Simple Walks

Trying to get out and get nice walks in has been less than easy for me of late. It seems things are out of sync and even the camera has been showing me that my lens need to be tightened up again. If it isn't one thing, then it's another. We all know how that goes. But, I need the walks for the exercise. They do make a difference.

Still, I have managed to cover four separate trails that I don't get a chance to walk that often. So, I made a point to cover that ground and even get in another one of those that I seem to only do once or twice a year. Mostly, because they are just birds, wild life, flora and landscape. But, when things are happening, that can even tire you out. On one trail, I ran across a guy getting his golf swing warmed up. He had plates on his car from Central Michigan. That's a Mac Team! He knew it was cold up there that day and so did I. Here we are 1200 miles south and we both know how cold it is in different parts of the state on the same day. The odd things like that I have always found to be interesting even though it is not as uncommon as one would think.

As I made my way down the trail,  quickly, I noticed a major landscape change taking place as new high tension towers and old towers were coming down, going up and the tall prairie grass had been beaten down to bare ground. A tree had been splintered and will probably die this winter. The damage was just two much. Then, I start to observe the wildlife and birds. These little creatures have territories and watch over them day and night. It is amazing how nature takes care of her own and provide solutions to any kind of natural or man-made destruction in the wild. One little meadowlark was excited and at one point it was almost like he was trying to show me what was going on around his home. There was a handrail over a culvert crossing where water was flowing downstream . It looked to be a natural spring but so many of those have been covered up it is difficult at best to know if this one was one, or not.  The little meadowlark flew up on the hand rail and was chirping and turning its head toward me then chirping again as it looked away. It was somewhat comical and somewhat bothersome not knowing what the little fellow wanted or needed. He was trying so hard to express his upset mood. A couple of bikers that had ridden past were coming back after about 10-15 minutes. I ask one if the trail was closed ahead and he said that it was. The construction crew road in to were we were was keeping two guys busy with cherry pickers and more work was going on beyond our point. That fact was confirmed by both the bicyclist.

Old square base towers were coming down in three sections.

The new towers are less invasive---imagine that!

My liitle meadow lark was upset and seemed to be trying to relay that frustration.