Andie LaComb's Blog, page 11

Robb Hidden Canyon

Today we ventured to Hamilton, Indiana to check out Robb Hidden Canyon and we are sure glad that we did! Like the name suggests this is a hidden gem. It’s another Acres Land Trust site with land donated by Robert and Phyllis Robb so it would remain undeveloped.

The trail starts with a dirt path on the edge of the woods and then becomes a grassy trail. Eventually you enter the woods and walk amongst Beech and Maple trees. There is also a view of Ball Lake, but it’s across the street from the property so no opportunity to get down to it.

After winding around in the woods we came upon the canyon which is quite scenic. The trail traverses the top of the canyon and leads to a steep stairway that goes down into the canyon. The steps are quite steep and not recommended for anyone with stability or mobility issues. There seems to be a stream that runs through the canyon, but on our visit there was little to no water. We walked over the bridge and continued our exploration of the canyon. Eventually the trail returned to the stairs and took us back overlooking the canyon. We retraced our steps back toward the parking lot and found another trail that looped around near the parking lot. The total distance we walked was nearly 2M.

Our Rating

We give Robb Hidden Canyon 3 out of 4 paws up. If the stream in the canyon had been running it would have rated 3.5 out of 4 paws up. It’s a beautiful walk in the woods with views of a stream or stream bed and the chance to hike for nearly 2 miles. The only downside for us is the lack of restrooms and the dry stream on this visit. We will definitely return after a rain to see what it’s like when the stream is full. I imagine it’s quite beautiful in the fall when the leaves are in full bloom.

How do I get there?

From Waterloo take 427 North to Hamilton, Indiana. Near the Phillips 66 gas station turn left onto E. Bellfontaine Road. Continue for about 1.5M and turn left just past Hamilton Storage onto Lane 201 b Ball Lake. After about half a mile veer left to stay on Lane 201 b. Just past the sign for Fish Creek Trail you’ll see a gravel parking lot on your left with a white Acres Land Trust sign. Park in the lot and walk toward the gate to enter the property.

For more information check out Acres Land Trust website.

Robb Hidden Canyon

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Crooked Lake Nature Preserve

Last week Sunny and I ventured to Crooked Lake Nature Preserve in Columbia City, Indiana hoping to find a trail with a view and access to a lake. We were in luck! Not only did we find miles of trails in the woods, but we had both views of the lake and the chance to get down to the water. As an added bonus we also stumbled on a section of the trail that is a memorial to former Indiana Governor, Ralph F. Gates.

There are two sections of the Crooked Lake Nature Preserve. We explored the section north of the lake including the Ralph F. Gates Acres Land Trust site. Upon entering this part of the preserve you walk on a gravel path that turns into a narrow trail with a lot of growth on both sides. This was our least favorite section of the trail as the view wasn’t great and the growth encroached on the trail in some areas. Despite that we found some interesting downed trees to explore. After a short distance we found ourselves in a more scenic area.

As we continued our hike we finally started to see some views of the lake. We also found a trail to the right that led to the Ralph F. Gates Nature Preserve which extends about a mile in the woods. The land for this preserve was given to the Acres Land Trust in 1977 to commemorate former Indiana Governor, Ralph F. Gates. This part of the trail was similar to other Acres Land Trust locations – a nice trail through the woods, but also had a great view of the lake. We also found an unoccupied building with a dock so we ventured out on it to get a look at the lake.

After following the Ralph F. Gates trail for about half a mile we turned around and walked back to the original trail. We continued exploring the trail and found it followed close to the water. The best part is it had sections where we could get down to the water. And we saw quite a few trees that had literally shed their bark. After hiking for nearly 2M, we decided it was time to head back to the parking lot. Our total hike was nearly 3M. We plan to return to further investigate the trail, the Ralph F. Gates preserve, and even check out the trails south of Little Crooked Lake.

Our Rating

Sunny and I really enjoyed our outing to Crooked Lake Nature Preserve and rate it 3 out of 4 paws up. We loved that we could hike for more than 3 miles and get down to the water. The downside for us was some sections of the trail are quite narrow and not that scenic and there is not restroom. Despite that we will return to explore some of the other trails including more of the Frank F. Gates addition.

How do I get there?

