After changing our minds about riding at Cuyahoga N.P. Boneless and Hop-a-long had been getting itchy and threatening to jump off the rack if we didn't take them out. Admittedly, we were getting pretty itchy ourselves and were missing some time in the saddle.
So, when we discovered the North Central State Trail not far from our route it seemed like a good idea for everyone.
Our first jaunt on this trail was out of the town of Gaylord, Michigan.
It was a pleasant ride on a very quiet trail.
Interesting new plant... Silene vulgaris - Bladder Campion
There were some wonderfully wide open spaces where we saw some familiar things.
The beautiful Cedar Waxwing - Bombycilla cedrorum
A Viceroy Butterfly - Limenitis archippus
who has been around and is a tad weathered at this point.
121 miles to Bay City - we're not going that far!
Nicole was focused on riding and filming this trestle overhead and completely missed
this little booger which, after she had passed him with a near miss, Darlene pointed out.
We spotted a new butterfly! This one is called the Common Wood Nymph - Cercyonis pegala. Very pretty.
Along the way, we spotted a few other things...
A mama deer and her two little babes were frolicking in the field.
This lawn mower was attached by a long chain to a stake and would eat in a circle pattern and then be moved to another location in a large field. There were obvious circles all over the place.
A little while later Nicole was riding along and looking at everything but the path when she suddenly ran off the edge. She happened to glance at the ground as she went to put her foot down and saw
THIS!
What a pretty creature. Needless to say, she was fortunate that she thought quick enough to not put her foot down.
The shape of that head usually indicates an interest in striking out.
Later as we rode along, there was a bird circling in the fields. Then suddenly it came within twenty feet and landed on a post.
He stared at Nicole and Nicole stared at him and thought to herself that he sure did look like a sandpiper but it couldn't be as we were in a prairie.
Indeed though he was a sandpiper. He was an Upland Sandpiper - Bartramia longicauda - and that makes him not only beautiful but also a LIFER!
As we continued our return trip we saw a Red-spotted Purple Butterfly,
some Sandhill Cranes
in an open field,
an Orange Sulphur Butterfly,
more wide open
and a vacationing goose from Canada.
It was a nice little ride.
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Our second day on the North Central State Trail we started off from the town of Topinabee, Michigan and took a short ride.
We were by the water the whole time; next to Mullett Lake.
The views of the lake were interspersed with some wooded sections.
We saw lots of birds like this female Rose-breasted Grosbeak.
Got a nice shot of the underwing of Nymphalis antiopa, the Mourning Cloak Butterfly
and a fairly decent top shot, as well.
Pleasant riding conditions...
This is a song sparrow telling Darlene, "catch me if you can".
This is Darlene telling the sparrow, "stop moving so much I am old and slow".
A nice shot by Darlene despite an uncooperative sparrow.
We spotted a Scopula Immutata, Lesser Cream Wave Moth - a new one for us.
Also, saw some Yellow Foxglove (Digitalis grandiflora).
Lakeside
views...
Our first shot of a male Purple Finch
That concludes our time on the North Central State Trail in Michigan. Two very nice rides and it was great to be back on the bikes!
See you soon...