November 18th, 2019

This is how we began our photo safari last Thursday, rescuing a bicycler!  I have to say that Joy was the hero of this story for sure.  

We had just arrived at Oscar Scherer's State Park and began walking to a trail head when we passed this guy.  His bike was upside down, his hands were filthy with tire/bike chain yuck as he was attempting to work on it with nothing more than his bare hands.   As we passed him, he sighed and said, "I don't suppose either of you ladies happens to have a pair of pliers?"  Joy said, "what kind?"  And off she went back to the car to get some tools.

I remained behind examining the problem with the bike guy. Looks like he took a fall somewhere along the line.  Chain popped off and the chain guard got bent.  Once Joy arrived with the pliers, it was relatively simple to bend things back into place and he thanked us a zillion times. We smiled, waved and went on our way.  But really...Yay Joy!

It was a beautiful hiking day, cooler and dryer than it's been recently.  We hit one of our favourite trails and well, wow. Just wow!  It was gorgeous.

First of all, we saw a lot of wildlife and that is always a treat

While we saw no other hikiers, we did see evidence of  kayakers and yet at least one other e bicycler.  First time we ever saw that in this particular park.  Which just goes to prove that we aren't the only ones who love this place.

Off on a side trail where not too many people go, is a very cool wooden very rustic  - oh let's call it a bridge.   We saw so many lovely flowers and leaves and interesting trees along that path

This particular path eventually leads to an old train trestle that is no end of fascinating.  Those massive rough hewn timbers, the scent of creosote, and nature that is trying to reclaim it, very, very slowly.

If you follow this trail long enough, eventually you arrive at a pond.  There is just something about water, almost any water, than as soon as you see it, your entire body and mind just begins to relax.  

There were a few other surprises along the way, like the massive cage we found on an off shoot trail that clearly wasn't well traveled.  Which is always especially alluring to us.  We saw this massive cage at a distance and wondered what it was all about.  Once we got close enough to read the sign on it, we beat feet back to the more  familiar trail.  After taking photos of course.  It was a feral hog trap!  If the trap is there, that means that the oinkers are an problem in that area. Yikes! Not friendly wildlife!

Let's see, what else?  It was a great hike,  there were a few more surprises than usual. We had a terrific day. Oh, and I almost lost my glasses again. Dang. I really have to be more careful!