Saturday, April 11, 2009

Mistaken Assumptions

West Bloomfield Woods Nature PreserveDid you ever have certain assumptions about something, and then found you were totally wrong? A while ago, I discovered a new nature preserve called West Bloomfield Woods Nature Preserve. I introduced it here, but I never got the chance to visit it fully.

The place is a little further away from me than several others, it was getting late in the year, and I just ran out time for it. I only went a short way up one of the trails, just so I could give myself a little preview of the place.

I attempted another visit, but it just happened to be on the day of the first snowstorm of our very rough winter. It started just as soon as I got on the trail. The wind was blowing way too hard for me, and it was making it very cold. I wasn't dressed for those conditions, so I had to turn back. In the end, none of this mattered to me anyway.

I tried to think positively about this place, but I had great suspicions that it wasn't going to be much fun when I finally did decide to go back. There seemed to be too many houses around, so I assumed it must be very small. I also didn't expect to see any wildlife, so I've been reluctant to revisit this place. I can tell you now that I was completely wrong!

Hiking TrailI finally went back, and found one of the most wonderful places I've ever been! After turning the first corner on the path, it was like walking into a completely different world. I was transported from a little suburban neighborhood into a great wilderness, in only a few steps!

This place was huge and full of life! Of course, there were trees as far as the eye could see. And there was new green grass and flowers sprouting up everywhere, demonstrating that spring lives in this place. There were so many different animals that I could pick and choose which ones to get pictures of.

Hiking TrailThere was a small canyon running through this place, with a viewing platform to look at the river below. In a narrow section, there was a bridge that ran across the canyon, and I eagerly crossed it, twice! There were so many twists and hills along the trail, that I never knew what would be next. I was so excited that I had to stop and relax, to gather my thoughts, about halfway through.

The photos I'm showing you in this post are only a very small preview of this great place. I can't possibly show it or explain it all in this one story. I'll bring anything else I can in the next several days. There may be stories of other new adventures along the way too. And I may go back to this place very soon for new journeys. I'm really excited!

12 comments:

  1. I do the same thing where I assume an area I am exploring will be devoid of wildlife only to be proven wrong. On the opposite end, I go to places I think will have a ton of wildlife only to have it empty.

    The paths in your pictures do look promising and I can't wait to read more about it!

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  2. Sounds interesting I look forward to seeing some of the wildlife.

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  3. I shared your excitement on the new found wonderful land.
    Life is so good....

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  4. Tell us more as you explored more

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  5. Sounds like a wonderful place.
    We used to live in a small town and right in the middle was this old deserted trail (probably where they tore out old railroad ties)...we started walking it every night and saw beaver, blue herons, tons of birds, rabbits, squirrels..etc.
    It was so neat.
    And, most people in town drove by it, never to explore it.
    We were glad, though. It was like we had a private zoo all to ourselves!
    We now live about 20 miles away and are talking about taking a drive near, parking our car and walking it again!!

    The Retirement Chronicles

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  6. Kallen - I've had both happen to me too now. There's a place right down the road from this one that doesn't have much. This new place has been fun, and judging by the signs, it's also a birder's dream.
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    Mike - I'll make sure I begin to show some of the wildlife from this place in my very next post. I'm almost too excited to write about it! :)
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    Rainfield - Even after I was home, the thoughts of that place were still powerful in my mind. It was a good day.
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    Kruel - I hope to tell the whole story of all of the great things I saw. I'll be going back there soon, so there will be even more.
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    The Retired One - What an amazing coincidence! I just heard a few days ago that they are developing a new nature preserve near me that sounds very similar to your trail. It's being done on the site of an old railroad.

    Your trail sounds like a great place. I hope you get to go soon, and when you do, tell us the story! A private zoo is the same way I think of these places.

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  7. Pretty cool! Sounds like someone really was on the ball to set this area aside and save it for you and others to find.

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  8. Sharkbytes - They did an excellent job of setting it up. There are several things there that make me think that it was the same person who set up Carpenter Lake, which I've been going to so often.

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  9. i am always thankful for the piece of wilderness that hides any trace of civilization which is just a few steps from civilization. your pictures look so peaceful, and so promising, i can imagine it to be bursting with greens and more colors soon.

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  10. Betchai - When this place and the others like it burst with green color, they will be truly peaceful then. This is one of several new places that I haven't yet seen when they are covered in green. I can't wait!

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  11. The third photo looks really nice. Nice place to to take a stroll. Looks a like a nice place to getaway.

    I have something for you at my site Ratty. I would like to thank you for your continued support.

    Here's the link: http://roncenteno.blogspot.com/2009/04/thank-you-david-funk.html

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  12. Ron - Thanks for the award, Ron. I like your post, and I liked the wrestling stuff. Pretty cool, and my kind of thing.

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