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........