Thorpe Creek Fall 2009.AVI

Me and daughter Sydney and Princess Dog explore Thorpe Creek. This creek is a small tributary to the Geist Reservoir, which provides quite a lot of the water used by the city of Indianapolis. Approx. 200 yards of this creek pass through the Northwest corner of a 27 acre patch of woods owned by my mother-in -law and father-in-law in Fall Creek Township of Hamilton County, Indiana.
I am a country boy who spent the first 36 years of his life in the
Lake Okeechobee region of South Florida, and the time that I spend in these woods and near this creek helps to keep me sane.
Some day this property will be sold for development, and that was always the plan, and I am okay with that, but I will sure miss it when it is gone. And I intend to enjoy it as much as possible until then.

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People & Blogs

Tags:

• Thorpe Creek
• freshwater
• nature

[RiverBirch1967]

I don't like the idea that it's going to be gone (access). We love the water and nature, don't we? I like the leaves. So the water is clean enough to wash out your shoes? Can you walk barefoot through it? Does it ever freeze in Florida? Are there ever ducks?

[jamcrane3]

@RiverBirch1967 It's muddy in some spots and clean rock bottom in others. I walk bare foot in it! I've seen waterfowl in Thorpe Creek.

As for Florida freezes, there are several nights every winter that drop into the twenty's and teens. I saw snow on Jan 19, 1978. It snowed all the way down to Miami that morning. About a 1/4". Barely enough to scrape up a few snowballs. My Mama told me stories of Lake Okeechobee crusting over with ice for several hundred yards out, but it never lasted the day.

[RiverBirch1967]

You have a unique way of saying things. I like Thorpe Creek quite well. It looks peaceful and the fact that it changes makes it fascinating. You picked a good hangout spot. Deer and birds! What a joy. I'd take a lunch out there and spend the day. I

[jamcrane3]

@RiverBirch1967 Oh my dear, not just deer and birds, but possum, raccoon,

red fox, coyotes, turkey, pheasant, a rumored wolf and wolverines (I've never seen those two), and some type of very large owl, which I have seen on two occasions, but only for a few very short seconds. He has at least a six foot wingspan, and creates his own holes through the tree canopy when he leaves. He's awesome, and to me, one of the scariest creatures back there. Yes I do love it in those woods.

[RiverBirch1967]

@jamcrane3 I am not so sure I'd want to see that owl.....

[jamcrane3]

I believe it to be a Great Horned Owl, although I've only seen her from the back. The females are larger, officially they are capable of a 60" wing span (5'), but I'm telling you, this is a big bird. As I said, when she leaves the scene, she punches a hole through the foliage, no attempt at finesse, pure bird power, and I suppose that abilities such as that are why they are very long lived animals.They are formidable predators, and very strong and tough and extremely intelligent.

[jamcrane3]

@RiverBirch1967 You would want to see her. Some day when I have access to better photographic equipment, I would love to get some good footage of her. She is magnificent. Heart stopping, but magnificent.

[TheHollerwood]

Wonderful video. We are country folk as well and we highly appreciate the freedom and beauty of country living & I always enjoy good country videos. God bless!

[DawnsEarlyFright]

Progress what can anyone do... Where I once lived it was wooded and nice but not anymore so I moved further out... They can't take the country out of the Girl but the Developers can take the Land from the Girl, "That's for Damn sure!"

Thumbs up Friend... : )

[jamcrane3]

@RiverBirch1967 I am hoping that when the surrounding property (approx 40 acres of farmland) is finally sold that the developers will keep the woods as green space. I am fairly confident that they will, because the wooded portion is filled with deep ravines and would be difficult to build on. I would think that a smart developer could build eco friendly (green) homes with lots of solar and geothermal use and grant the residents access to their own nature preserve. Just an idea. What do I know?