This weekend we took advantage of the beautiful weather and went for an afternoon walk up the road. We brought a garbage bag with us, so we could collect recyclables along the way. There is no bottle return policy here, and so the road sides are always littered with empty cans and bottles. Sometimes we pick up garbage along the road too, but this time we just cleaned up the recyclables. We left anything with questionable content. We can come back and pick up the nasty stuff when we have some rubber gloves on.
Just up the road from us at the top of the hill is this beautiful cow field. Often times the cows come up to the fence to check us out and moo at us, but today they were on the other side of the field. All along the fence line we found empty plastic bottles and cans and garbage.
About 1/4 mile from our house our bag was already almost filled up. Road side litter is very prevalent in this area. It always amazes me how someone could just throw their garbage down in a place so beautiful :(
The kids are always very eager to help pick up the litter, and it becomes a competition to see who can collect the most.
Another not uncommon sight. At the top of the hill, just off the road we found a dumping ground for deer carcasses. We counted 5, although there may have been more farther down the hill. These deer were most likely poached, the prime cuts of meat taken...the rest just dumped here. :(
While on our walk the kids ask to explore the cabins that are on the land next to us. The land belongs to folks that live in NC and is their family hunting land. They have several rustic cabins on the property. It has been several years since they have come up and stayed here. We were given permission to use these cabins any time that we like. We have never taken advantage of the offer, although the kids have been asking recently if we could spend the night here one weekend. It would make a fun adventurous overnight camping trip even though it's literally right next door.
There are two cabins, both are very simple, and rustic. No electricity or running water. There is an outhouse building, although we have yet to explore that. :) There is also a woodshed and garden type storage building.
Inside one of the cabin is neat loft with a ladder to access it.
My favorite part is this deck, nestled among the trees. It is such a peaceful area, not far from a fire pit. i would be a fun place to sit out under the stars one night and enjoy the beautiful of the forest.
We always have fun walking up the road and exploring the forest on the way back to our home. No matter how often we walk, we always seem to find something new. This time we stumbled upon a black walnut tree and the remains of the black walnuts on the ground around it. So this fall we will be able to forage for chestnut, hickory and walnuts.
"With the first step, the number of shapes the walk might take is infinite, but then the walk begins to define itself as it goes along, though freedom remains total with each step: any tempting side road can be turned into an impulse, or any wild patch of woods can be explored. The pattern of the walk is to come true, is to be recognized, discovered."
- A.R. Ammons, A Poem is a Walk
0 comments:
Post a Comment