Sunday, January 5, 2020

Camp T


Mrs ERJ and I took a day-trip yesterday. Back in the 1970s Boy Scouts from the mid-Michigan area helped cut trails in the soon-to-open camp for the Michigan School for the Blind. I wanted to see what the place looked like.

This is a stand of Red Pine that looks like it was planted in the mid '70s. Pine trees are very accommodating in that they produce a ring of branches every year. It is easy to guess the age of a pine tree by counting the number of rings. There is a nice stand of young White Pine growing beneath the Red Pine.

A Pileated Woodpecker probably made those holes.

Signage at the center of camp.

The topography is rolling, the soil is sandy and the trees are big.

The name is derived from Touch, Smell, Hear and Taste.

We stopped for gas on the way back to Eaton Rapids. I got a chuckle out of this jug of Air Brake fluid.
Our trip got off to a rocky start. The gate was posted with signage suggesting walkers were not welcome without an appointment.

We took a chance. I parked the van at the gate and left my name and phone number on the dash. We walked to the center of the camp and back.

There was evidence in the snow that others visited, at least one of whom walked his dog.

It would have been grand if we could have walked all six miles of trails, but it was not to be.

7 comments:

  1. Half my life ago a six mile hike was of no real effort. I would be hard pressed to out run an approaching glacier today.

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  2. You do know that 18 wheelers have alcohol injectors for the air system that keep them dry and prevent freezing?????

    That is what is in that jug. A necessary item for a rig running in cold weather.

    ReplyDelete
  3. That is an interesting camp, and an outstanding idea! Good on those folks.

    ReplyDelete
  4. Signs in a camp for the blind?

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Sure. They need to know the speed limit, just like everybody else.

      Delete
    2. Why not? The banks have had Braille drive-up ATM's for decades.

      Delete

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