Saturday, November 7, 2009

Corduroy Road



Last weekend when we were up on Sockeye Lake Road/Trail ..we came across this stretch of road.   Can you tell what is special about it?


It is part of an exposed old corduroy road,  years ago logs were placed across low swampy areas and covered with sand  to form a road.   It worked to make a passable road.  Neither Far Guy or I have seen an exposed corduroy road in a number of years.  The most famous of roads in our area is the "old corduroy road" ..but it was rebuilt by the DNR some time ago, and only exists in our minds.   It used to lead to a great hunting area, and crossing that section of old logs was always a bit of an adventure especially in wet years.

Today Deer Hunting Season begins in Minnesota.  I used to hunt, so did Far Guy, our girls attended firearms safety classes and accompanied their Father hunting several years.  I found that I am not a good hunter, I hate to kill anything, and I used to cry for the poor deer that Far Guy brought home to butcher.  We discovered that what we both liked about hunting was just getting out into the woods..and we can do that anytime since we moved into the woods.  I still like to hunt with my camera!  :)


 A Doe with her twin fawns November 06, 2009 ..last night just at dark at the end of our driveway.



15 comments:

Nezzy (Cow Patty Surprise) said...

What a neat story about the road. I had no idea this existed. Thanks for sharing!!

Have a great day, Enjoy!!!

Anonymous said...

You share the most fascinating posts Connie. I never knew about the corduroy roads. That's a peaceful scene at the end of your drive. We all like it when you "hunt" with your camera; we get to enjoy your labor!

DJan said...

I ran across a blogger who calls himself a "Nikon sniper" -- so I guess you're not alone in hunting with a camera. We have a doe around here with twin fawns that were born in the spring. We can see one is a buck with tiny little antlers. It doesn't take long in the animal kingdom for them to grow up, does it?

Nancy said...

Like Nezzy and Mildred, I've never heard of a corduroy road. It does make a lot of sense.

Rae said...

I have never heard about corduroy roads. That is a fascinating story. It might have made the road passable, but can you imagine how bumpy it must have been. I am glad you only shoot with a camera. I know it necessary to control overpopulation of deer, but it breaks my heart to think of killing such a magnificent creatures.

Anonymous said...

Interesting stuff! It amazes me what was done in the past to make life "easier".

hayseed said...

I would be a failure as a hunter-but huting for photos of wildlife-right up my alley (heard of corduroy roads before but never saw one-thank you!)

L. D. said...

I have never heard of such a road. What a deal. The swamps were a major peril to settle Minnesota, but that I guess would work. Stay inside for your own good.

Emma Rose said...

I have never heard of a corduroy road either. People were so creative! Lovely Doe and babes. I could never kill anything either. Whenever my husband goes hunting I pray he misses :) And he always has! LOL!

Roxane B. Salonen said...

You've taught many of us something new today, Far Side. Cool! And the deer are lovely -- better to watch them than kill them. My mom cried when she saw Bambi as a girl, and after that, my grandfather quit hunting deer. He did continue to hunt birds, though. :) Their brown eyes are not as convincing, I guess.

Pamela said...

A new type of road for me. Never heard it called that.

My husband was a hunter -- but hasn't hunted in years. I'm trying to convince him to join me bird watching --- another great hunting form.

laurie said...

i remember first encountering the term "corduroy road" years and years ago, when i read "a girl of the limberlost." i had no idea what it meant and had to look it up.

but i didn't know there were such roads up here.

RURAL said...

The one and only time my Dad took us duck hunting was the last for him. He was rather disgusted that we cried every time he shot a duck.

Toooooooo bad.

Jen

LadyFi said...

I couldn't bear to go hunting!

I do love being out in the woods, though! Bliss...

The Retired One said...

I have to agree with you...my hubby also hunted deer for years. We found out the only thing we kind of liked were the chops and deer sausage.
Then, I started feeling more and more sorry for the deer. They are sooooo beautiful. I cried the last time he got one and he felt bad too, so he stopped hunting them.
Now we are both thrilled to see them in the woods and I use my camera too as the only weapon.
Minnesota is a week ahead of Michigan. The deer season here starts Nov. 15th. It is like a religion here. They even give kids who took a deer hunter safety course three days off school to hunt!!