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Assorted Bob Paddle Bob

Back in the boat

Not sure why it took this long, but I finally got back on the water. Yesterday was perfect. Breezy. Low humidity. Sunny. I went up to Stroud’s Run and circumnavigated Dow Lake. Despite the fact it was high noon, I saw a good bit of wildlife: an osprey, several blue herons, an otter and a gang of kingfishers noisily working one of the coves. It was a great way to get back in the groove, but I’m definitely feeling it this morning …

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Assorted Bob Fitness Bob

Hike around Dow Lake

Screen Shot 2015-06-11 at 10.48.00 AM

I biked out to the dam at Dow Lake intending to take a quick hike on Hickory Trail. But it was a beautiful day and I felt great walking Hickory, so I decided to walk all the way around the lake, connecting up with Lakeview Trail to complete the loop. All in, I walked almost 8 miles with great lake views most of the way. That and the bike ride gave me my highest step count ever: 30,000 steps.

Next I want to do the same at Burr Oak, but I suspect that will be a larger project. It’s a much bigger lake, which might be an excuse for my first backpacking trip …

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Stroud’s Run Vista …

The view of Dow Lake from Vista Point.
The view of Dow Lake from Vista Point.

The day was crap. Overcast. Cool. More March than June. Perfect day for a hike.

I drove up to Stroud’s Run, where I pulled into the trailhead at White Pine Trail, which is a spur trail connecting to Vista Point Trail. As is the case with most of the trails at Stroud’s, it’s in rough shape … but still quite serviceable. Where White Pine intersects Vista, I tool a left and headed north onto Vista Point Trail, hopping over to the Thunderbunny bike trail at one point and then back to Vista Point, which runs along a ridgeline before dropping down the opposite side into the campground. A quick walk through the campground allowed me to pick up Vista again near the amphitheater, where the Vista trailhead is.

Boulder's along Thunderbunny trail.
Boulders along Thunderbunny trail.

After climbing back up to the ridge on Vista, I came across Vista Point and a great view of Dow Lake down below. Not much wildlife was out during my late-afternoon hike, but I did encounter a few mountain bikers on Thunderbunny and a woman hiking with her lab. Finding Vista Point and checking out the campground make the hike well worth it.

The route I took during my White Pine/Vista/Thunderbunny hike.
The route I took during my White Pine/Vista/Thunderbunny hike.