Take Route 8 to Noble County then turn left onto 3 South. After about a mile, turn right onto E. Baseline Road and continue for nearly 11 miles. Turn left on 9S/S. Baseline Road. Continue for 7 miles, then turn right onto 600S. The parking lot is about half a mile on the left just before the road turns to the right.

For more information check out Official Website of the State of Indiana.

Crooked Lake Nature Preserve

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Lonidaw Nature Preserve

Today we ventured to the Lonidaw Nature Preserve in Kendallville, Indiana. What a little gem and another Acres Land Trust location.

The preserve is located off North Allen Chapel Road with a nice gravel parking area that holds around 6 vehicles. Walk to the back of the parking lot and there is an opening into the woods. Once you enter the woods, the trail is packed dirt and gravel. It’s quite wide with trees and vegetation on both sides. There are side trails off the main trail and every time there was a choice to make, we took the trail to the right. This allowed us to hike all the trails and loop around back to the parking area.

Most of the trail is flat, but there area a few sections with steep inclines and descents. Although the trail starts fairly wide, it narrows as it progresses. There is one section that is the land of the fallen and downed trees making for some interesting sites. There is also a small creek that runs through the woods with a bridge over it. Sunny enjoyed getting down to the water and putting her feet in it.

Our Rating

Although the trail is just under a mile, it is a fun hike and one that we will return to do. Sunny and I give Lonidaw Nature Preserve 3 out of 4 paws up. The only downsides for us are the short distance of the hike and the lack of restrooms. Because of the narrow section of the trail and the inclines and descents this hike is only recommended for those with good mobility and stability.

How do I get there?

Take Route 6 to Kendallville and head north on North Allen Chapel Road. After just under a mile you’ll see an Acres Land Trust sign on the left. This leads to the gravel parking lot.

For more information check out Acres Land Trust website.

Lonidaw Nature Preserve

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Pehkokia Woods

Earlier this week we had some contractors at our house so we decided to go on an adventure. Since I wanted a location that would keep us away for several hours, we ventured to Pehkokia Woods in Huntington, Indiana. This is another Acres Land Trust location.

This location has two distinctly different areas to hike – the woods and the grasslands. Upon entering the woods the hike starts on a rocky path. After a short distance there is the option to turn to the left and enter the woods or continue straight ahead. We took the path straight ahead and soon passed a pond on the right. Then we had the option to turn right or left on a grassy path. We turned to the right and walked on a mowed grass path that wandered around a field of wildflowers. We saw a lot of pretty yellow and purple flowers and the grass was nearly taller than me. Since this section was out in the open with no shade, it was a little warm. Eventually the path looped around and brought us to a path that led into the woods.

Upon entering the woods we walked over a small creek. Sunny was quite interested in that and wanted to get down to it, but the path does not lead to the creek. We continued walking on the trail and through the woods passing a ravine and some downed trees. The trail started out fairly wide, but eventually narrowed as it twisted through the woods. Although there are some inclines and descents, it’s not too steep. Despite that the trail isn’t appropriate for those with mobility or stability issues.

The total distance of the trail, including the grasslands is about 1.2M. We decided to walk through the woods several times and managed to logged nearly 3M. This made it worth the long drive.

Our Rating

We rate Pehkokia Woods 2.5 out of 4 paws up. Although it’s a nice walk in the woods, it’s a long drive for just over a mile walk. We also prefer walking in the woods to walking in the grassy field, which makes up about a third of the distance. If we lived closer I’m sure this is a spot we would visit frequently; it’s peaceful, well-maintained, with nice views. It’s just a long drive for a short hike and there are other’s that are closer to our home. If you live near Huntington we recommend visiting Pehkokia Woods and if you want to walk longer than a mile you can do the hike several times, which is what we did.

How do I get there?

From I-69 take the Jefferson Blvd/24W exit. Follow 24 for about 20 miles to Huntington, Indiana. Turn right on Flaxmill Road and veer left to stay on Flaxmill Road. Follow Flaxmill Road, passing a church on the left. A short distance later you will see the Acres Land Trust sign on the right. Park in the lot to the right and walk a short distance to the gated entrance.

For more information check out the Acres Land Trust site.

Pehkokia Woods

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Fawn River Nature Preserve

Fawn River Nature Preserve is part of the Acres Land Trust which protects land in northeast Indiana, southern Michigan, and northwest Ohio. This property is on the border of Indiana and Michigan. It provides a view of Fawn River which is a tributary of the St. Joseph River.

