Fall Colors on the Walking Trail

The forest has its own pace. Few things happen quickly in the woods.

Before daylight the forest is dark, very dark. Daytime comes regularly but slowly - every day - but slowly. The early morning woods are a combination of sights and smells and sounds. The woods are alive, but move very little.

If I sit long enough I might notice the smell of freshwater running in a stream, or growing moss, or rotten wood, or the black earth beneath a layer of leaves.

Bird sound are not rare, but not constant either. And if a person cares to learn the unique sounds of each species, the woods can tell a tale of lots of different kinds of birds.

Yes there are lots of stories in the woods, but they are not spoken quickly.

October is a colorful month. Here in Limestone County in north Alabama, we are fortunate to have the Richard Martin Walking Trail, more commonly called the Rails to Trails walking trail because it was once a railroad track.

The Mill Creek bridge on the walking trail

It was during the early to mid 1800's that railroads came to the Southeastern United States. Around 1835 a railroad was built that connected Decatur, in Morgan County, to Tuscumbia, in Colbert County. At that time they didn't have a locomotive to pull the train. The tracks were laid and heavy cars were pulled by teams of mules carrying freight along the tracks.

Later railroads went from Decatur on south to Birmingham. Around 1853 the Tennessee and Alabama Railroad Company was formed to lay a train line from Columbia, Tennessee to Decatur. That line ran north and south through the middle of Limestone County.

A limestone rock culvert built as part of the railroad in the 1850's

Years later a parallel track was made and eventually the original line was closed. In the 1980's that old railbed was donated to the Limestone County Parks and Recreation Department, The actual track was removed and the railbed became a walking trail.

The 10.3 miles trail is a popular spot for walking, running and biking in the Limestone County area, as it should be. And in the fall it is especially pretty.

On the Rails to Trails Walking Trail in Limestone County

I have posted a gallery of recent photos of this bridge and trail here on Picture Americana.

https://www.places.pictureamericana.com/set/5d438cca-f223-47fc-907a-2ffbfaac081a

And in case you didn't notice, I have several albums and galleries of photos here on Picture Americana. Just click that tab at the top of the page called "Albums".

So I encourage all to get out and enjoy our beautiful outdoors. And if you pay attention you might see signs of American history while you enjoy that hike and enjoy the fall colors. And if you sit and contemplate the forest, you might ask yourself how many people have sat there, or nearby, thinking those same thoughts...

Remember that comments are welcomed here in the box at the bottom of this page. I really like reading those comments. And you can ask questions there as well. I will try hard to give you a good answer.

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