Journal archives for October 2020

18 October, 2020

The Stephen F. Austin Experimental Forest

Today was the first day of my vacation. It's actually a staycation because 1). I can't afford to book a hotel 2). coronovirus. Today I went back to the SFA Experimental Forest in Nacogdoches, TX. https://srs.fs.usda.gov/4159/experimental-forests/stephen-f-austin/

I found it a couple of weeks ago while exploring Nacogdoches. After my first visit, I uploaded my observations and was surprised to see that the forest only had one observation before I uploaded mine. That's weird, because Nacogdoches has a lot of observations.

I found some plants that I haven't seen before, such as Strawberry Bush and Single-stem Bog Aster. I'd like to explore some more in the spring, when there will different plants and butterflies around.

I'm not sure where I will go next. I think I'll ride around on the Northeast Texas Trail some more.

Posted on 18 October, 2020 03:46 by cosmiccat cosmiccat | 3 observations | 0 comments | Leave a comment

20 October, 2020

The Northeast Texas Trail: Farmersville

The Northeast Texas Trail is a 130 mile long trail that is under construction. https://netexastrail.org/ It stretches from Farmersville, near Dallas, to the New Boston, in the northeastern corner of Texas. It was once an abandoned rail line that is being turned into a trail. The trail committee wants the state to turn it into one long state park when it is finished.

I've traveled along the New Boston section, which only has a couple of miles finished. On Sunday, I went to the opposite end, Farmersville. Since it is going to eventually be a state park, I think it would be useful to document what is already there. I know I can't document the whole 130 miles, but I'd to eventually visit each stop along the trail. Many of the stops are in tiny towns with very few observations.

I spent all afternoon in Farmersville and made a little under 100 observations, mainly the most common species like poison ivy and the American crow. It's what I do the first time I make a sweep of a place. I wish I could have afforded to book a hotel for the night, because there are other nature things to do in the area like visit Lavon Lake.

Later this week, I plan on going to the DeKalb section, which is much closer to Longview.

Posted on 20 October, 2020 23:36 by cosmiccat cosmiccat | 2 observations | 4 comments | Leave a comment

25 October, 2020

The Northeast Texas Trail: De Kalb

Yesterday I visited another stop on the Northeast Texas Trail---De Kalb. https://netexastrail.org/trail-maps/avery-to-dekalb-tc/

I parked at the De Kalb City Park, which is beside the trail, and waited for the drizzling rain to let up. It was a nice little park with a pond in the back, which means next time I'll have to bring my fishing pole and dip net to see what's in that pond. It'll be nice to come back in the spring and see what kind of dragonflies I can find, too.

I then walked on the trail, heading west toward Avery. The trail was nice and smooth, good for taking my mountain bike next time. I was alone except for a pair of cowboys riding their horses. The trail starts out as a mowed grassy lawn, and after passing the lumber yard, turns into a thicket of evil privet and Persian silk tree, and then finally into a native forest.

The next stop is Avery, a tiny town of about 450 people. There is no trail yet going west to the next stop, Annona, so I will walk east back toward De Kalb. Avery has a little park with a lake, which I will have to check out.

Posted on 25 October, 2020 15:59 by cosmiccat cosmiccat | 3 observations | 0 comments | Leave a comment