Saturday, February 14, 2009

My New Play Area

I'm back today to talk about my journey through Carpenter Lake Nature Preserve with the famous Alice. I have to keep going from place to place this week, because I've seen so many strange and interesting things. I also know that some of you don't want this latest journey with Alice to get lost to time.

Some of you may have noticed in my Recent Comments section yesterday that Alice's post was invaded by a few escapees from Wonderland. They heard about Alice's recent visits into our world, and they wanted to see what all the fuss was about. Alice's little friends from Wonderland are welcome here anytime.

Anyway, on to something Alice and I saw when we were at my newest hiking trail. As some of you know, not only do I love nature, but I also really love bridges. I mostly like the smaller kind that are just for walking on, but even the bigger ones are cool. I haven't featured nearly enough bridges here.

We found something at Carpenter that isn't exactly a bridge, but I think it is one of the greatest structures in a nature park that I have seen so far. This place is a series of stairs and docks that you can go down and view the lake from. Yes, there is a lake here!

You can see a little bit of what this place is like in the photos here. I hope they give you an idea of what we saw. It was a sprawling group of wooden and metal paths that go down to the lake. Because of this new structure, I think I finally understand why I like bridges so much.

As most kids have done, I used to play at parks and outside at school. There were sometimes playgrounds with cool things to climb all over and walk on, and just have a good time. I've seen even better play areas today than when I was a kid. But there is nothing like that for adults. Or is there?

There is! They are bridges, escalators, glass elevators, and especially places like the one in these pictures! This place was made for fun in mind. It brings back the mentality of a child in me. I actually laughed out loud with delight when I saw it. Alice understood completely, and we rushed down to the place just so we could walk along our new playground.

You know, this thing even has the same colors as some of the new play areas that they make for children. I now understand that it's not just bridges, but anything you can climb on or just explore that is so much fun. I don't know of anyone who doesn't like these things. Something like this is a great everyday adventure all by itself.

One last thing I want to tell you today. All of the snow you see in these photos has melted by now. The process began on the day Alice and I were at this place. I'll be going back there very soon, and there will be some very different pictures of what the place looks like. I'll have to show photos from both times, because I don't want this adventure to get lost. Some of the things we saw were magical.

I'll be back tomorrow with something to stir your imagination, and shake your very soul!


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10 comments:

  1. Nice memories that you shared about being a kid and climbing on things! Good to hear your snow has melted...we are heading downstate tomorrow on our trip to Florida! We still have plenty of snow in the U.P., and some still coming down this morning!
    I hope to take my laptop and will try to read other's posts while I am traveling, but if you don't get comments from me for a few weeks, you will know I couldn't do it. I will certainly try and will read all your posts that you posted when I get home (if I can't while I travel)....you know ME, I can't help but send you comments whenever I can! Have fun exploring while I am away and who knows?....I might have some adventures to report (from the road, if I can) or when I get back!!!

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  2. Revisiting the past always make one a bit childish and always be youthful...

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  3. First, Happy Valentine's Day Ratty. I would love to play and hike those trails - in the snow. What fun...

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  4. oh wow, love those bridge pictures, especially the second one. it would be nice to take a hike there, it feels like you have the trail all to yourself and Alice, i love little bridges in trails too, and if i can only fly to wonderland right now and make joyful steps on those bridges.

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  5. The walkway picture with all the branches just makes one want to explore.

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  6. Very interesting bridge that looks a little bit odd with snow covering the area, whereby a bridge is supposed to run across a river or alike.

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  7. Retired One - Our snow only melted for a very short time. Just as I was finishing up this post, I looked out the window to find a few more inches of white snow on the ground. I'm still hoping most of the ice has melted though. I hope you have a nice trip loaded with great adventures!:)
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    Kruel - That's why I try to visit my childhood very often. I had some good times back then that I hope I never forget.
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    Jodapoet - Happy Valentine's Day to you too, Jodapoet! The snow keeps coming here, so that's the way I'll be doing it for awhile.:)
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    Betchai - We really did have them to ourselves. There was only one other person out there. I pointed my camera at him, and he quickly disappeared.:) I think I saw part of Wonderland in your photos with the boulders.
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    Sharkbytes - That was my first view of that walkway, and I had to stop myself from running towards it.
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    Rainfield - I hope the ice on our waters has melted, because that walkway actually goes out over the edge of a small lake. I am so excited about that!

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  8. I just wanted to know if you could take a picture of Alice and one of her buds?

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  9. I believe that you have spent too much time at the Unbirthday Party, anonymous. Perhaps you and Alice could make some beautiful music for us. I'm fond of Mary Had A Little Lamb.

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  10. Anonymous - I take pictures of mostly nature, but Alice sneaks in sometimes.
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    Mother Goose - I believe that you might be right. Those unbirthday parties can get strange, especially if the Mad Hatter is there.

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