Planting for the future

We on the Seymour Greenway committee are finishing our project.  Three years ago, we began planting trees along the Newton Blackmour State Trail.   The trail is a rails-to-trails project that goes through the heart of town.  The trail is named for the cities it goes through, New London, Shiocton, Black Creek and Seymour.  Eventually, the trail will extend to Green Bay where it will hook up with the Mountain Bay Trail. At New London, there are even more trails that connect Seymour to the world.

Our thought was that hikers should find a shady grove when they come to Seymour, so we began to plant with donated trees and a grant from the Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources.  Now the downtown area is planted with deciduous trees, the west section with conifers, and by the end of the year, a row of pear and crabapple trees will line the eastern stretch.  I dream of the blossoms that will greet our city's visitors as they bike and hike through in the spring.

The trail leads through Nagel Park with picnic tables, water and toilets available for hot and dusty travelers.  A Boy Scout working on his Eagle badge is building benches the length of the trail.  One of the benches will be at the edge of a pond so that birders can get out their binoculars while they rest.  Three of us prepared a checklist of birds that can we've observed in Seymour.

As a traveler and hiker, I am well aware of the joy  in seeing a bench to sit on, a place to get fresh water and an actual toilet.  When our group disbands, it will be with a feeling of great accomplishment.

Walking around the world

Two decades ago, I decided to keep in shape by daily walking.  To make it more interesting, I started marking my miles on the Wisconsin map, heading west on an imaginary hike. The first week, I walked to Black Creek, the village to the west of Seymour.  My daily walks got longer and the miles added up.  I soon was out of Wisconsin, into Minnesota.  I took a turn in South Dakota and went down to Texas, then turned west again.  At this point, I decided to walk around the world, all in my mind, you understand.

As of today, I've walked 17,382 miles, after going north along the western coast through Alaska and crossing the Bering Strait to Russia. I should reach Istanbul by the end of 2010.

This summer, I will be driving some of the same roads I "walked" on when I get to Washington, Oregon and California.  Some of those cities, towns and scenic places will seem familiar because I always read up on the geography during my imaginary hikes.

In addition to the entertainment, I stayed in shape.  I've avoided the family health issues of diabetes, high blood pressure and heart disease.

I encourage everyone to pick up a map and start walking.  

Telling the tales

     This morning I sat down with my story lists and thought about which ones I would be using in 2011.  I have songs and stories from England, Australia, Scotland, Jamaica, Haiti, Ireland, Russia and more, but I will have to make a stop at the Oshkosh public library to replenish my stock.  The Oshkosh library is a grand storehouse of books of and about folktales.  
     I will sing the "Library Song" which I wrote with Seymour children decades ago.  I plan on writing a new song:  "One World, Many Stories".  I'll make up a chorus and ask the children in each library to help with the verses.  Perhaps we'll do "Tie Me Kangaroo Down," from Australia.  There are Irish songs, too.  I'll spend the winter singing around the house as I prepare for a golden summer.

What to do in Oregon

    This will be my first trip to Oregon, and I am thinking about where I want to go.  Crater Lake is big on my list.  I've been fascinated by that strange lake since I first got interested in National Parks.  I want to meander along the Pacific Coast.   There are the broad stretches of national forests along the Rocky Mountain ridge.  Gary suggests the Malheur National Refuge as a good place for birding.  I will pack my binoculars.
     Most of the time, though, the work I do in the libraries is what mandates the routes I take.  This leads me to rare jewels, locations far away from tourist areas.  Oregon will likely be like that.
     The ten bookings so far in Wisconsin, North Dakota and Montana, are leading me in those unexpected directions. What adventures there will be!

A brief problem with audio

I found out yesterday that the server that had my audio clip is down.  Until we can correct that problem, no audio, sorry. Anyone wanting to get an audio can e-mail me and I will send one as an attachment.

I spent Monday with Gary paddling down the Wolf River.  It was beautiful weather, but we couldn't dawdle the way we usually do because of the short days.  We went in at 10 and were done by 2.  In that short time, we saw deer crashing through the forest, a blue heron, some sandhill cranes, frogs, turtles, eagles and more.  Are the frogs and turtles not estivating or the cranes and herons not migrating the way they should because the winters are getting shorter?   We likely won't get out on the water again until the end of March.  

A day on the Wolf River

Just when I thought the season was over, nature turned a corner and went backwards.  Today, with sun and temperatures in the 60's, Gary and I will canoe down the Wolf River.  There will be few critters out there, but perhaps we'll see deer, eagles, and such.  

I wish that I could take a canoe with me on my travels next summer, but I move around too much.  A canoe is one thing too many to transport.  Perhaps I will rent as needed. 

In anticipation, I did my daily e-mail work last night and I am ahead on the National Novel Writing Month quota, so this is a free day.   

Last lake of the Wisconsin summer