More Ottawa County

2012 03 05  We went to several different places on this adventure, all in Ottawa County.

 Ottawa County Open Space

I gave my adventure buddy, my sister Marie, a book today.  It is Naturally Curious by Mary Holland, A Photographic Field Guide and Month-by-Month Journey Through the Fields, Woods, and Marshes of New England.  
Ok, so it is New England not Michigan but it really covers the northeast U.S. and it has all nature not just wildflowers, it's a very good book.  I was able to borrow a copy through Mel Cat (Michigan eLibrary Catalog).

We saw this nest low in a field and we checked Naturally Curious and we found answers right there on the spot.  

 Hey where did the blue sky go...

 Flooding at Deer Creek Park

New map at Eastmanville Bayou

A quick visit to the Tallmadge Township Hall, and a drive passed the old Root Dam.  Root Dam was destroyed by a flood on May 21, 1989 and never rebuilt.

Remains of Root Dam on Sand Creek, maybe.


We also walked at Aman Park, to find a bog?  I'm not sure there is a bog at Aman but I thought I read something like that somewhere online.  And, of course, everything you read on the Internet is true, right?  That's it for this day, a very interesting day.

New Ottawa County Open Space

2011 November 29

       Eastmanville Bayou Open Space
(Ottawa County http://www.miottawa.org/ParksVI/Parks/ebayou.htm)
is open but under construction, located in Allendale Township along the south bank of the Grand River on 68th Avenue south of  Leonard Street.

The trail to the east starts off under the bridge and continues along a wide mowed loop trail, about one mile round trip. 

We continued farther than the loop trail until we were south of Deer Creek Park. 

   Grand River
We had to go off trail into some of the swampy areas.  We found an eagle's nest, singing trees, and lots of deer stands.  Our walk to the east of the bridge was over two miles.

The wildflowers aren't doing much this time of year, so we check out the trees, moss, lichen, rocks, or whatever we come across.

Bridge on 68th Ave over Eastmanville Bayou

Back to the van to warm up, it was 37 degrees and windy, then off on a trail to the west of the bridge. 

  This walk was just under two miles total. 

At some point along the Grand River here we found a jumbled mess of man-made debris- cement, cables, and whatnot.  Later after some research, Marie discovered there had been a cable ferry at this point a century or so ago.  It cost 15 cents for a man and his horse to cross the river and 25 cents for a horse and wagon to cross.

So you have the Grand River with a kayak launch, and a boat launch to Eastmanville Bayou, parking area, picnic tables. 

The end of November and we found mustard plants blooming, but it was a cold, gray day.

We walked about 4 miles today, we got back to my house early, so I made Kleepers.  Yum.