December 6 2018 Southern section of Hoffmaster State Park with Marie. The same day a walk around Black Lake Park. We saw just a bit of the sun, and it was a nice day for a hike.
Lake Michigan
.
Little Black Lake
December 10 2018 Out for fun with my sister Marie, again. This time we went to Grand River Park in Ottawa County, Michigan.
Grand River
Bambi Tree at the parking lot
We saw deer tracks going up this tree. Must have been the rarely seen Tree Climbing Deer!
December 17 2018 Southern trails at Saugatuck Dunes State Park
This walk according to the map is 5.5 miles. You start in tree covered sand dunes and end at Lake Michigan! It is a beautiful walk, especially when the sun is shining.
CloudySunny
Turkey Tails
Beautiful Lake Michigan
Part of the South Trail is a large loop, so going back we were on different trails than earlier. Marie remembered a bunch of stumps that we came across last time we were here. (probably 2014) And sure enough it wasn't long before we started to see stumps, lots of stumps dotting the dunes.
They are the stumps of Austrian Pine. "Around 2012 the DNR burned the pines to remove the Austrian Pines that were planted by a previous owner of the property to control erosion . It is an invasive species. The problem with Austrian pine is that it blocks the sunlight from the ground where native species are trying to grow, there presence tampers with the natural process of succession."
It is a long uphill sandy climb on this section of the trail. Whew!
Then back through the woods to the parking area. It was a good hike!
December 19 My sister, Sugar, met me at Ottawa Sands, the new park in Ottawa County. We also had a nice walk. It is always good once you get out there. Sometimes it is the getting out there, that is the hard part.
December 23 We were lucky enough to entertain our granddaughter, Vivienne, for the day. We took her for a walk at Hofma Preserve. Look more blue sky!
Christmas Day 2018 Our daughter, Betsy, and her husband Aaron joined us for a walk at Crockery Creek Natural Area.
Crockery Creek
So that wraps up 2018, well except for a trip to Big Bend National Park but who knows if I will get around to that post. Hopefully more posts coming soon. Thanks for stopping by!