Think Spring

You won't believe what's happening out there right now.  The snow is leaving.  Quickly.

Some is melting and turning the roads and driveways into puddles.  Some is getting cut by big trucks and hauled away by other trucks.  I can see things on my front porch that I realized I forgot to put away last fall.  Perhaps we can grill out soon!

Breathing this fresh air when my nostrils don't stick together is rejuvenating my soul.  There's a light at the end of the tunnel.  A tunnel that I forgot had an end.  Yeah, it was more like a cave.

Spring is coming.  

Guess what that will bring!  Waterfalls!  Ooh, I've got a couple in mind to get to during prime season.  I'll get some videos for you.  But if you can, come on up yourself.  They're always more dramatic in person.  And besides, this town won't be overrun with tourists by then.

Gulp.  I forgot about the tourists.

It's only March.  And this summer will be different.  I can focus on experiencing the splendor around me and writing about it.  Dreams come true.  Fingers crossed.  No, really, can I get a little "good luck" thought here?  Thanks.

So no trips for me this week.  Just out to Porter's Island to watch the ever-opening lake.  Oh, the way she sparkles makes my heart skip a beat.  I saw snowmobiler tracks out there the other day when I walked my Cwyfan friend.

Cwyfan sniffin' snowmobiler tracks on Porter's Island

Yesterday we went to Clyde's field because, oddly enough, we haven't been there in a while.  The snow was heavy like mashed potatoes.  Get me some melted butter and a spoon and I could have eaten my way through the field.  Here's a panoramic shot of the field.  You'll want to click it, so you can see it better.

From Brockway to Stairway in Clyde's Field

And here are the poor cattails in the "pond."

Cattails up to their necks in snow

I bet they are ready for spring too.  With so much snow left to melt, and warmer temps, this could be a messy spring.  Knock on wood, but I'll take it.  I'd like to see some green and rocks.  Here's a somewhat artsy attempt at what Highway 41 looks like going through our town.

Slush on the streets of CH

Yeah, that was a little rocky this morning when it refroze.  But, trials and tribulations of spring.  Don't get me wrong.  I don't think this is the end.  Oh, no.  We'll get another blizzard or two.  Some sloppy rain.  Floods.  Maybe even another ice rink!  Anything can happen here.

I'll keep you posted.  Until then, think spring!

Clyde's Field

If you have ventured off the streets of Copper Harbor, chances are, you have been through Clyde's field.  Clyde's field is the large, flat area behind the one room schoolhouse and the park.  It is most easily accessed at the trail head by the welcome center.

This is the place that often starts my journeys, be it a hike, bike or snowshoe.  It provides the gateway to the trails!  The last few times I have been back there, I found some things you might like to see as well.  Come along!

Looking over the first pond, west into the Garden Brook Valley

Over the pond toward Brockway's nose

The second pond is all dried up.

Can you see who's at the other end?

The great blue heron!

I can now take this pond as a shortcut to the south trail

No shortage of mushrooms this fall

This puffball is as big as my mitten!

The maples litter the trails...

... with brilliance!

One thing I didn't get a picture of is the pigeon I saw a few days ago.  A pigeon?  I had to inspect it to make sure.  I don't know how a pigeon got up here, but I hope it survives!

As for the heron, I have seen it every morning for the past few days.  And at least once a week before that.  It flies so quietly when Duce startles it, but it always lands back in the area.  Such a majestic bird.

I have been seeing mushrooms of all shapes and sizes this fall.  More than I have ever seen.  I doubt that most of them are edible, and I don't have the knowledge to safely try them.  But I must have seen at least six varieties.  Some of them are so big, the conditions must be just right.  It's been fun discovering those!

Another thing I find myself instinctively enjoying this time of year are the deer trails.  Maybe it's because I'm not so overwhelmed with tourists that I get more adventurous, but I find myself following an animal path through the woods almost every time I go out.  I love to see new places, and how the landscape varies.  Sometimes Duce leads me into some tight spaces, but we always find our way out.  They say curiosity killed the cat, but hopefully we'll survive.