WALKIN', WRITIN', WIT & WHIMSY

I will savor the spectacular Autumn we had here in Southeast Michigan for a very long time. When the Winter winds are howling, or I’m stepping gingerly on icy pavement, or slogging through the snow, or whacking down dagger-like icicles, I will remind myself just how lucky I was to enjoy those bonus days of “Fake Fall” when warm, even Summer-like weather descended upon us and lingered through November 11th, then Mother Nature abruptly gave us a dose of reality. The old gal likes to show who’s boss sometimes.

I learned a new word recently: “Walktober” and I’m mystified how this walker/blogger missed such a great concept eleven years into her walking regimen and nearing the tenth anniversary of her blog about walking. Hmm. If you, like me, have never encountered the lingo “Walktober” I did a little research and learned it is simply taking advantage of Autumn’s cool temperatures and spectacular views, while stepping out and stepping up to better health while boosting energy, improving mood and making walking a priority, not only in October, but for life.

I have tons of photos taken in the month of October at a variety of venues, all when the leaves were at peak and I began to ponder just how many posts you might want to see about leaves before you are thinking “oh, leaves again.” So, I decided to intersperse Fall’s fabulous foliage walks, with some very long treks taken way back in the Summer months. I’ll have to sort through all those pictures first.

So, that said, I’m going to do two more posts on picturesque Heritage Park. You’ll recall from last Monday’s post, I visited Heritage Park on Sunday, October 16th, a picture-perfect Autumn day. I wanted to ensure I got some photos of the stunning red and gold leaves at peak color.

On that perfectly calm day, I was able to get those stunning reflections of the trees on Coan Lake. Some reminded me of a Monet painting.

That morning, I had already stopped at Council Point Park and walked a few laps, plus scurrying to and fro while crisscrossing that Park, as it was my Halloween shoot sharing ghost cookies with my furry friends. I knew I’d easily walk another three miles at Heritage Park as I usually head to the historical area near Coan Lake, then walk through or past the Community Gardens, then over to the Botanical Gardens and back to the car.

I knew there had been an event the day before called the “Vintage Market and Scarecrow Stroll” as advertised on the Botanical Gardens’ Facebook page …

… and, though the Vintage Market’s vendors and their wares, dancing witches and Headless Horseman were long gone, past experience told me I was sure to catch some festive Halloween and harvest vibes the following day. Sure enough I had guessed correctly. It looks like the squirrels had a chompin’ good time on that pumpkin!

Vibrant foliage was intensified by the bright blue sky.

Even the berries were colorful.

This post will focus on the shades of Autumn at Heritage Park and next week’s post will kick off Thanksgiving week by featuring the whimsical scarecrows and gourds aplenty that graced the Botanical Gardens.

The fabulous foliage on the park’s many trees was pure eye candy.

The Canada Geese were likewise out for a Sunday stroll.

Not only were there joggers and dog walkers faithfully getting their steps in on the walking path that encircles the entire park, many people were simply strolling around the historical area as well. You sure couldn’t go wrong taking a selfie with a backdrop of beautiful leaves and I saw many people doing this, plus a few professional photographers capturing family portraits.

The Canada Geese were likewise strolling, er … waddling around on this sunny Sunday. Because there are so many geese at this park, I am accustomed to doing a “goose poop check” every so often to ensure I am not saturating my white walking shoes and on this visit, I was mindful of the Headless Horseman’s steed and its potential droppings as it meandered through the crowd the day before. Mercifully my shoes were unscathed – whew!

These geese were impersonating the Beatles crossing Abbey Road.

In all my Autumn walks, I found it amazing to see the low water levels at all parks I visited. It was no different here as you see the debris near the seawall. We have a ten-inch rainfall deficit this year.

Since geese are always milling about, the City takes care of them with this helpful signage.

The geese mostly hang out on the grounds or near/in Coan Lake.

Does the below spot look familiar? It is where Mama Goose incubated her eggs (where the leaves have gathered in the foreground). I wonder how many months until I will go on “gosling watch” again?

The geese were usually happy to oblige when I took photos of them (but, there is always that one goose who gets an attitude).

It was warm enough to just sit a spell as this woman, whose clothing matched the refurbished boxcar, was doing.

I finally left Heritage Park to drive home, car window down, sunlight streaming in and wondering if another venue might be on the day’s agenda, or if I should just head home?