Wow!  Christmas has come and gone.  The New Year is on the horizon.  This year has flown by - surprisingly.

Since we are a family of two we decided to pick up a friend, who is a family of one,  and take off for a day of peaceful exploration. 

The temperature was about 30 degrees and it was kind of gray and cloudy outside early in the day.  But the weather forecaster had promised sunshine later.  And we were going to hold him to it! 

We planned to make it out to the Oak Opening Metropark, but never quite got there.  As we headed down the Anthony Wayne Trail I decided that a quick stop at Sidecut Metropark would be in order. 

Sidecut is a beautiful place that spans both sides of River Road in Maumee, OH.  On one side you can walk the banks of the Maumee River - recently swollen to overflow its' banks. What was normally a gravel trail had become mud and ice.  It was 'unusual' trying to navigate the riverside trail without sinking in the mud or slipping on the patches of ice.  But we did it!  

As I was walking along it felt as though my feet weighed 100 pounds each with all the mud on them!  Now I know what Bigfoot feels like!

When we got tired of slogging in the mud we decided to cut through the wooded section by the river.  Imagine my delight when I caught sight of six deer laying in a thicket.  They were absolutely stunning! 

Naturally they stirred when we started to get close, but they didn't seem to truly be afraid.  More curious.  I was talking to them (and I know I'm not Dr. Dolittle!) softly and they didn't seem to mind.  They stopped and actually acted very relaxed.  I was still about 30 feet or more from them, so the photos did not turn out the best, but I hope you can see just how beautiful they were.  It was some of God's work at its best. 

This young doe was accompanied by a young man.  As beautiful as she is, it is no wonder that she had a beau!

His antlers were just forming and he was certainly the leader.  They were just beautiful!  

As we got back to the parking area we decided that we would go across River Road and see what was happening on the other side.  So we crossed over to the canal side - that would be the Miami-Erie Canal.   

There is a whole lot of history here.  It's unbelievable.  This may help explain the locks and the historical impact of the area.  But since it's always difficult to read something like this on a blog, I invite you to check out the whole story at the Toledo Metroparks website.  Essentially, the locks were completed in 1842 in order to allow a water connection from the canal down to the Maumee river.  The passage was 2 miles long and had six limestone locks.

As it turned out, the Maumee river was too shallow in the summer to accommodate some of the heavier craft, so in 1850 the SideCut locks were abandoned.

Here are a few photos of the locks and the area around them.

As we traveled up the stone walkways toward the nature center we encountered some more interesting features of the park.  

The stone stairs cut into the side of a hill.....

This vantage point that stands alone - majestic in appearance, but mysterious, too.

We were visited by one of winter's color markers.  A stunning cardinal that seemed curious as to why we were impressed with him.  But, seriously, take a look at him.  He is beautiful!  And quite bold, too!

All in all...................a beautiful Christmas at Sidecut.  Here's hoping that your New Year will be healthy, happy and prosperous.

****Stay tuned for Part 2.  A trip down the Miami & Erie Canal towpath and a visit to the Ludwig Mill in Grand Rapids, OH. 

UPDATE!!   THIS IS A MAP OF THE PARK AND THE TRAIL THAT WE WALKED.  THE DOTTED AREAS ARE WHERE WE GOT AWAY FROM THE MUDDY RIVERBANK AND RAN INTO THE DEER.