Troutbirder II

Troutbirder II
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Monday, November 24, 2008

Hiking the New Bike Trail

Baron and I have been doing a lot of hiking on the new Spring Valley bike trail this fall. Well... its not exactly a bike trail yet but a work in progress. The grading, graveling, bridges, tree planting and underpass are now complete. Spring will see the trail blacktopped and then the bikers will have smooth sailing. Come on along on a "composite" hike from early August to just last week. Baron will lead the way.


Bridge construction going on here. Several bulldozers were also in action as a path was cleared and leveled.





Two bridges were built over the creek as the trail passed from one side to another. Land issues made this necessary.


Along the way we see the "trout farm" eagles nest. I was initially worried that the trail might come too close to the nest but upon seeing the route close hand I don't believe that it does.


Here is a cattle "overpass" constructed so that the cows can cross the trail without being run into by bikers or vice versa.

Inside the culvert some swallows have already taken up residence. They were already gone so I'm not sure what kind they were. Probably barn.


The trail now has two layers of gravel, smoothed and packed, preparatory to blacktopping


The trail basically follows Spring Valley Creek, one of Bluff Countries fine trout streams. I'm sure with the arrival of hordes of bikers (including me) my exclusive franchise to the trout in this stream will be lost. Oh well.




As we came around a bend I heard that special fall sound of migrating geese. Honk! Honk! Honk! Baron and I ducked down in the grass and they landed across the creek in a pasture. Mr Baron von Curious wanted to go investigate but I held him close. My Chesapeaks would have gone crazy in this circumstance.


And I had given up goose hunting several years ago. My instincts kicked in and I was able to "shoot" a few with my camera. Wow!




Fall hiking with the Baron. Not too bad!


12 comments:

  1. Looks like a great trail with great sights to see. Careful with that bike, now.

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  2. Ah! I see my reputation as a highly skilled biker has spread nation wide. ok ok not....

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  3. Great pictures. I love seeing pictures further south than I am because I miss green, unfrozen earth.

    Lucky you with short sleeves on. I have been wearing my thick winter coat lately.

    Have fun with your bike but be careful. This guy that works at our company broke both his arms on a bike trail this past summer!! A fellow biker actually collided into him and he flew over the handle bars!

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  4. It looks like you will probably have lots of chances at Swallow photos next year. We will be waiting on photos. And of the eagles especially.

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  5. Thanks for the tour - and thanks to Baron for not getting us lost..

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  6. What a great hike! Love the swallow nests. :c)

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  7. Nice hike! You'll have to show us more when the trail is completed. Don't forget to wear your helmet though!

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  8. The bike trail looks great--I didn't realize they had made that much progress on it. Thanks for the update and all the nice pictures. I think it will be a nice trail for birding during spring migration too.
    We visited that Bald Eagle nest by the trout farm last summer too. I'm glad that the eagles haven't been affected by the new trail.
    The mud nests are from Cliff Swallows. You can also find some nests like these down at Masonic Park on the bluffs behind the picnic shelter.

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  9. That was a nice hike. We have one that follows an old rail road bed. Very nice place to hike since it's too far out of town to be swarmed with kids. Considering the economy, the new paths scheduled to start construction might be on hold indefinitely.
    Marnie

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  10. That looks like an excellent trail...hopefully your fishing spots will remain "secret" ;)

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  11. Baron is quite a beautiful shepherd. I think you have posted on him before but I did not realize you had a few dogs. Those geese shots are great, hearing them and seeing them in person must've been even better.

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  12. You had a beautiful day for your hike. I don't think I've ever seen such a mass of swallow nests! (Barn swallows?) We look forward to the completion of our "around the whole town" bike trail sometime next year... I hope! ;-)

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