Despite the name of the preserve you wouldn’t know there is a river until about the halfway point when you get a view of it. Unfortunately unless you climb down a couple foot embankment and land in the river, you can not access it. This was a great disappointment for Sunny, but we still enjoyed our time at Fawn River Nature Preserve.

The hike starts with a quarter mile walk on a mowed grassy path before entering the woods. Once in the woods, the trail winds around providing views of beech and maple trees. There’s also a covered shelter just before the short trail to the river overlook. After the river the trail loops around back through the woods to the entrance. The trail is fairly wide and flat for the first half, but the path to the river and back to the entrance is narrower and has more inclines and descents. It also has more roots making it more challenging for those with stability issues.

Our Rating

This is a nice trail in the woods with a view of the river. There is one main trail with a short loop down to a view of the river for a total distance of just over 1.5M. Other than some deer and a few other critters we had the place to ourselves when we visited. It made for a peaceful hike in the woods. We give this trail 3 out of 4 paws up. The main disadvantages are no restrooms, not being able to get down into the water, and only being able to hike 1.5M. We still recommend this spot for a nice hike in the woods.

How do I get there?

Take the Lagrange exit (#348) off I-69 then turn onto 20 W. Stay on 20 W for about 7M. Take a right onto 327 N and stay on 327 for about 8M. Turn left onto W 800 N/Greenfield Rd, which is a gravel road. Follow this for 3M. This road is on the border of Indiana and Michigan and you will enter Michigan for a short period of time. I only knew this because my GPS welcomed me to Michigan and then back into Indiana. Stay on W 800 N until there is a fork in the road, veer left which looks like you are driving into someone’s driveway. Follow that until you see the Acres Land Trust sign on the left and veer left again into the parking lot.

For more information check out the Acres Land Trust website.

Fawn River Nature Preserve

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Gene Stratton-Porter trails

Several months ago we visited the Fishing Line Trail in Rome City, IN and discovered the Gene Stratton-Porter historic site. We recently returned to check out the trails in the woods at the historic site.

The Gene Stratton-Porter Historic Site is one of the former homes of Gene Stratton-Porter who was a writer, photographer, and film producer. She purchased the property and built the “cabin at wildflower woods” on Sylvan Lake in 1912. She moved to the property in 1914 and lived there until 1919 with her husband visiting on the weekends. Unfortunately as her popularity increased, she found the property was not private enough and moved to California. In 1946 it was donated to the State of Indiana and today is open to the public to explore the grounds, trails, and home.

The entrance to the trails are just past the pavilion on the north side of the parking lot. They wind around the property including past the cabin, visitor center, and Sylvan Lake. Although the trails do not traverse a long distance, they make for a fun and interesting outing. We managed to hike about a mile walking past a flower garden, getting down to the water, walking past the cabin and visitor center, and back through the woods to the parking lot. The trails are mostly dirt or gravel with a small section on a boardwalk next to the water. The trail is fairly wide and mostly flat. Although not wheelchair or stroller accessible, it would be appropriate for most other people.

Our Rating

We give the trails at Gene Stratton-Porter 3 out of 4 paws up. You can hike in the woods, have a picnic lunch at the pavilion, and get your toes wet in the lake. The main disappointment is the trails only allow for about a mile of hiking, but the Fishing Line Trail is across the street allowing for a longer hike. An added bonus is the port-o-potty at the entrance of the woods. All in all a nice place to visit and hike. We will definitely return for a picnic lunch and another hike.

How do I get there?

From E. North Street in Kendallville (6W) turn north onto 3. Then turn left onto N. Angling Road and follow it for a couple miles. From there turn left onto E 850 N and after a couple miles turn right onto Pleasant Point. After a short distance the parking lot is on the right. After parking, walk towards the pavilion and you’ll find the trails in the woods with some leading to the visitor center.

For more information about Gene Stratton-Porter.

There is also another trail across the street; the Fishing Line trail. To get to the Fishing Line trail walk back toward and across E 850 N to an asphalt trail that leads to another asphalt trail in the woods. From the parking lot to the start of the Fishing Line Trail is about 0.3M.

For more information about Fishing Line Trail or check out our recent post – Fishing Line Trail.

