Middlefork Savanna Picnic

Yesterday the kids and I went out for a picnic and a hike. We decided to try someplace new and the Middlefork Savanna seemed as good a choice as any. We'd been here once before to visit the Wildlife Discovery Center (see March 22, 2007 post.) The reptile house is closed on Sundays so we didn't get a chance to revisit Shelly and the others but Curly and Navajo were still outside to greet us. After spending a few minutes with the rescued birds we headed up the trail to find a place for our picnic.

As you can see, this isn't a huge preserve but 4.5 miles of trails over 175 acres of property gives access to an array of habitat and wildlife.

Jake spent much of the day expressing his independence by walking down the trail solo. Laura carried her ground pad and I brought in the food for the picnic, the camera, and the coats.

Here you can see the "official" start of the trail just beyond the split rail fence. The grassland/wetland is the first environment you encounter. I don't know if that's how it always is or if the wetlands have just developed here due to the recent rains and snow melt.

Focused? Yeah. Determined? You bet.

We found a bench and set up our picnic. Laura sat on the ground with her 1/4 length ground pad, Jake sat next to the food, and I ended up standing behind the bench or sitting on the back of the bench. The kids were very friendly to the joggers, dog walkers, hikers, and bird watchers that passed by our picnic.

It was an absolutely beautiful day for a picnic. It's hard to believe that we're just getting rid of the remains of an April snowstorm and 20 degree temperatures.

Jake launched several solo expeditions from our "basecamp" and each one would take him a little further up the trail than the previous one. Here, he's returning from a trip to a nearby bridge.

Gratuitous Bark River Mini Canadian pic. We had Landjager sausages, baguette, Montgomery Cheddar Cheese, some cookies, and the kids both had orange cream soda to wash it all down.

What a great day to get our daily dose of "Medicine In the Sky."

Thanks for reading,


B