Proving Grounds

Today I wanted to stick closer to home so I drove a short distance to Proving Grounds Recreation Area which is across the street from the John Deere factory. This park was way better than I expected. I was a little confused by the two signs. One said hunting season open and the other sign said no guns allowed. To be safe I wore the safety green vest a sibling bought for me. I walked 5 miles this afternoon and it was beautiful! After all the rain we got yesterday some spots were muddy so I walked on the gravel or the grass.

There were paths that said expert level only. I didn't take those. I walked around this cliff and up the hill. I saw some puffball mushrooms and I was going to collect them for eating but then I thought a dog may have peed on them so I left them there. I walked up to the goat prairie at the top. And I walked around the goat prairie. I read a sign that the tall grasses won't get as tall on a goat prairie because of the rock under the prairie.

This is where the John Deere factory tested their equipment. Each path is named for a different John Deere product. I saw blue jays and Northern Cardinals, red bellied woodpeckers, crows, black capped chickadees and American robins.