freezer.  Luckily the view was blocked by their trailer so we did not have to build a wall, as Trump may have suggested.

P1170024

P1170139

P1170144

P1170030

P1170034

We took advantage of the many bike paths and saw numerous Hawks, Crows, Turkey, Deer, Vultures and a Bald Eagle.  At the Rend Lake waterfront there was evidence of beaver-action, deer and raccoon tracks and severe erosion.  Many of the grey rocks were studded with interesting black formations in unique patterns. 

P1170121

P1170117

P1170116

P1170112

P1170048

P1170051

P1170053

P1170055

P1170056

Holstein rock?

P1170058

P1170062

P1170066

P1170073

P1170146

Dixie says goodbye to the park.


No comments:

Post a Comment

Note: only a member of this blog may post a comment.