Just in case someone would come out on the designated Sunday despite the rain and fog, I was at the hiking path parking lot until 2:45PM, happily enjoying the SAIL Magazine that arrived the day before and a book I've been reading.
It was so quiet...
Since the weather was so nice on saturday (plenty of sun, no wind, and 40 degrees), Ruth Ann and I drove out a day early to be sure the hiking path (short path = 2.8 miles, moderate rating) was perfectly usable -- no major drifting, parking lot plowed, no gates locked preventing access, etc.
I started out on the path, resolved to go as far as the picnic bench at the most to check for drifts, etc. When I arrived at the bench, I gave Ruth Ann a call on the cellphone and let her know I was continuing around. It turned out the snow averaged 2-4" -- with some drifting to 6-8 inches. No problem for me, but...
I saw rabbit tracks with not only footfalls, but also a dragging BELLY! Besides the expected deer tracks, there were cross-country ski tracks -- maybe a couple of weeks old.
There was an enormous carcass with "pigs feet." (see Saturday's photo)
Since I had also suggested "non-walkers" could just meet us Sunday at the Monical's Pizza in Clinton about 3:30PM, I went there in case some folks came out just for that...
Had an Individual Pleaser (they gave me the "lunch price" and let me do the salad bar instead of an individual salad) and thoroughly enjoyed it !
I highly recommend either the short path or the long path if you are looking to spend some time hiking in the woods --
I look forward to it every year !!
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After checking out the lake ice (yet AGAIN ! ), I had a nice chat on the phone with Jim Coleman on the way back from Clinton Lake who was wondering if he could join us in August for the CLSA Door County Cruise
(the two week window for cuising yet to be determined, but is usually the last week of July and first week of August...as the water is it's warmest and winds are consistantly present...)
It was a good couple of days...and hope we hit a better "weather window" next year !
Bill Vokac (217) 369-0015 b.vokac@mchsi.com
