IA IA - Elizabeth Collins, 8, & Lyric Cook, 10, Evansdale, 13 July 2012 - #30

[BunnyHop]

Here's my attempt at photo editing. :floorlaugh:

I enlarged it. To me, it is an animal. Deer seems most obvious, I could be wrong. It is actually behind the tree. Notice right beside it that a tree has been cut.

 

[BunnyHop]

This gate? http://s296.photobucket.com/user/cr...-IA-/0112137bridges-gate.jpg.html?sort=6&o=48

The gates may be open in warmer months and during park hours?

 

[threecrazykids]

This gate? http://s296.photobucket.com/user/cr...-IA-/0112137bridges-gate.jpg.html?sort=6&o=48

Yes, when I was there, this is the gate you encounter when you come to the entrace to the park.

I may or may not have walked through the walk through poles that are to the left of the gate. They are metal poles that still allow you a walkthrough, even though the gate is closed.

From what I was told, the gates mean you can't DRIVE in there...but more than likely I broke the law by going into the park when the gate was closed.

I'm such a rebel. :facepalm:

 

[carbuff]

I'm sorry this is kind of ragged -- photo editing is not my forte.



1) a big knot or blight on the tree trunk. Is this the thing you guys are calling a dino mask?
2) The tree root probably used to grow over a rock that fell away, leaving this open space.
3) The main red outline is the tree. Yes, the tree and root do look a lot like an animal.
4) This snag that looks like a tail is clearly behind the front tree.
5) There's some grass or weeds or something in front of the trunk.
6) Large stump of cut tree.

 

[foxbluff]

Here -

Wow... up close it looks even more like what I had imagined from smaller image which is a wolf with a lion's mane.

Are we allowed to sleuth him I wonder.

 

[foxbluff]

I haven't heard if it is a new gate or an old gate, but if it is an old gate, many campgrounds around here have gates so they can collect for camping so possibly it was used for that reason when the park was more active? Some campgrounds close the gate at night and open it in the morning, maybe to provide safety to campers or so the park host doesn't have to stand there 24/7?

Ty! I hadn't thought of that, but it certainly makes sense.

I guess I was thinking that since the county stopped (?)maintaining (not sure if that's the correct term) 7Bridges as a park several yrs back that the area was simply left open and that campers and others were free to come and go without charge.

Perhaps though the county simply closes the gates during the off season in order to keep trouble makers out.

 

[threecrazykids]

Well, it looks like I'm ok and not going to go to :jail: for entering the park.

This is the snip from the Bremer County Conservation Board Rules and Regulations:

http://www.co.bremer.ia.us/webres/File/docs/conservation-rules.pdf

BCCB 9.35 CLOSING TIME. Except by
arrangement or permission granted by the
Director or authorized representative, all
persons shall vacate areas between 11:00
p.m. and 7:00 a.m. Areas may be closed at
an earlier or later hour, of which notice shall
be given by proper signs or instructions.
The provisions of this section shall not apply
to authorized camping in areas provided for
that purpose, nor hunting, trapping, and fishing
activities in or on public hunting areas or
natural areas designated for that purpose.

:angel:

 

[Marilynilpa]

Well, it looks like I'm ok and not going to go to :jail: for entering the park.

This is the snip from the Bremer County Conservation Board Rules and Regulations:

http://www.co.bremer.ia.us/webres/File/docs/conservation-rules.pdf

BCCB 9.35 CLOSING TIME. Except by
arrangement or permission granted by the
Director or authorized representative, all
persons shall vacate areas between 11:00
p.m. and 7:00 a.m. Areas may be closed at
an earlier or later hour, of which notice shall
be given by proper signs or instructions.
The provisions of this section shall not apply
to authorized camping in areas provided for
that purpose, nor hunting, trapping, and fishing
activities in or on public hunting areas or
natural areas designated for that purpose.

:angel:

BBM

That's good news, we'd hate to lose you!!

 

[foxbluff]

IIRC the figure $100k was being kicked around here and I said then in my opinion it would be more like 250k.

That was only for one gazebo though. This mausoleum is starting to look like some serious work - which means serious money. 250k is a drop in the ocean for something this involved.

I cannot understand why they cleared the entire island all at once. They claim some trees were "unhealthy" but surely their plan started small, with only one gazebo erected at a time for funding reasons?

The scorched earth policy undertaken by volunteers without a final plan, vision, or even funding, is extraordinary and I would be deeply annoyed if I lived on or near the Lake and hadn't been consulted.

I always thought a fountain sounded nice, maybe with a bench...who on earth is going to wish to visit this memorial site for family fun? :dunno:

Great post, Saph, and welcome back!

I'm remembering back to the first time I saw the est of $100k and how my jaw hit the floor in shock at what a high figure I thought that was. And, yes, I seem to recall that even back then you had predicted that $100K wouldn't begin to cover what they had in mind. I had so hoped you were wrong, but it appears not. ):

I think that your suggestion of a fountain, maybe with a bench would have made a nice and appropriate memorial. I, also, liked M.PA's suggestion on a prev thread of making a generous donation to a local animal shelter in the girls' names. And after HC's remark in msm about the island being a scary place to children, I like 3cks suggestion in this thread that a better choice to clean up and make safer would have been the "scary place in the Maiden Lane area."

