Fri, Dec 11 2020 - Decatur Area Inter-Park Hike at Mason Mill, Medlock & Clyde Shepherd Nature Preserve (View Original Event Details) Trip Leader(s): Charlie Cottingham Participants: Charlie Cottingham, Gloria Colley, Wendy M, Greg Pharo, Megan H, Suzy McDonald, Mary Reed, Jennifer R, Rodi, Joseph

Friday afternoon's sunny mid-60s weather was perfect for exploring some of DeKalb County's most popular wooded parklands just north of Decatur.  It was a treat to have several newly active members in our group including Megan and Rodi - also Jennifer who chose this as her very first AOC outing.  We had no problem following the CDC's guidelines regarding safe social-distancing, etc. during our memorable 2-1/2-hour adventure.
  After parking & introducing one another at Mason Mill Park we first hiked eastward to Medlock Park via the main PATH trail with its massive boardwalks and footbridge over South Peachtree Creek.  At Medlock we hiked to the eastern end of the Park via its creekside trail, then 1/2 mile further NE to Clyde Shepherd Nature Preserve via two quiet shady residential streets, Gaylemont Circle & Wood Trail Lane.
  Our main focus at Clyde Shepherd was a mile-long circuit of its unique wetlands area via its trail network that includes numerous boardwalks.  Along the way at the Preserve we paused occasionally to chat with some of the park's friendly volunteers - also enjoyed stops at its birding & wildlife viewing structures, granite outcrops, a beaver dam and a panoramic sandy overlook of South Peachtree Creek.  Another highlight was a fast-flying hawk whose fleeting shadow alerted us to its path directly above us.
  We returned to our starting point at Mason Mill Park via a route that included adventurous single-track detours:  a jungle-like hairpin-curve trail around a sharp bend in the creek and two other narrow shady trails that took us to long-retired concrete dams that once held back reservoirs of the historic Decatur Water Works.  - Posted by Charlie, Sat Dec 12th