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Franke Park Mountain Bike Trails

Yesterday we ventured to the Franke Park Mountain Bike Trails. We previously tried to visit these trails, but didn’t follow the GPS directions and ended up parking at the zoo and exploring the Pufferbelly Trail. Read all about it here. This time we followed the GPS directions and made it to the trails. We were glad that we did.

The Franke Park Mountain Bike trails consists of 10 miles of single track trails in the woods near Shoaff Lake. The trails are rated easy and moderate with inclines, descents, twists and turns, sections of wood planks, and sections of rocks. It’s a peaceful, nice hike despite being so close to all the activity of the zoo.

We started by parking near Shoaff Lake on Franke Park/Park Dr. The lake is not very big, but is quite popular with geese. We walked towards the Pond Pavilion and on the path behind it. This didn’t go too far, but led to a dock with a picnic table. After checking that out we turned around and walked past the pavilion. We found the entrance to the trails on the right.

The trails twist around in the woods on both sides of a gravel road. We walked on the trails in the woods on both sides and also on the gravel road. Although there are many intersecting trails they are well marked and I didn’t feel like we might get lost. The day we visited we were the only ones on the trails so it made for a nice walk in the woods. I imagine on the weekends it is much busier and I’m not sure I would want to hike on these trails when a lot of bikers are using them. They trail is narrow with not much room to move to the side.

The nice part about this trail is that Franke Park is across the road from the parking lot. This would be a great place to have a picnic lunch before or after hiking on the trails. I think we will do that on our next visit.

Our Rating

We rate Franke Park trails 3 out of 4 paws up. There is a lake, but because of the number of geese on the shore, the accompanying poop, and the no wading/swimming signs we could not let Sunny put her toes in the water. The trails are nice with some challenges. The only negative is the concern about getting run over if mountain bikers are also using the trails. All in all, a nice place for what can be a challenging hike in the woods if you choose the moderate trails. We will definitely return, but not on weekends or holidays when the trails are more likely to be busy.

How do I get there?

From 69 exit at Lima Road/27 and head south for about 1 mile. Turn right onto Coliseum Blvd. and then left on Sherman Blvd. Follow that past the trail parking and the zoo. Turn right onto Franke Park/Park Dr. After about 0.3M park on the right near Shoaff Lake.

For more information about the trails check out the Franke Park Trail Map

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Olin Lake Nature Preserve

I was looking for a new place to hike that also had a water feature and came across Olin Lake Nature Preserve. Looking online it looked like a nice spot bordering a large lake. Despite reading that it could be quite buggy, we decided to venture to Wolcottville to check it out.

Olin Lake Nature Preserve is a 269 acre wooded preserve bordering Olin Lake in Wolcottville, Indiana. It has a nearly 2 mile loop that ends at the lake. The entire lake shoreline is protected by the preserve and it is the largest lake with an undeveloped shoreline, likely because it is swampy and marshy. The preserve is protected and maintained by the Indiana Department of Natural Resources.

Shortly upon entering the preserve I found that what I read about it being buggy was true and was so happy I wore long sleeves and pants. The only parts of my body that were not covered were my face, neck, and hands and the mosquitoes found all of that fresh skin. The entire time we were hiking the mosquitoes were buzzing around my face and ears. Needless to say this made for a less than enjoyable hike. Despite spraying Sunny with Cedarcide to protect her from ticks and other bugs she also periodically shook her head so I assume they were buzzing around her face too.

Despite all the bugs we hiked for about a mile to the lake. The path was fairly narrow, really only big enough to walk single file. In some sections it narrowed so much that we were nearly walking through the brush on the side. There were a few inclines and descents and bridges to cross making it difficult for anyone with mobility or stability issues. It was mostly shaded and despite the mosquitoes a nice, peaceful walk in the woods.

The big disappointment, however, was when we arrived at the lake overlook. There is no way to access the water so Sunny could not put her toes in it. There is a platform that looks out over the water and Sunny kept looking at the space between the slats as if to say, “How lame is this? I can see the water, but I can’t get in it.”

For more information check out Indiana Department of Natural Resources.

Our Rating

Although we enjoy any hike in the woods we only give Olin Lake Nature Preserve 2 out of 4 paws up. The main reasons are the amount of mosquitoes and the inability to get down to the water. It’s a nice walk in the woods, but the mosquitoes make it much less enjoyable. We’ve hiked many places in Indiana and this location truly had the most mosquitoes of any place we’ve visited.

