Tuesday-n-truck adventures on the NCT

On Tuesday afternoon the pack hopped in the dog truck for an excursion south. On the way back, we stopped in to romp on the NCT to see O-Kun-De-Kun Falls and the trails around there.

Thanks to a big grant to support the Belle Isle Trail,
a contractor has been improving the trail to the falls this summer.
The access road seen here has also been improved.

Soon we found fresh crushed rock on the trail.
Would had been a muddy mess otherwise.

This is near the trail head. We love adventures!

The Baltimore bridge.

We did get to meet a couple of friendly hikers today.
They are checking out the hiker log book.

Construction of bridges and board walks is ongoing.

This section of turnpike trail was put in several years ago.

Ya it's getting grown in.

Next we hiked for a bit west of US 45.

We were pleasantly surprised to see this segment
had been recently maintained.

This is what we have been checking out, a 2019 Ford Ranger.
We found our Taco dog truck does not have enough ponies to
tow our trailers.  Soon to get the check book out....

NCT hike!

On Sunday afternoon we headed south to the North Country Trail at Gardner Rd. to check on the trail's conditions and do a little hike!

Since we no longer take care of this section, we took
our sign down today.

Then we headed west to see things.

Oh dear, some weed whacking sure would be nice here.
This is the Tank Creek meadow.

Trail mutts are giddy to be back here again.

We did finds many trees had fallen across the trail.

Oh well.

At the 2-track before the big descent to the river,
we headed north to see what was there. 
All the years we'd taken care of this section, we'd never done that.

The 2-track was recently mowed, as were several drive ways.

Yet another camp, with no apparent visitors for several years.

Back on the trail we head back. Spring Creek is way up again.
We had asked to have a bridge put in here. Oh well. It is deep!
We were glad for our extendable poles.

Then we bumped into a hiker!

Mike is from Iron Mountain.  We chatted with him for a bit.

It's getting late, so we headed east again.

We finally get back after our 10+ mile hike.
We used to camp here while working on the trail.
Like old times, we got a fire going to cook polish
sausages and have a nice dinner.

What a wonderful little hike we had today.

Back at Good Shepherd Church

We'd not been to GS Church in some time!  Why haven't we been there?

Oh ya, did you know we never got out for any socialization?

Oh Jeff, we've not seen you and your girls in some time.

We hear Matt and Paige are leaving town!
We're happy for them but sad to see them go.

Oh good Bucky.  Maybe you could bless us?  I do need that.

If you guys leave, who's going to scratch us??

Both at once, that's good!

Ya Paige, I hope you guys move back some day.

Then we went to the church yard to help with pictures.

You know we are game to have pictures taken with kids!

Saturday Pilgrim Watershed Trail clearing.

On Saturday morning, we headed south to do more clearing of the Pilgrim Watershed trails in hopes of getting the basic clearing done.

Dave N and Lynn would be helping today. 
Arly had bumped into Lynn and his spouse on Friday,
while out here getting a bid for mowing of the logging paths.

We're so glad to see everyone out helping.

With a crew like this, we'll get lots done!

Oh ya Lynn, we never get no touching at home.

The older mutt know to stay close by while the puppy
runs through the woods. 

Earlier in the afternoon Dave had left us and now Lynn
bids his farewell.

All done!  At least a rough clearing of the trail.

We couldn't have done it without Dave and Lynn's help.

At 3 in the afternoon, we hiked back to the dog truck and so,
 so glad they came out to help.

We took a little break at the picnic table, and OH-OH-OH who's this?

Some hikers and their very friendly lab came by.

Ya we agree, it's great to get out for a romp and to socialize.

Thursday Pilgrim Watershed Trail clearing

On Thursday, Sandy got away early enough that we packed the dog truck with tools and headed to the Pilgrim Watershed Trail for some weed whacking.

Oh ya, we're just giddy to be back here again.

 

We went to the east side and cleared the weeds from the logging road.
Some leaves are changing and it's starting to look and feel like fall.

We knew there were logs along the road,
but couldn't see them anymore.

Also holes made from water runoff this spring.

When driving out there, we need to see these things.

Weeds, weeds and lots of tree shoots.

Sandy is making it better, so hikers can see the ground again.

And not get soaked from wet brush!

These will be whacked down.

More mystery logs found along the trail.

All better! 
We'll be out again on Saturday morning.  Would you like to help?