Walking in Carl Creek Preserve ~ 6/20/16

This eight something acre site used to hold a ramshackle home about half way back between Grand River and Fulton. When the house went up for sale, we checked it out and though it was advertised as vacant, there was obviously someone living there, hobo style. Due to the wetlands and Carl Creek running throughout the property, it eventually was purchased by Ada Township to be preserved as a wetland area (2011). But no real access was provided until 2015 when the township had footpaths and bridges put in. Now you can walk from Grand River to Fulton, with multiple paths all circling back upon each other.

I walked onto the property a few times back in July 2015 to see what was happening, and here are some of those photos:

And a few weeks later,

By the fall it was walkable but this was my first time there in 2016. Mosquitoes were a little thick but as long as one kept moving it was ok. Obviously no motorized vehicles are allowed.

Plant life is lush and poison ivy is rampant, mixed in with Dicentra and Trillium, and more.

This is Dame's Rocket, the 4 petal invasive species frequently confused with Wild Phlox (5 petals).

Fallen blossoms

The farthest path leads one to a view of Fulton Street and some apartments/condos that are probably none to thrilled with this development. And then it circles back. After a few other circuitous routes, I headed back to the entrance.

Immediately it became apparent that rain was headed this way so after a few photos and a picked-up pace, I headed home, just in front of the rain.

Happy Summer Solstice and Full Moon today, not happening again on the same day for sometime.

Here's all you need to know about that from @UniverseToday

 
 

The Power Went Out - 11/17/13

With the storm mostly passed, I thought I was safe but at 9:45pm the power went out here in Ada. Well, not all of Ada. I could look out my window and see our neighbors west, south, and north with their lights still on. The five households connected on the hill were in the dark.

Monday morning I was still in the dark. Driving out for breakfast and viewing the area, there were many blacked-out areas. With no hot water or power, I started to check out area hotels and decided on Country Inn and Suites ~ refrigerator in room, complimentary breakfast, and view of the highway. Ah well. They had power. Unfortunately, the room doors close so loudly I could hear them all night long. The hotel clerk explained that they were fire doors so that if the room next door caught fire, I wouldn't be burned in my bed.

The damage in our neighbor's yard was bad; a large branch took down a pine tree and both were resting on the wires, the strain of which broke the power pole.

The tree guys were there Monday morning clearing the wires but why would Consumers show up here to relieve 5 homes when thousands were out of power?  Right - they wouldn't. The cats were put in the garage and I headed for the hotel.

I early-checked into the hotel, and the only walking distance restaurant was Malarky's. I spent a few hours there watching IonTV and savoring a perch dinner and Bells Amber Ale.

Tuesday morning, I let the cats out and headed out to meet my son for lunch and run a few errands. It was too early to be back in my hotel room so after I put the cats back in late afternoon, I took an hour walk through Meijer Gardens. It's always my back-to-nature-feel-good place.

Wednesday morning I headed to work after extending my hotel reservation to Friday. In the afternoon I received a text-photo from a neighbor that a consumers crew was there installing a new pole, and my hopes were up.

But what to do with the hotel reservation ~ checkout time at 11:00am. I left it as it was and received a voice mail from another neighbor as I was driving home at 4:15 that the power was on. I continued on home to be sure our house was good and then high-tailed it to the hotel to check out. Five minutes to pack and throw my things in the car and then check-out. The hotel clerk very kindly charged me for just the day rate and I was out of there. Cheers to getting back to a normal life!