How do I get there?

The address for the preserve is 5555 S 125 E in Wolcotville, Indiana. To get there take 6W to Kendallville and turn right onto Lima Rd. (3 North). At Five Lakes Coffee, turn left onto N. Angling Rd. Follow this for just over 4M and then turn left onto E. Northport Rd. Follow that for almost 3M and turn right onto 9N. Follow for 3.5M and turn left onto E 600 S. After just over 2M turn right onto S 125 E. Just before the road turns to the left, look for the gravel parking lot on the right. There is a wood entrance that leads to a narrow path through the woods.

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Karlie Celebration Day

Today would have been Karlie’s 16th birthday and it’s the second one without her. Instead of being sad that Karlie isn’t here, I decided to celebrate her today with Sunny, Karlie celebration day. We did that by doing things that Karlie loved. Luckily they are also things that Sunny loves – hiking in the woods, lounging in the backyard, eating special treats, and getting a new toy. So today was a good day – we remembered and celebrated Karlie while having fun with Sunny.

After our normal morning walks I drove Sunny to Bicentennial Woods in Huntertown, IN. On the way I told her all about Karlie and what a special girl she was. We talked about her love of chasing tennis balls, kayaking, and hiking in the woods, how she kissed the back of my neck if Art and Anna got too far ahead of us when kayaking, how resilient she was, how her sister Anna loved and protected her, and what a great best friend she was. I told Sunny that all the adventures she goes on are courtesy of Karlie.

Hiking at Bicentennial Woods

We visited Bicentennial Woods because although Karlie never hiked there she would have loved it. She loved any trail in the woods, but especially those that had water and the ability to get her toes in it. Bicentennial Woods has that so I know she would approve of our pick of a spot to celebrate her. Sunny had great fun snooping everything and especially enjoyed getting her feet in the water. We spent nearly an hour hiking 1.5M in the woods and explored the water in several areas. Sunny loved it and we encountered a few other people who also were enjoying their time in the woods.

Lounging in the Backyard

After arriving home we spent time lounging in the backyard. Sunny monitored the yard for incoming birds, squirrels, and leaves. She had great fun running around, just like Karlie used to do. Karlie (and Anna too) and I spent a lot of time in our backyards in Texas and California. They would have loved our new yard here.

Treats and Toys

We ended the day and celebration with a tasty treat – “cake and ice cream” and a new toy. Every year on Anna and Karlie’s birthdays we celebrated with a homemade birthday muffin and frosty paws. Today was no different and Sunny enjoyed her special treat just as Anna and Karlie did.

Snuggle Time

And the very end of our day was snuggle time on the bed. It was a big day for Sunny and she was ready to snuggle and take a nap. I hope she enjoyed the day and celebrating Karlie as much as I did. Although I love and enjoy Sunny very much, it’s still hard not having Karlie here. She was a big part of my life for 14+ years. That’s not something I can easily move past. But celebrating her and doing things she loved with Sunny helps heal the emptiness.

Happy Birthday, Karlie

Happy, happy 16th birthday, sweet little Bug. I miss you, but know you and Anna are celebrating your special day just as we did today. I love you and enjoyed our celebration day.

Resources

Want to read more about saying goodbye and handling loss? Check out our other saying goodbye blogs.

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Moving Forward, not Moving On

Saying goodbye to Karlie has been hard for me. It’s been 17 months and I still am struggling to move on. But I don’t think we ever truly move on when we lose someone that we love. Instead we try to move forward. You never forget the love, the memories, the joy. You just figure out a way to live without the daily presence of the one you have lost. So although I struggle, I am focusing on moving forward, not moving on.

For me moving forward means embracing the things that Karlie and I loved to do together and sharing them with Sunny – hiking, kayaking, playing fetch, and lounging in the backyard. But I am also learning the things that Sunny loves – chasing leaves and bugs, meeting people and dogs, chewing boxes, snuggling on the bed, and anything that gets her a treat. So moving forward means sharing what Karlie loved while also doing the things that Sunny loves. It’s a way for me to share Karlie with Sunny while developing my relationship with Sunny. And although Sunny is not Karlie, she helps me move forward.

Here are some other blogs that may bring some insight on how to cope after saying goodbye.

Saying GoodBye

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