Attacked by swamp monsters TR

“I could spend almost everyday easy out hiking! Its better then coffee to get the day going right.
I parked at the Cowels Bog Trailhead this morning and walked down the dirt road to the Cowels bog trailhead. It was a foggy morning, but certainly NOT quiet. There were all maner of toads and frogs croaking and a cacophony of birds to attend me on the walk as I wound through the bog.




During my walk through the bog I saw my first wildflower of the year.... I think it is a type of skunk cabbage although it is a diffrent kind then the one i know from CA which has bigger and yellow flowers.


I also saw some interesting fungus, which looks like eyeballs to me though I didnt take a picture. I have seen that fungus before in the area.
It was warm and humid in the bog, and bugs were buzzing around. I actually had to take off my fleece it was so sticky and still but as I hiked up into the dunes, there was a slight breeze that helped to stir the air a little but it wasn't enough to blow away the fog from a spot I can normally see the lake from.

I hiked down the giant sand dune and down all the way to Lake Michigan but the views were still hidden by fog.


So I decided it was time for a sock and shoe free break as I was not in a hurry and had plenty of time to relax.


After a while I got up after nearly being trampled by about a dozzen college guys in running shorts breezing by. (WOOODOG, THAT was a nice view!)
I headed back up the gigantic dune, which is the only one I have to actually stop a moment to catch my breath on my way up, the other dunes are a breeze now. And I headed back along the trail which is a loop.

Along the way back, I ran into lots of people just coming out. A grandfather with 3 small grandkids all wearing backpacks, some more joggers, and a boyscout troop all with packs to condition themselves for some hike on the dunes. And as soon as I was back in the bog, I got mauled by no less then 4 bog monsters. Funny thing is, I'd always imagined them as slimy ugly mucky things, but really, they are white, small and fuzzy and kinda cute (cept when they are mauling you) anyway, I watched them take down this jogger from the boardwalk and drag him off into the reeds.....


Luckily, I survived the attack (though the jogger didnt) and I made it back to the car...

What a good morning :)”

“You hike in jeans? ;-)

It's a nice hike there, isn't it?”

“Ruby, funny thing, when it isnt humid out there Im fine in jeans. But today I was cursing it as they seemed to soak up the air moister like a sponge and clung to my legs the whole hike LMAO.”

“It looks magical only I was hyped up for more of the strange.”

“rocksee, the last photo shows the little swamp mosters as they were about to take down the jogger...

the rest of the photos were too bloody and gory to post here ;) LMAO”

“Am glad to hear no toads were molested.”

“a few, though, were licked.”

“(aHem)”

““(aHem)”
Tilt
3:41:32 PM
3/24/07
ignore this user

well, that may explain the seeing swamp monsters thing....”

“I thought those toads were in South America or something ---”

“
Psychedelic toad licking dog in rehab
Owners tell of amphibian addiction hell

By Chris Williams
Published Monday 30th October 2006 13:28 GMT

The owners of a cocker spaniel have told how their beloved pet became addicted to licking poisonous toads for their mind-bending properties.

Laura Mirsch said her dog Lady returned to their new home from one binge at the local pond "disoriented and withdrawn, soporific and glassy-eyed".

(no doubt introduced to them by that 'Tramp'!)


Psychoactive Toads at Wikipedia”

“Oh man .. where is that toad sucking song posted on here. This is where it belongs”

“Nice pictures, where is this place ,I know,I know somewhere on lake Michigan.”

“you rang?



Them Toad Suckers

How about Them Toad Suckers,
Ain't they clods?
Sittin' there suckin'
Them green toady-frogs.

Suckin' them hop-toads,
Suckin' them chunkers,
Suckin' them leapy types,
Suckin' them plunkers.

Look at Them Toad Suckers,
Ain't they snappy?
Suckin' them bog-frogs
Sure makes'em happy.

Them huggermugger Toad Suckers,
Way down south,
Stickin' them sucky-toads
In they mouth.

How to be a Toad Sucker?
No way to duck it.
Gittchyself a toad,
Rare back and suck it!



Mason Williams
Them Poems
(circa 1964)






I'm still on the lookout for:

Them Sand Pickers
Them Sticker Gitters
Them Banjo Pickers
Them Yodel Yellers
Them Hors D'Oeuvers
Them Whisker Flickers
Them Duck Pluckers
Them Ewe Doers
Them Lunch Toters
Them Stamp Lickers
Them Dog Kickers
Them Hog Liver Likers
Them Moose Goosers
Them Beaver Cleavers
Them Tummy Gummers
Them Surf Serfs
&
Them Doodle Dashers

”

“Great pics. Pictures of trails leading into the woods just draw me in. What's next? What's around the corner? Thanks for the report!”

“FingerLakes, it's a trail in the Indiana Dunes Lakeshore, part of the NPS, located in Porter, Indiana.


Spirit, I have been doing the same thing with the dunes and marking my progress. I noticed that after doing all the dune climbing there I could run so much easier on flat ground without sucking wind. I haven't been here yet during the summer, but Prosecutor said that there are Venus flytraps down by the bogs. My kids can't wait to search them out.”

“me neither ruby. Today we saw our first marsh marigolds starting to come up :)”