Early
on I came to some curious clearings. For no clear reason, there was a sudden
open sandy area with a single tree growing in the center with the outer rim
host to a variety of ferns. What’s more, there were multiple! Even with my
skill for making really good guesses at interpreting natural phenomena, I was
stumped here. There is no readily apparent reason for these erratics within the
forest. Certain areas throughout the trail were denser than others and as a result the trails and
surrounding soil had a different character.
In one of the darker areas but with
a healthy undergrowth I got a treat. I spotted two wild Turkeys (Meleagris
gallopavo) skulking along. By the time I had spotted them, they spotted me and
were already high tailing it away. I wasn’t able to act fast enough to pull out
my camera. It may seem silly to get excited about seeing Turkeys but actual
wild Turkeys are very different from domesticated ones. Most of the time you
see them in flocks or on pastures. The true turkey though is solitary or with a
partner roaming the forest floor. When you see them in this natural state of
being, it truly is magical.
Gradually
the going got tougher as several sections of trail were either water logged and
muddy or covered by running water forcing reroutes and log hopping. There were
also some of the more spectacular areas with the interplay of dimmed light,
mosaic canopies, and damp undergrowth of the last spring hold overs. Before
long I reached areas where trails, being the low area, had become drainage
canals for the hyper saturated soil which literally bled water. You can see
that in action in this video: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6i9eln9YrdA
To Be Continued
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