May, 2022
Lots of rain was predicted for the time that I would be camping here at Friends Landing. I knew that and expected that. And so, I was surprised and so happy to wake up this first morning after my arrival here yesterday to find this view out my back/dinette window … blue sky, wow!
With this gorgeous weather, what could I do but snap to it, get my shoes on, and head out for a walk around the lake? 🙂
In the photo above, the very tiny white dot on the right is my trailer. Also, you can see some dark grey clouds coming in … better get walking!
This Common Loon was paddling around out on the lake. As I was walking up one side of the lake, it was swimming over on the opposite side. It’s a “breeding adult”. I believe females and males look alike.
The path around the lake is “accessible”, purposefully built that way, “accessible” for people who may use a variety of mobility methods for physical access. A park or a building or a path or other physical structure is “accessible” when it provides physical access to people who might use canes, or walkers, or a wheelchair, or simply can’t climb stairs or open a door by themselves or navigate a ramp easily. Even if they can walk just fine, but they can’t open a door because they have such severe arthritis in their hands, or they don’t have hands. It’s about physical access. Are the places you go “accessible”? Can we help change that if they aren’t?
After working at a “library for the blind” for 11 years, I may be a bit more focused on access than most people are, but I’d be happy to be wrong about that. I’d be happy to know that everyone is making this world better for everyone here.
Ah, let’s get back to this walk around the lake and get back to the woods! I don’t know of another large walkway in a relatively wild area like this one at Friends Landing that is 100% accessible. And it’s beautiful here, it feels so rich with life, the sounds of the birds and the tiny sounds of the movement of the water and just the breeze rustling through the trees is divine, and the smells are wonderful. When I go to places like this, away from city noises and smells, I often stop and close my eyes and stand still for a spell, and let the sounds and the smells have the right-of-way.
The photo above is of a flower bud for Skunk Cabbage. When they bloom, they are lovely.
The two photos below are of a fern, I think, (and some grass), but I can’t find any photo online that looks like these ferns. Do any of you readers know what this plant is?
And then a bit further along the trail, this different type of fern appeared (below). What is it?
Every once in a while, I had to remind myself to look up occasionally, not just look down at the hundreds of fascinating plants on the ground along the edge of the path, but also to look up at the trees and the sky and the path before me. I’m now on the far side of the lake from the campground. The photo below shows that I’m still in sunshine, but the dark clouds are coming closer.
And then through the trees, I spotted my friend the Common Loon again, still out there paddling around. But this time she/he was on the far side of the lake, where I had been an hour ago. I wish this bird would stay put on one side or the other so I could snap a closeup photo. Handsome bird.
A bit further along the path, I noticed this spiked bud, also Skunk Cabbage. The large pale yellow bud (in the photo up above and in the photo below) opens up and becomes a beautiful bright yellow flower with this spiked seed cone in the center of it. The “stink” of Skunk Cabbage is what attracts flies and beetles and other bugs to crawl around on that spike and pollinate it. The plant does have a definite “odor” to it when it’s blooming, but it’s also very attractive visually. I hope I’ll find one in full bloom so I can show it to you.
I’m getting close to the end of the lake now, close to the campground. The dark clouds are closing in too. But the enchanting grove of Aspen trees below gave me pause.
Then the breeze picked up, a cold breeze, and I knew those clouds were close and rain was imminent. I hurried along to finish my circuit around the lake and get back to my trailer. I was back inside the trailer for less than 10 minutes when that black cloud arrived … and it poured rain! A toasty warm and dry trailer is heaven.