We used the new parking area on 144th Avenue, north of M-104, hopped on our bikes and pedaled east.
I'm so glad my sister got me off the couch, sometimes you need a little nudge.
Sunday, October 16, 2011
North Bank Trail
2011 10 13 A new 3.3 mile phase 1 (Fruitport Road to 130th Avenue) section of the North Bank Trail in Spring Lake Township was completed recently. My sister, Sugar, managed to pry me off the couch with an invitation to ride our bikes on the new trail. It was gray and cloudy, but a very comfortable temperature for bike riding.
We used the new parking area on 144th Avenue, north of M-104, hopped on our bikes and pedaled east.
Right off we were greeted by bright red Winterberry with blueberry bushes in the background.
As we got close to 130th Ave. we found workers still putting the finishing touches on a bridge.
Of course next year when the vegatation grows in it will look better.
We stopped off at this scenic overlook near the north end of Lloyds Bayou.
There was a bit of wildlife, yup I'm talking about the fly.
We pedaled west to Central Park in Spring Lake (Michigan) then east back to the cars on 144th Avenue. What a fun outing, we have to do this more often!
Plans are for the North Bank Trail to extend 18 miles along the former Grand Trunk Railroad, connecting with the Musketawa Trail east of Coopersville. This section now connects with Lakeside Trail that extends through the village of Spring Lake and joins up 26 miles of existing bike paths in Spring Lake Township.
I'm so glad my sister got me off the couch, sometimes you need a little nudge.
We used the new parking area on 144th Avenue, north of M-104, hopped on our bikes and pedaled east.
I'm so glad my sister got me off the couch, sometimes you need a little nudge.
Friday, October 14, 2011
Michigan Fall Color at Long Lake
2011 October 11 We were looking for fall color and while the sun was shining we found color. What a difference the sun can make. These two photos are with the early morning sun still low in the sky just lighting up the leaves, and the sky was quite blue, later it was a bit more hazy.
is in Kent County Michigan, remember http://www.accesskent.com/CultureLeisureAndTransit/Parks/park_directory.htm
Kent County has many wonderful parks and a very good website. When using a GPS it helps to have an address, addresses are included on this site, as are maps and a list of what you will find at each park.
Near the playground where there are maple trees with golden leaves, even if the sun isn't shining, it looks like sunshine.
The bugs were as busy as the bees.
The park wraps around the most of the north end of Long Lake, the very south end of the lake is private. There are three entrances to the park, with the playground on the east side, a non-motorized boats only launch on the west side of the lake.
At Patterson Park there are many Sycamore trees, this is what the bark of the Sycamore looks like.
The park wraps around the most of the north end of Long Lake, the very south end of the lake is private. There are three entrances to the park, with the playground on the east side, a non-motorized boats only launch on the west side of the lake.
We left Long Lake Park with an hour of fun time left so on our way home we stopped in at Patterson Park in Muskegon County. Patterson Park is located on the Little Rio Grande Creek two miles southwest of Ravenna on Blackmer Road, here is a site for Muskegon County parks, http://co.muskegon.mi.us/parks/index.html.
This composite was blooming, we didn't ID it, sort of looked like Woodland Sunflower, but it was nice to see. Time to head home.
Wednesday, October 12, 2011
101 Fringed Gentian
2011 September 25 An extra adventure this week, Marie had the idea to go to the Allegan Antiques Market (150 Allegan County Fair Dr, Allegan, MI 49010, hours - last Sunday of every month, April through September) so off we go to Allegan.
It was raining and gray but we just had to stop off in Hamilton at
the George Schutmaat Park on the Rabbit River. There is a carry-down launching area here (canoes/kayaks), and a great wooden railroad trestle bridge, and waterfalls. Check out the post on Plants Amaze Me 2010 09 29 for the last visit to this park.
After the park we drove south to Allegan, paid $4.00 each admission fee for the antiques market. We parked in a field along the Kalamazoo River, then walked past tents and tables of stuff, many vendors had tarps over their goods since it was still raining. We wandered to the indoor area and shuffled along with people, elbow to elbow, booth after booth. This is a huge market, tons of different things. We were looking for books mostly, we both like books. The only thing we bought was one children's book, Plants Round The Year for $2.50. I guess antiques aren't my thing but they are definitely popular since so many people were here on this very wet day.
For me the best part of this place is when we walked near the river. My camera was in the car so no photos but this is what we found. The Kalamazoo River, Fringe-tip Closed Gentian (Gentiana andrewsii), Cardinal Flower, Turtlehead, Forget-me-not, and Great Blue Lobelia.
It was 11:25 a.m., we were free for the day, now where to go?
The fen in Barry County, of course. It wasn't raining anymore. And we saw something that surprised me, 101 (or more) flowering Fringed Gentian!
The first time I saw Fringed Gentian was a few weeks ago at Sarett Nature Center, at Sarett we saw just one blooming. Here we were seeing clumps of six to a dozen! Wow!
The Grass-of-Parnassus still had blossoms but they were looking rough. Oh, and the Brook Lobelia was everywhere! Very pretty.
Brook Lobelia (Kalm's Lobelia, Lobelia kalmii )
Ironweed, Nodding Ladies' Tresses, Shrubby Cinquefoil, Brown-eyed Susan, Forget-me-not, Swamp Lousewort, Heal All, Joe-Pye Weed, all still blooming.
We soaked in as much of the fen as we could, knowing this will probably be our last time here for the year.
It was raining and gray but we just had to stop off in Hamilton at
the George Schutmaat Park on the Rabbit River. There is a carry-down launching area here (canoes/kayaks), and a great wooden railroad trestle bridge, and waterfalls. Check out the post on Plants Amaze Me 2010 09 29 for the last visit to this park.
After the park we drove south to Allegan, paid $4.00 each admission fee for the antiques market. We parked in a field along the Kalamazoo River, then walked past tents and tables of stuff, many vendors had tarps over their goods since it was still raining. We wandered to the indoor area and shuffled along with people, elbow to elbow, booth after booth. This is a huge market, tons of different things. We were looking for books mostly, we both like books. The only thing we bought was one children's book, Plants Round The Year for $2.50. I guess antiques aren't my thing but they are definitely popular since so many people were here on this very wet day.
For me the best part of this place is when we walked near the river. My camera was in the car so no photos but this is what we found. The Kalamazoo River, Fringe-tip Closed Gentian (Gentiana andrewsii), Cardinal Flower, Turtlehead, Forget-me-not, and Great Blue Lobelia.
It was 11:25 a.m., we were free for the day, now where to go?
The Grass-of-Parnassus still had blossoms but they were looking rough. Oh, and the Brook Lobelia was everywhere! Very pretty.
Ironweed, Nodding Ladies' Tresses, Shrubby Cinquefoil, Brown-eyed Susan, Forget-me-not, Swamp Lousewort, Heal All, Joe-Pye Weed, all still blooming.
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