Adventures at Riverside and Bass

To end the year, 2010, and to start off the new year, 2011, I enjoyed four visits to the Riverside Park and Bass River area.  We broke ice, hiked, identified trees, found a cocoon, and had fun. 


Combined there are over 1,700 acres here to play on.  So when we walk at Riverside Park, this is in Ottawa County Michigan, we usually walk to point A (see on the aerial photo below). 


On January 2,  Mike, Tilly, and I walked at Bass River Rec. Area all the way to point B, that is a long walk about 3.75 miles and there is much debris here from flooding the last few years. 

Even in winter there is so much to see.

This picture is taken from what is called Fishermen's Point  (B on the aerial view photo).



American Bittersweet

 


Cocoon on a Black Ash tree

 

2010 08 16 Bass River Again?

So this sounds like we are stuck on Bass River Rec. Area and maybe we are.  That's one thing great about our adventures, we can pretty much go where we want, within reason, of course. 
Remember this area is huge, and even though we have been here many times we haven't been every where, there is always another trail or pond to explore.  This place is a former gravel pit, you know.  Is what I call Bass Lake really named Bass Lake?  I've found it called Max Lake on a Michigan.gov site.

I did learn from a fisherman recently that Bass River flows to the Grand River down around the southeast end of  "Max Lake".  I always thought Bass River was the little inlet at the southern edge of Max Lake, if I run into this fisherman again I'll ask him what the lake is called.

Road from the boat launch site at Max Lake

                                                        

Closed Gentian (Gentiana clausa) Area

Closed Gentian 
We were pleasantly surprised to find these blooming!

Purple Gerardia

Horsetail

                    Might this be Unakite?

On the way home we made a quick stop at Odawa/Battle Point Launch.

Pickerelweed at Odawa/Battle Point Launch