Sunday, September 16, 2012

Camping Trip High Cliff State Park

I spent a relaxing weekend of solitude at High Cliff State Park camping by myself.  You may be surprised one would want to camp alone but it is really an experience that is worthwhile.  High Cliff State Park is right on Lake Winnebago in WI.  It is a beautiful location with many wonderful trails.  The campground is situated on the top of the cliff.  I was at site 39 and just a step beyond my campsite I was on a trail overlooking the lake.  So that meant, I could be tending my fire and take a moment to go check on the sunset without leaving sight of my fire.

I spent some time hiking, walking the beach and along the shores looking for rocks, writing some poetry, observing wildlife, reading, and star gazing.  I purposely left the fly off my tent so that the top was just screen which allowed me to look up at the stars.  While I was down near the beach, two great blue herons flew near where I was sitting on the rocks and I watched them for 45 minutes, closer than I have ever been to a great blue heron!  My campsite was a haven for tree clinging birds.  It was a rare moment when I didn't hear a wood pecker.  I watched a red bellied wood pecker for quite a while.  I also saw a red breasted nuthatch and a hairy woodpecker.  There were a lot of song birds but they never sat still enough and were so high up that I never got a chance to identify them.

Well, here are some pictures.