Day #28: The Day They Closed the Forest
For the first like four years we lived in this house, we didn't know it was there.
Half a mile uphill from us is a 40ish square acre of mostly DNR land that is still in natural forest state, something almost unheard of in my part of the world, where growth has been exponential and building constant. The land is a mish mash of privately and government owned, maintained largely by a team of volunteers who come out and clip trails and make signs and do a couple of interpretive events a year. There's a little free library, a couple of cars buried back there, a scary tire swing...it's an awesome space. People take mountain bikes back there and walk and hike...it goes right next to the school so kids run through there before and after school...but we didn't even know it was there. It's just tucked up back in some neighborhoods so it's almost never crowded. We didn't even find it until we had a kid big enough to go exploring with.
In March as things started to close down, we went outside a LOT. We hit state parks and local parks, stayed away from playgrounds and on trails so we could do the social distance thing. It was gorgeous weather in mid March so it was nice to be outside. We watched birds. We spent at least a day or two a week in the forest, especially after school closed, doing science or running off energy. It's a pretty hilly area, making it ideal for tiring out kids.
At first the libraries and recreational facilities were closed but the parks were open and of course people aren't bright and started to congregate in some of the more popular parks and trail heads. Because there wasn't anything else to do. When Max and I went for our little road trip a couple of weeks ago we drove past three state parks that were too crowded before finding one where we could maintain enough space. And then the governor issued a stay at home order and all the state parks closed.
We knew it was coming. It was inevitable. They just couldn't keep people off the beaches or away form those popular ares. And since then things have just been closing down more and more. When we went for our little drive yesterday there was no place to stop, not even a parking space near the water where we could watch the ferry take off from the car.
Through it all, I kept saying, well, at least they can't close the forest. Because it isn't really a park it doesn't have a gate. It isn't closed off. So today we went up there...after being stuck in the car yesterday James just wanted to dig in the dirt. And sure enough there's a big sign, this area closed.
Oh, man, that was a blow. Now, don't get me wrong. It still doesn't have a gate. They didn't have it roped off or anything and there were a few cars parked there. I"m sure there are people back there and I'm sure no one has the personnel to enforce keeping people out there. And I can tell you since we've been there a LOT in the past few weeks there have been more people than usual but more people than usual is not a lot and people have been very good about space. I understand that they have to keep people from congregating but every time we lose one of these areas it's a blow. There's only so many times we can walk the same circle that is our neighborhood, especially without sidewalks and with a toddler who is inclined to bolt.
I didn't think we'd find any place open after that, but we drove to another favorite park not far away, one that has no playground, just a trail and it was miraculously open. Wet, after all the rain we've been having so we went for a delightful puddle jump...for once in James's life I said heck yeah, you jump in all the puddles you want and then we will go home and take a nice hot bath. It will probably be the next park to close, but you know what today was today and today we went stomping through puddles. It was BY FAR the highlight of my day.
We will never take our forest for granted again. There is an ongoing campaign to save it from development...like a friend told me today, hey it's closed for now, not for forever, that's something. And it is. To think we didn't even know it was there. This will end. And when it does I want ALL THE HIKING AND CAMPING AND BEACHES I CAN GET.
Today I'm grateful for puddle jumping, an open park, dogs to wave at, Max taking a long nap, James giggles, being outside, taking a deep breath, a good book, a new month, a friend who understands, and another day in paradise. And health. If I ever forget to say health, man. Today we are grateful for another day of health.
Half a mile uphill from us is a 40ish square acre of mostly DNR land that is still in natural forest state, something almost unheard of in my part of the world, where growth has been exponential and building constant. The land is a mish mash of privately and government owned, maintained largely by a team of volunteers who come out and clip trails and make signs and do a couple of interpretive events a year. There's a little free library, a couple of cars buried back there, a scary tire swing...it's an awesome space. People take mountain bikes back there and walk and hike...it goes right next to the school so kids run through there before and after school...but we didn't even know it was there. It's just tucked up back in some neighborhoods so it's almost never crowded. We didn't even find it until we had a kid big enough to go exploring with.
In March as things started to close down, we went outside a LOT. We hit state parks and local parks, stayed away from playgrounds and on trails so we could do the social distance thing. It was gorgeous weather in mid March so it was nice to be outside. We watched birds. We spent at least a day or two a week in the forest, especially after school closed, doing science or running off energy. It's a pretty hilly area, making it ideal for tiring out kids.
At first the libraries and recreational facilities were closed but the parks were open and of course people aren't bright and started to congregate in some of the more popular parks and trail heads. Because there wasn't anything else to do. When Max and I went for our little road trip a couple of weeks ago we drove past three state parks that were too crowded before finding one where we could maintain enough space. And then the governor issued a stay at home order and all the state parks closed.
We knew it was coming. It was inevitable. They just couldn't keep people off the beaches or away form those popular ares. And since then things have just been closing down more and more. When we went for our little drive yesterday there was no place to stop, not even a parking space near the water where we could watch the ferry take off from the car.
Through it all, I kept saying, well, at least they can't close the forest. Because it isn't really a park it doesn't have a gate. It isn't closed off. So today we went up there...after being stuck in the car yesterday James just wanted to dig in the dirt. And sure enough there's a big sign, this area closed.
Oh, man, that was a blow. Now, don't get me wrong. It still doesn't have a gate. They didn't have it roped off or anything and there were a few cars parked there. I"m sure there are people back there and I'm sure no one has the personnel to enforce keeping people out there. And I can tell you since we've been there a LOT in the past few weeks there have been more people than usual but more people than usual is not a lot and people have been very good about space. I understand that they have to keep people from congregating but every time we lose one of these areas it's a blow. There's only so many times we can walk the same circle that is our neighborhood, especially without sidewalks and with a toddler who is inclined to bolt.
I didn't think we'd find any place open after that, but we drove to another favorite park not far away, one that has no playground, just a trail and it was miraculously open. Wet, after all the rain we've been having so we went for a delightful puddle jump...for once in James's life I said heck yeah, you jump in all the puddles you want and then we will go home and take a nice hot bath. It will probably be the next park to close, but you know what today was today and today we went stomping through puddles. It was BY FAR the highlight of my day.
We will never take our forest for granted again. There is an ongoing campaign to save it from development...like a friend told me today, hey it's closed for now, not for forever, that's something. And it is. To think we didn't even know it was there. This will end. And when it does I want ALL THE HIKING AND CAMPING AND BEACHES I CAN GET.
Today I'm grateful for puddle jumping, an open park, dogs to wave at, Max taking a long nap, James giggles, being outside, taking a deep breath, a good book, a new month, a friend who understands, and another day in paradise. And health. If I ever forget to say health, man. Today we are grateful for another day of health.
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