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 wanted to give you another glimpse of Red River Gorge just as Fall starts to show. Not far south from my home in Ohio, the valley makes things a bit cooler and the trees are starting to turn there. I took these pictures and videos a few days ago while on a quick mid-week-get-a-way with my wife. Usually we can only visit off season due to her work schedule. This time we took a spontaneous short break and the weather was perfect.
The next video you can hear me breathing in the background. It was an effort to get to this perch for an old man but the view was worth every step. And then some.
My wife and I were lucky to take a quick two night stay near Natural Bridge in Kentucky. We have been there a few times and I always post pictures that interest me. For those considering a trip, I have pictures of beautiful areas that are very close to the road or parking lots. While the paths can be rugged and hilly, these photos were less than a mile from the road.
My wife does not hike, so we pick areas that are close to the road so I can take a quick hike, grab some beautiful memories and rush back to the car so she doesn’t have to wait long. I am 68 years old, so if you are healthy you can reach these monuments of rock formations. It is difficult to view these places close up and not realize how easily early peoples thought of these lands as sacred grounds. Pictures are not enough.
I will post more later, but here is a sample of the pictures from my recent trip. We had beautiful weather and Fall was just starting to turn the hillsides into dazzling colors.
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.
MidiMike 