November 19

Saturday would have been a good day at Forest Hill for a hike with my dog, Remi.

However, due to the potential danger of hiking at the Nature Area during deer hunting season, we stayed in Alma and hiked along the south side of the Pine River through Pine River Park. The early morning weather was mostly sunny with a temperature of 43 degrees and a slight breeze out of the southeast. I began walking west from the boat launch on a paved path and noticed a few leafless Common Buckthorn trees with their clusters of black berries as well as some crab apple trees with their reddish orange fruit. I continued along the riverbank where I saw a huge Weeping Willow with its gorgeous golden leaves on long, drooping branches. I glanced at the river and spotted a single, white Swan feeding along the far shore. Further along, I hiked past an Eastern Red Cedar Tree with pale blue berries hanging from its branches and an Eastern White Cedar tree with brown seedpods hanging from its branches. Also, I walked next to a couple of scrawny-looking Jack Pine trees. I paused on a wooden deck overlooking the river and noticed there was a gentle current flowing east. The Pine River rises in from Pine Lake in eastern Mecosta County, flows mostly south and east through Isabella County, then south along the eastern edge of Montcalm County, then east and north through Gratiot County and Midland County, emptying into the Chippewa River just about two miles before it joins the Tittabawassee River near Midland. Next, I turned away from the river and followed the trail south through a beautiful deciduous woodlot that included a few large White Pine trees. The trail came to an opening where I noticed a large rock with a plaque identifying this area as Conservation Park. The Gratiot County Conservation League established this 53-acre park in 1937. I followed a dirt road north past some tall Norway spruce. I continued past the Girl Scout Building and entered a foot trail. I turned east where I heard and saw a few Black-Capped Chickadees. I continued to an open field that was an easement under some high-tension power lines. I walked across the field and followed an off-road bike path back into a dense forest where I observed lots of deer tracks. The trail meandered along the edge of the Pine River Cemetery through a stand of 50 ft. tall Red Pine as well as a few Scrub Pine. Also, I saw some small Viburnum trees with their attractive clusters of scarlet red berries. I followed the trail back to a paved road that was closed for the winter. Next, I completed the loop as I returned to the path along the riverbank.  I retraced my steps east back to the boat launch where I saw 3 seagulls perched on the dock posts.  Finally, I got in the van, drove over the State Street Bridge and turned for home.

There is music in the meadows, in the air --

Autumn is here;

Skies are gray, but hearts are mellow,

Leaves are crimson, brown, and yellow;

Pines are soughing, birches stir,

And the Gipsy trail is fresh beneath the fir.

There is rhythm in the woods, and in the fields,

Nature yields:

And the harvest voices crying,

Blend with Autumn zephyrs sighing;

Tone and color, frost and fire,

Wings the nocturne Nature plays upon her lyre.

William Stanley Braithwaite