A Present - A Pocket Park - Five Minutes Away

Nobody else knew it, but the creek was magic. 

There was one bend in particular 

where the banks widened to form a craggy circle;

 the bed beneath had been formed millions of years ago 

when the earth sighed and shifted 

and great rock slabs were brought together 

jaggedly, so what was shallow at the rims deepened 

and darkened suddenly at its center.

~ Kate Morton, The Secret Keeper

It was a sign - A lone Pearl Milkweed Pod.

I drive across the creek just here a few times a week. It's a short-cut. Of course the creek beckoned. Was there a way down to creekside? 

Then two days ago I noticed a small parking area on one side of the bridge. A plan began to form...Zelda doesn't care where she walk and she can protect me from any trolls beneath the bridge.

When I ran into some parks department employees this week I asked about the park. "It's a nature trail," they said. "We have tried to keep it as close to natural as possible. There are a few picnic tables, but other than that, we've just cleared a simple trail of about a quarter of a mile. And you will be able to get down to the creek there."

Determined to investigate the place, Zelda and I dressed for the wild, geared up, and drove the 3 miles (yes, it is only 3 miles away) and hit the trail.

Oh, my. It's a gem. 

After a little ramble down the trail and a wade in the creek we decided it was the perfect place for a picnic breakfast and hike with friends next week. What a gift to have this lovely little place so close.

In some places the trail was wide and clear.

It was no lie - the place is still very much in a natural state.

Bits of fall colors jump out.

Which way to go? I headed towards the creek, of course.

Poison ivy.

Looking upstream toward the bridge

The rocks testify to the shallow sea that covered this part of the state.

I so want to walk this creek when the weather is warmer.

The algae warns that creek hike will be slippery.

We surprised a Great Blue Heron and saw hawks, woodpeckers, Yellow-rumped Warblers, and other birds. Only the White-winged Dove posed.

Looking downstream...

This place reminds me of others I love. These hikes will be mini-vacations.

What is it, this pile of metal that moved downstream in a flood?

A different view of the Pearl Milkweed pod. There were 3 seeds!

We had so little time for a hike - the sun sets early.

The path turned into a road and I had to wonder if we'd moved past the park limits

It's a gorgeous place.

Driftwood. 

Inland Sea Oats (I think they have renamed them, but I'll stick with this for now)

Hope no reservation is required.