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Saturday I went for a walk at Oxley Nature Center‘s North Woods. I love it there because it is remote, off the beaten path, and I rarely see anybody.
I especially like it when it is windy because there is enough trees and brush to block the wind. It is near still at the ground and I love the sound of the wind in the tops of the trees.
The trails are well kept. This time of year there is a thick matt of dried leaves that announces your presence as you walk along and sends the big and small critters scurrying.
I started in late afternoon and the low sun made all the leaves radiant with color.
There is something about a bench on a trail overlooking a creek that is restful without even sitting on it.
The woods loom over parts of the trails. I call these tree tunnels.
I love the color of some of the oak leaves.
Another tree tunnel.
The sun is getting low. Heading across my favorite boardwalk. There is a geocache here that took me three years to find. And one day I saw it without looking for it.
Headed back to the car and saw these two critters. We watched each other for a while. I would move up twenty paces and wait twenty seconds, and then move up another twenty paces and so on. They got tired of my game and scampered off.
A little bit further I found this single deer. She played my game and let me get a little closer before she turned on her heel and left.
I didn’t set any speed records but I had a good time. Didn’t see anybody else. I wasn’t looking for anybody either.
a lovely place for a long walk. Your deer acted as ours usually do 😉
What a lovely hidden path. I love meeting the deer in the woods.
A walk in the woods is simply good for the soul. The fact that many towns and cities are developing trail systems is good for everyone.
That was nostalgic for me. I used to walk that trail a lot. I actually helped make and install that bench.
That’s a beautiful place. The trails look gentle for folks with bad knees. My kind of trail. Your first photo — the reflection — is spectacular.
I like the little bench in the middle of nowhere.
Worth a Thousand Words
What a sweet place to have to yourself, and the deer of course. I can imagine the crunching of leaves underfoot in the magical looking tree tunnels.
Fabulous reflection shot, Alan and that tree tunnel looks inviting. Thank you for sharing your walk with us. The close proximity of the deer and the boardwalk remind me of Vancouver Island. Happy thanksgiving to you and yours.
Loved this walk! I see a light at the end of your tree tunnel. I hope that’s a good metaphor these days!
Looks like a place I’d love too. I love hiking in the fall.