October, 2021
The “lake” next to the Ike Kinswa campground is called Mayfield Lake. This lake wasn’t originally a lake. Before the dam was built, there was just a good sized river here (the Cowlitz River), with many creeks feeding into the river. Now, after construction of the dam, the water that’s held behind/above the Mayfield Dam has become a sizable and lovely lake … Mayfield Lake. It’s a very pretty lake where one can go kayaking, or fishing, or swimming (in hot summer months). You can see lots of birds here. You can sit and enjoy the scenery. The over-all flow of the water here is still the Cowlitz River, a tributary of the great Columbia River.
I walked and drove around several access roads to the lake numerous times during my camping trip here. Here are some of my first photos of this pretty autumn lake. I will likely post a few more photos from other viewpoints over the next few days. 🙂
The roadway/bridge above is the route to the Ike Kinswa State Park. No freeways nearby … no towns nearby … nothing but woods and water and wildlife.
After crossing the bridge, and across the road from the entrance to the campground, there is another road that leads into a state park day-use area, also right on the lake. Nobody here but me this day.
There is a large picnic area here (below), right on the edge of the lake. Since the lake edge is full of large, sharp, rocks and boulders, they don’t want people clambering down there. But, hmmm, I don’t know, if I were a kid, I might clamber down there anyway and then I might get my foot caught in those logs. Maybe even if I were an adult, that might happen. The log structure along the shoreline seemed odd to me. Does it to you?
But the beauty outweighed any thoughts of danger, that’s for sure. Autumn is a wonderful time of year to travel, and to rest quietly in the real world.
On down the road just a mile or so, I passed the three folks below.
The two on the right made it obvious they had no use for me. One turned its head off to the side, and the other just kept munching away on that nice green grass.
But the one on the left walked right up to the barbed wire fence … and it even bumped the wire fence with its nose.
What a beauty. 🙂 You never know when you’re going to find a friend.
Oh, yes! This is why we love living here. Look at those fall trees and the water and the sky. And this is why we follow your blog Ann … how many people in the USA understand that the Canadian Province of British Columbia is not in the northwest of our country … it’s in the SOUTHwestern corner of our country. You are terrific. Great black cow face. 🙂
Janey
Yes, I think I’ve mentioned the Canadian SOUTHwest before … might again here soon in another blog post. The USA is not the center of the universe. 🙂
Wow. Such a pretty place! I loved image #3 but then again I also loved image #10 and all the rest. And what a PRETTY campsite!! Worth the drive, for sure! Looking forward to seeing more.
It’s hard to pick favorites sometimes, isn’t it Dawn? 🙂 I think Mossyrock and the Ike Kinswa State Park has become a favorite of mine. I loved it here.
All of the photos are lovely, but especially the last tree. So peaceful.
Isn’t that tree so pretty and so handsome. Indeed, so peaceful.
I love those trees! I like photos 3, 5, and 9. And the friendly cow. 🙂
Great choices. And the friendly cow. 🙂
So pretty! We’ve always heard that the northeastern states have the gorgeous fall colors. Washington State is gorgeous too. Love the cow. 🙂
Friends of mine are from the nor’east and I’ve often thought of traveling back there when they go and so see the fall colors, but I’ve never done that. And yet, the colors here in the west are stunning. I’m happy right here.
How beautiful. I want to live here. It’s so delicious. I keep going back and opening the photos and sitting with each of them. So wonderful.
But yes those wood rails at the edge of the lake seem dangerous.
And that black face cow, she’s just special. 🙂
This place was special, Ruby. Autumn is a wonderful time of year, but this place (and my friend the cow) was special.
Exquisite. My life is so mostly taken up with details and structure. Your blog takes me out of that. Thank you.
Hi Jamie. If I remember correctly, you’re an MCSE/IT person like I was. Yep, details and structure for sure. I enjoyed that and I hope you do too. But I’ll do my best here to get you out of that from time to time. 🙂
I bet there’s salmon in that lake. And in the rivers. That’s gorgeous country.
Salmon indeed! Lots of them! Next blog post …. fish!