small town adventure

 

I'm sure many Chanute residents know about the Katy trail, but it holds some surprises for being a trail that sits on the edge of town.  For the 2nd year there is evidence that bobcats are close by.  Last year a friend and I  tracked prints even to the actual park area.  Parents make sure to supervise your kids if you are near Katy Park or the trail at dusk when the cats could be out lurking.

Though the  trail is paved there is dense trees and vegetation on both sides.  Make sure to stay on the pavement unless you are wearing jeans and  regular shoots.  There is poison ivy and oak in some of the areas off to the side as well as snakes.  On a posotive note you can be sure to see some song birds, squirrels, and if you are lucky a few rabbits along the way.

This picture was atually from awhile ago but worthy of posting today.  For a long time there has been what appears to be a hobo camp along the train track.  If you are brave enough to venture closer you will see it is a staged set up but nobody seems to know by who or what.  For the last two yrs this seemed not to be bothered by wind, rain, or snow.  Within the last few months as the storms were severe and with lots of rain the camp is now just a pile of the things that made it (unless it's been changed since we walked).

As you walk this short trail you will find a small pond.  I have seen people fish it a few times so perhaps it has something.  Although nothing was there today sometimes this pond has geese and small woodland ducks swimming on  it.  

As we walked past the pond a ways we saw this lil beauty fluttering in the grass.  I think perhaps his wings were wet as there was dew on the ground and he needed to dry.  This is a luna moth and I hear pecan trees are one of their favorite places to be.

If you go off the trail on to Santa Fe and back towards main street you will walk up over the bridge on a little walk way.  If you  don't get too dizzy and aren't scared of heights you can  look over the edge of the fence to see the railroad track below.  Sometimes there are random items you see as well as though someone camps there at times.