I posted a few pictures as Spring started to burst out from Winter’s hold a few weeks ago. I am glad that even though we did have three or four nights where it went below freezing during the nights, that most of the flowering trees and blooms survived. Usually we get a late freeze and it wipes out most of the early bloomers.
Here are a few pictures from my local city park I have featured before many times. These pictures are untreated or processed. This is how you would see the park if you took a walk there today or tomorrow. Enjoy>
I really enjoy posting pictures of new growth after a cold winter in southern Ohio. I know it gets worse – or better – elsewhere but we can get some pretty extreme weather from time to time. Most winter days here are cold, drab, grey, and pretty short. Even in the spring and summer the skies are overcast and grey. Not like polution. More like low hanging clouds so you never see blue skies, or the sun for that matter lol.
But this year it seems like spring keeps popping up in little pockets and hidden corners. It is warm enough many plants feel it it worth a shot to come out now.
I guess this is a sign of years to come. Climate change is all over the news everyday now. The effects are here and more to come. If no deep freeze comes at us just when things are starting to bloom like it usually does and kills all the blooms, it could be rather pretty around here in the spring.
Maybe I will get to post flower pictures more often. I hope you enjoy.
I have shared a lot of pictures from local city parks in the past. Readers know one of my favorite city parks is Ault Park. Ault Park is actually the cities third largest park. Recently revived from years of neglect, I have shown pictures of sunsets at the park, the construction of connecting bike trails along with the floral gardens and overlooks.
Part of the park’s revival funding comes from renting the pavilion for weddings, corporate and local sponsored events. Here are some pictures of the pavilion when they are preparing for events:
The park has also been a place for celebrations like the 4th of July. On these occasions because the park is at the center of a number of neighborhoods, people come from all over to enjoy this wonderful area. This year we had beautiful weather and a full crowd to celebrate the freedoms we still have. I will share a few pictures but will try not to bore you with all of them.
As usual, I like to share pictures of my local parks and city when the seasons change. Climate change is here and things are slowly changing.
I hope you enjoy a few pictures from Ault Park and extensions of the Wasson Way path.
Here are the latest pictures of the continuing Wasson Way bike path, part of Cincinnati’s CROWN project. Along with other acquisitions the city is using old railroad tracks and bridges to connect areas of our city that were split into fragments (like so many others) when the major highways were built.
The new section connects Wasson Way Trails I have shared before with my favorite park in the city – Ault Park. For years as I was growing up Ault park was left to disarray from lack of care and budget. Recently restored and now connected to another area of the city, even more communities will be able to enjoy this small jewel. I think the path looks great, and I love the hill sign for bikers!
Still working on the bridge overpassStaircase from Ault Part trail to Wasson Way bike pathNew connector of Wasson Way
Out for a ride yesterday and they are almost finished. This will be a great resource for decades to come. I believe the mayor of Cincinnati will be on-hand to officially open the new section of the Wasson Way Trails tomorrow.
Even though I took a sneak peak and ride before the path was officially opened I can’t wait. Only a small section will be needed to connect to other bike and walking trails in the city.
Bicycle riding is something I have loved since being a kid. I get exercise, fresh air, new scenery and a little bit of escape all wrapped into one. Recently cities in Ohio and other states have purchased unused train rights of way and turning them into bike and walking paths or trails. This is perfect because the train tracks are fairly level, the perfect width, and they go through neighborhoods that are rarely connected any other way.
Case in point is the latest addition of the CROWNsection of the pathways including Wasson Way. When I-71 was built around 1966 to 1975 it split Cincinnati in drastic and unfortunate ways like every other town. Once built, many neighborhoods were completely severed from each other and in some cases from the business districts they created. This is a point in history for me as my family was renting a house on a street that was demolished and we had to move for them to build I-71. The neighborhoods I used to ride through with my friends were no longer accessible to a kid on a bike.
Strollers enjoying the Marburg Avenue section of Wasson Way
Anyway, they are about to extend that section next week so the Wasson Way path connects to one of my favorite local parks of all time! I have shared many pictures of Ault Park here and it is still a lovely place to see. When this section is completed I will be able to take bike trails (including on-road lanes) from my house all the way to Ault Park. The big plan is to have various trails in Ohio that will take you from the southernmost point in Ohio near the Ohio River all the way to Cleveland at some point in the not too distant future.
I took some pictures of the progress made to the unfinished section so you have an idea of the work they are putting into this.
Existing trail on Wasson Road
New section connecting to Ault Park
Erie Avenue overpass
They are almost ready to open new section!
Truck pouring another cement foundation for drainage
They will start planting trees along the current paths next week. As old as I am it is still nice to get out and take a ride through familiar neighborhoods like I did when much younger. It is satisfying to see the city I have lived in for almost ever finally embracing these outdoor activities and unique neighborhoods long cut off from each other.
A surprise April Fool’s Day Snow got to our goblin.
I have been pretty busy lately. I have been jamming on-line with my originals band “The Merchants of Death”. We have not played together in almost forty years! They were champs with handling the technology, but the latency or delay you get is a bit frustrating. A couple weeks ago – after all of our Covid 19 shots and waiting periods we got together and played live – IN THE SAME ROOM!
That was really very neat. Our on-line sessions have been a blessing during the lockdown and restrictions. Playing our old original songs and mixing them in with current cover tunes is just a perfect environment for me. I will share some of our recordings soon.
I also did a live recording session a few weeks ago. It was a cool project. I was to record the drummer playing in isolation as the drummer listened to a mix of the other recorded instruments and vocals! The drummer did an excellent job in following the band as drummers usually try to lead the band. The recordings were clean and after a little post production I sent the final tracks for assembly and final mix.
I have also been doing a lot of long-needed outdoor yard work and landscaping around my house. This winter and spring were bizarre. I wish I had posted these pictures earlier, but it is a challenge sometimes deciding which project to focus on. I hope you enjoy a look back at this year’s snow and blooms. All of these pictures were taken within a few days of each other. It was an amazing sight.
Setting up my drums for the first recording project of 2021!
It has been a while since I was out and about, especially with my camera. Overnight we had a steady snowfall. There was no breeze or wind so the snow fell and piled up where it landed. I took my camera with me for a walk in our neighborhood park. I wanted to share some of the photos with you. Local weather people say it has been over 10 years since we have had this much snow at one time.
I have not posted pictures as often this year as in previous ones. I love taking pictures but have not gotten out as much. This has been a beautiful fall in many ways. Taking walks in our local parks and our favorite Spring Grove Cemetery, my wife and I took pictures all day.
As usual it is cloudy and overcast, but the colors held their own. It was simply beautiful everywhere. I hope you enjoy our glimpse of fall.
MidiMike 