Thursday, April 23, 2015

Colleen Inspired Hike!!

Charlotte and I are back on the Trails, again!!



This past Saturday, we headed over to the little Amish Store outside of Fort Atkinson, I did some very quick shopping, because Charlotte was in the car. (Windows down 1/3rd all the way around the car, lots of fresh air for her, but she loved barking at every person there!)

Then we headed over to our favorite walking park in the same near area. Dorothy Carnes. Love it. It was looking mighty bleak, but as we got further into our walk, I was able to see more signs of spring. :)


"Colleen's Tree"


The first thing we did was walk to the overlook deck. There was a nice couple there, bird watching with binoculars. The Sand Hill Cranes are back in full force and making a lot of loud calls. There were all kinds of different ducks, and they pointed out a female goose who had made a nest nearby. Chatted for a bit and then Charlotte was ready to move on, straining at the leash!


Mama Goose just beyond the weeds


At first, I was dismayed. The woods looked so dead and winter like.....




Then I looked closer......



May Flowers


And closer......




I even noticed little mini black ducks out on the water....they looked like lost ducklings without their mother!




Around the trails, and up and down, and around, until we came to Turtle Mound. What was I thinking? Picking a "More Difficult" set of trails for our first time out and about? My feeties were starting to scream at me! So we continued to head around towards the start of the trails, using the choice of two trails, "More Difficult" and "More Difficult"! Hhhhhmmmmm, which one should I pick? Lol!!





I kept looking high and low for more signs of budding plant life! Lo and behold, I found this small squash-like seedling popping up out of the ground!! Left by the birds, no doubt!




Then up ahead we found a young couple with a three month old Black Pug puppy. Charlotte was feeling very aggressive, so I held her back. To watch this puppy, "protecting" his little pack, was so cute. They said that was the first time that they heard him barking at anything! I should have taken a picture of the three of them. It was so delightful to chat back and forth with them. Hopefully, I will see them on the trail in the near future. :)

We moved on.




I found the neatest pods on a dry plant.




Then, to finally make my day, I found one lone spring flower!!




Our walk was complete.

Mission accomplished

Time to go home.

Till we meet again........





 
 
 
 




 
 
 






 
 
 
 












Friday, April 17, 2015

Colleen.... Day One

The Following Day



Colleen posted updated pics from her first day of her thru hike on the PCT! (Pacific Coast Trail)

Her blog tells about her first day.

Then come the pics!!! Absolutely amazing!! Scenery!! Little creatures!! Desert flowers!! And Toes!!!

Don't miss it!

At first I thought this planned hike was way out of my comfort zone, but now that I saw her first blog about her adventure, I am jealous!! Beautiful scenery, even though it's tough on her feeties! Amazing, amazing, amazing!!
(Just didn't care for the pic of fire ants? Too many Florida memories with those guys!!)

Go check out Day 0 and Day 1!!
http://butwhatififly.blogspot.com/

Tuesday, April 14, 2015

My Sister is Officially "On Her Way"!!



My Little Sister is Hiking the Pacific Coast Trail!!!


Colleen is taking the next four months to go from the Mexican/U.S. Border in California up to the Washington/Canadian Border. She will be doing this for the next six months!

She is starting her thru-hike from Scout and Frodo's house. They are what they call Trail Angels, Scout and Frodo help many different hikers to get a good start! They pick them up from the train station, give them a place to sleep and meals right before they are taken to the trail's starting point. Wonderful people.

(I found this little blip on a blog by Kat Davis about her time spent with Scout and Frodo. http://followingthearrows.com/2015/04/13/welcome-to-scout-and-frodos/ )

Colleen said that there are about 500 people ahead of her and there will be about 900 people starting behind her in the coming months. So she won't be totally "alone".

(A fun side fact: My mom has been documenting her steps on a website that she is on. She picked the Pacific Coast Trail. :) So in effect, she has been "hiking" where Colleen is going to be soon, and as Colleen "passes" her, Mom will continue and walk where Colleen has been! What a cool concept! There are pictures along the way on this blog, so mom will see some of the scenery, too. [I do not have the website, yet. When I do, I will post it] I will be logging my steps to the same site.)

I will also share pics that Colleen posts, as long as I have her permission. So that all being said:

Here is Colleen's blog site, http://butwhatififly.blogspot.com/

Please feel free to browse, and if you would be inclined to help donate to her, there is also a donate button under the page along the top, called "Want to Help?" This will help her for when she is able to go into a town along the side of the trail. There she will be able to take a shower, buy groceries, and/or eat a pizza!!

By the time that I post this, Colleen has begun her journey of 2,650 miles!! From this point.......