forging creeks, covered bridges, searching for sign posts

It's Monday and Bonnie's still off for her hand, so we walked together. Since we have eight of the ten Passport walks done, we decided to find the one at the Game Preserve. Toughest one ever.

Since it was the covered bridge  trail, we turned off 309 at the sign for the covered bridge tour. We quickly arrived at a bridge. The wrong bridge!  It was Rex's bridge and we could drive across. So cool.

We continued on the road because Bonnie saw another covered bridge tour sign. Low and behold in a few minutes we saw the Trexler Nature Preserve signs (Game Preserve is politically incorrect.).  In a minute or two we arrived at the correct bridge —Geiger's bridge. We could drive over that one too. Be still my heart.

Parking was easy. And the trail head was easy to find. Everything is very well marked there. We started on the trail, on the opposite side of the bridge from the parking area.  I was told that the Passport marker was on an established sign. That turned out to be incorrect information.

The trail isn't that long. Maybe a mile and a half.

We entered the trail and walked until we reached the pedestrian bridge.  It's right past where you walk/drive over the forge. We searched all over for the sign. Lots marking tree. None making the Passport. It was nowhere. We even asked the guy cleaning up. He had no idea. But he was relocating some toads and they were cute. Didn't want them hit by his weed wacker. I should have gotten out my camera.

We went back over the bridge and checked again. This time I pulled off my Birks and walked over the forge. Current was fast. Water was high at parts. But it was so fun. Bonnie walked around. Her mother and husband would have killed her if she went in the water.

After completing the trail we still couldn't find the marker. We drove, then hiked, up to the Nature Center. They had a roof top vista, as well as a green roof and solar panels. On a clear day like today you could see forever. Not a soul, however, could be found to ask about the Passport marker. Having no choice, we returned to the bridge, and re-did the trail, walking slowly and carefully looking for the marker.

Finally we found it.

Coming from the opposite direction, the pedestrian bridge, it would have been obvious. But not coming from the bridge. For those looking, it where the double yellow trail breaks off of the covered bridge trail.

We decided to follow the covered bridge tour signs to go back the way we came in. Only we didn't. We didn't know there was a third bridge. Schlicher's bridge in bad shape. Tree's are down, siding is coming off. I think she's going to need more than a little TLC to be restored to her former glory.

Today I reached 750 miles on my FIt Bit Tracker. The email said I have walked the length of California. That's kind of cool.