November 15th and it was 60 degrees F outside today! Hard to believe I was cycling in a long sleeve tee without a jacket. With mild temperatures and loads of sunshine I was in the mood for exploring and blazing new trails.
Today I rode the Milford Trail from the northern reaches of Kensington Metropark to Milford and then into their quaint and historic downtown. The paved path wanders through the upper reaches of Kensington in an area with few roads, picnic areas and shelters. This section of the park is a seperate trail from the one I normally travel that encircles Kent Lake. It's an area less traveled and serves as a wildlife refuge.
Once again this pathway wanders along side the Huron River in its upper reaches near the headwaters which are somewhere in Commerce Township just to the north. The path goes through varied terrain, some gentle rolling hills and a couple of significant climbs. Not surprising because Milford is a hilly town.
The area is pocked with numerous kettle ponds which are a remnant from the glacial age like much of Michigan. Hubble Pond and dam is just another place where the Huron River is backed up with a dam and it makes for a peaceful place for a paddle and there is planned convenience for canoers portaging over the dam.
The downtown has shops, places to stop for snacks or a meal and much in the way of outdoor recreation. Milford sprung up like so many villages along the banks of the river which winds through the village. When I rode the sidewalks through town you could see the river in many backyards and there were public places downtown to enjoy the waterfront. This was also the first time I have seen wayfinding signs along a pathway with mileage indicators, something I have always longed for on other paths.
I suppose since today is opening day of the deer hunting season it was very appropriate to see as many deer as I did today. I saw many more than I photographed since most of them skittered away before I could grab my camera. I came upon a few so quickly they startled me!
Here is a link to my route today at MapMyRide
What a wonderful place to ride. I can't believe all the shots of the deer you captured. Nice!
ReplyDeleteI can't wait to go back in the summer time when the days are longer and spend more time exploring downtown Milford. Deer are plentiful and after missing the first little herd I decided to leave my camera dangling from my handlebars because they come up unexpectedly.
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