How strange it was to be on a hike like this two weeks before Christmas. After being folded up sick at home for several days, I was so happy to see the outdoors that I took pictures of it, like an urban-living tourist who had never seen a stand of trees before.
Here they are, for my memory and your perusal.
En route to the trailhead. The sign on the right offers a billboard of greeting, context, and orientation. A green garbage can would become home to my protein bar wrapper on the way out.
Eliason Nature Reserve – a chunk of woods with a family history. Generosity makes the world a better place for everybody.
Behold: the commuter circle of life. Old bike parts a bike rack make.
I’m not sure what these spray paint markings mean, but my guess is that these trees are too close to the developing trail and are slated for the timber pile. Or, it’s graffiti for math majors.
There are a few unintentionally inviting signs like this. From what I’ve heard the trail spurs wind their way to the property boundary shared by an industrial building.
Making room for a wider trail, Paul Bunyan style.
The sun shines through clouds.
Through trees whose branches are bare.
Leaves crunch under foot.
There are a few sections of trail that already have some asphalt in place. I look forward to many family walks through here.
Oh, Tannenbaum! Abandoned silo looks on.
Grand Elk uses this line to move freight from South Bend to Grand Rapids.
Speaking of tracks, the deer in these woods use ATV’s to get around. With gas prices being so low, who can blame them?
A tree stump attempts transformation into a shrubbery.
Recycled asphalt to become the base for the paved trail, slated to begin in April 2016. Based on the timing of area road construction and this center-line yellow paint, my guess is that this was once part of Westnedge Avenue. Behold: the commuter circle of life.
Portage is very very very fortunate to have such a great trail system.
(R) Adam Davidson 