This field trip was inspired by my dh's grandmother. She told me that she spends her Sundays on gravel roads. No pavement allowed. Sometimes she's gone all day sometimes it leads her back home in 30 minutes.

I decided to give it a whirl today.
We were out three hours and found:
*Farmers racing to get their crops in.
*Got chased by a combine...man those things move like the wind on a gravel road.
*an abandoned creamery
*Mississippi backwaters
*A state park
*A grain co-op with a line of trucks that overflowed onto the road.
*Several abandoned cemetaries. Some haven't had a burial in over 100 years.
*free range chickens eating the gravel road.

That's about it. We packed a lunch and ate while we drove.

It was fun and only set me back 10.00 in gas.

Katie

That sounds like such a peaceful adventure!
:thumbsup:
Jenn

How cool!!! I don't know how many gravel roads there are around here. We might be able to find some dirt roads if we try hard enough.

Sounds like a nice day!

Wow - that sounds like fun! You had a wonderful day to do that too - the weather was beautiful (wish Mr. Sun had peeked his head out, though.)
How far do you think I'd have to go from the Cities to find gravel roads? :D

Originally posted by copmom
Wow - that sounds like fun! You had a wonderful day to do that too - the weather was beautiful (wish Mr. Sun had peeked his head out, though.)
How far do you think I'd have to go from the Cities to find gravel roads? :D

Not very far if you head for the boarder. Wisconsin has great dirt roads. LOL. The Tundra swans are migrating now too! :thumbsup:

It WAS a gorgeous day, wasn't it? No jackets, sweatshirts tied around our waists. Even Miss Gus hiked the state park. She didn't want any part of that sling. Her little leather patties are a mess. I'm glad I didn't have her in her good Joshoes. LOL.

I'll update my siggie later. Great photos yesterday.

Katie

Katie...I keep thinking about your post. Yesterday our "Young Explorer" day (nature outings with our HS group) ended early since my stay until dark buddy Jenn (marchroses) wasn't there, so I took an alternate route home and turned down a road into a canyon and found a wildlife sanctuary at the end of the county road. We plan to visit it soon! I also took out my Afoot and Afield in Orange County book and looked up some easy local hikes, and scheduled a family hike with some friends to some waterfalls on a Sunday in a couple of weeks. I guess it made me realize that in our mainly developed and suburban county, there are actually quite a few remote pockets to be explored, not necessarily gravel roads, but out of the way and mostly untouched by 95% of the population. It's perfect hiking and exploring weather and I'm itching to get out there!

Thanks again for the great idea!

That sounds like such fun. I am always amazed at how far the littles can hike a trail. I know I've been guilty of poo-pooing a field trip because it may be "too much" for the littles. Believe it or not, the youngest are always leading the way up a trail and bummed when it's time to go.

Of course, they can nap on the way home, but still. My 1 year old Augusta can manage a flat hiking trail now. I carry a sling, just in case, but haven't used it yet. She's become quite a stick collector.

I'd love to see a photo essay of that canyon and sanctuary, it sounds just dreamy. Take a camera. We don't have canyons in these parts. :p

Here's a pic from one of our last outings. I call it Gargoyles. LOL.

Very cool picture katie...I like your gargoyles :)

Katie...I was thinking after you posted that you wanted to see pictures of the canyons and the sanctuary that we should start a nature outings thread here in the alternative learning forum. We could post pictures of our nature excursions and we'll all get a chance to see what's out there in the different parts of the country. I'm a total shutterbug and we're outside all the time so I could keep the thread going alone...but I'd love it if we could all post pictures of the places we're visiting!

Any interest?

I think that's a great idea!

I'll have to put my oldest in charge of the camera from now on. The gargoyle shot was a fluke, I always forget the camera. My only goal is to make sure that there are 4 kids in the truck, everything else is just bonus. :p

Kate

Originally posted by Brandy
Katie...I was thinking after you posted that you wanted to see pictures of the canyons and the sanctuary that we should start a nature outings thread here in the alternative learning forum. We could post pictures of our nature excursions and we'll all get a chance to see what's out there in the different parts of the country. I'm a total shutterbug and we're outside all the time so I could keep the thread going alone...but I'd love it if we could all post pictures of the places we're visiting!

Any interest?

I'd love too!! We are hike-a-holics here!! ROFL

Great...I'll start the thread tomorrow after our trip to explore the tidepools :)