Cedar Creek Grist Mill

Growing up I spent some time in Woodland where my Uncle George lived.  Today we had an appointment not far from there.  Some days Luke and I stay home while others we go with, today was one of those.  As we drove out Hayes Rd. I looked for his old house but we turned off before getting to that point.  When we got up to the house Alex went in and Luke and I stayed out in the car having snacks and what not.  After a short while the lady came outside with her son and they were working in the flower beds pulling weeds and cleaning up.  She came up to the door as I was reading my book and said that we could come out and play.  She also has a Luke, he thought it was funny that they had the same name.  Both boys ran in circles around the driveway while we talked about gardening and chickens.  When Alex was done, we loaded up and headed down the hill.  Rather than heading back into town we headed further up Hayes Rd towards Amboy to drop off some business cards.  I looked right at the piece of property and didn't even recognize it.  I guess it has been over 14 years since I'd been up there. 

We've wanted to go to the Grist Mill for a couple years now but things have always gotten in the way.  It wasn't open today but we were able to walk around the outside and take some pictures. I'm hoping to go up their in October for their apple cider festival. 

 

Here is a picture of upstream from inside the covered area. We found it interesting how they built this canal way up above to bring the water to the mill and through the turbine which creates power for the whole mill. 

 Here is the mill.  I love the old rustic look.  It has been refurbished but its rustic look still fits in with the natural surroundings.  Apparently the owner used to live up stairs. 

Sorry the next two pictures aren't the greatest but these were from upstream a bit.  You can see how they had to tunnel through some of the rocks for the canal.  There is also a fish ladder (the grates you see in the top one) that run up past some of the rougher water.

I have to say I kind of fell in love with this bridge.  I don't know what it is but I love old covered bridges, always have and probably always will.  In all the pictures I've seen, this bridge looked really small though.  When I got up there, I was shocked to see that it was much bigger than I thought.

And last but not least was our little monster, or rather big monster in this instance.  I wish I'd gotten a picture of his face as Daddy was trying to stick him back in the truck.  He screamed and screamed.  The water was so enticing to him and I think even a little relaxing, he really didn't want to go and I don't blame him.  I would love to live and work at a place like that, surrounded by Heavenly Father's work of art.  Here are two pictures of after the fact, he'd stopped screaming but he was still beat red and a little upset still.