 

[cindersoot]

Okay, to answer some questions. The deer/lion creature thingy wasn't seen when I snapped the picture. I will say that as I was walking down there I spotted way up ahead of me a herd of it looked like deer running past. At least thats what I thought it was. The gate was locked at the front and down the road from that gate was another gate locked with signs all over it not to trespass and private property? That stumped me.

 

[Tennlyn]

Huh. I don't see the dino mask, but that is one demonic-looking lion-shaped stump/root/branch.

I was thinking feral hog.

 

[cindersoot]

Taken 4/7/2013 at seven bridges. the gate is behind me and I at first took the road to the left, when I should of gone right cause thats where the crime scene is.

 

[cindersoot]

Gravel road to 7 bridges. 4/7/2013. Make sure you look at the whole picture part of the memorial crosses for Elizabeth and Lyric are there. Pink and purple crosses decorated with easter eggs and a bunny in a basket.

 

[Marilynilpa]

I was thinking feral hog.

Oh, puh-leeze, let's not get started on that one again!:floorlaugh:

 

[Marilynilpa]

Great post, Saph, and welcome back!

I'm remembering back to the first time I saw the est of $100k and how my jaw hit the floor in shock at what a high figure I thought that was. And, yes, I seem to recall that even back then you had predicted that $100K wouldn't begin to cover what they had in mind. I had so hoped you were wrong, but it appears not. ):

I think that your suggestion of a fountain, maybe with a bench would have made a nice and appropriate memorial. I, also, liked M.PA's suggestion on a prev thread of making a generous donation to a local animal shelter in the girls' names. And after HC's remark in msm about the island being a scary place to children, I like 3cks suggestion in this thread that a better choice to clean up and make safer would have been the "scary place in the Maiden Lane area."

IMO, the fountain idea is really great. I find fountains very peaceful, and having a couple of memorial benches would create a nice place for remembrance and reflection.

All I know is that I'd hate to see Lyric and Lizzie's memorial go uncompleted because of someone's grandiose plans. JMO

 

[foxbluff]

Well, it looks like I'm ok and not going to go to :jail: for entering the park.

This is the snip from the Bremer County Conservation Board Rules and Regulations:

http://www.co.bremer.ia.us/webres/File/docs/conservation-rules.pdf

BCCB 9.35 CLOSING TIME. Except by
arrangement or permission granted by the
Director or authorized representative, all
persons shall vacate areas between 11:00
p.m. and 7:00 a.m. Areas may be closed at
an earlier or later hour, of which notice shall
be given by proper signs or instructions.
The provisions of this section shall not apply
to authorized camping in areas provided for
that purpose, nor hunting, trapping, and fishing
activities in or on public hunting areas or
natural areas designated for that purpose.

:angel:

Ty for this link. Reading there under regulations it said something like the rules applied to all their lands "unless restrictions have been modified for a particular area."

I wondered if one of those areas might be seven bridges since it was changed from a park to a wildlife area. It's hard for me to find info which is specific to seven bridges.

It's not listed under camping though I recall a poster here saying that either she or a friend had camped there last summer. Perhaps just pitching a tent? IDK

At any rate, websites specific to seven bridges list activities as canoe access, hunting, and fishing with no mention of hours... and there's a pit latrine.

I did find one website to do w/finding a "cache" hidden there. One person mentioned going there 4/9/2011 and finding the gate closed.

That at least tells me that it wasn't LE who closed the gate to traffic which 3cks encountered this month.

I now strongly believe that the gate is kept closed during off season by Bremer county in order to keep trouble makers out.

 

[BunnyHop]

Okay, to answer some questions. The deer/lion creature thingy wasn't seen when I snapped the picture. I will say that as I was walking down there I spotted way up ahead of me a herd of it looked like deer running past. At least thats what I thought it was. The gate was locked at the front and down the road from that gate was another gate locked with signs all over it not to trespass and private property? That stumped me.

I really suspect it was a deer that froze when you passed. You probably didn't see it. If it was really spooked it would have leapt across the trail into the woods. Peeps in my neighborhood say there's no deer here. Wrong. I have seen foot prints in the snow right beside my deck. One morning went outside to see them right there, they ran away.

Can you spot it?

 

[cindersoot]

I really think what some are seeing in my picture is just whats called matrixing. It is just a rock and sprigs of trees and leaves.

 

[cindersoot]

I was thinking feral hog.

:floorlaugh:

 

[palaminodee]

View attachment 31763 Taken 4/7/2013 at seven bridges. the gate is behind me and I at first took the road to the left, when I should of gone right cause thats where the crime scene is.

appreciate the photos from you and any other locals, interested in seeing the area when the leaves are out in full as well if you are able to go back.