Nature Bustin’ Out All Over

I know that I complain about the Frozen Northeast Ohio, that place in which I have resided for low these 28 years.

And in January there really is something to complain about.

But just now…..well, Fall has been really rather nice. There have been some chilly days. There has been some rain. But over all we have enjoyed lovely weather, blue skies, sun.

It makes me nervous.

HHBL and I are trying to take advantage of the fact that we live in one of the BEST places in the country, in my humble opinion, for getting out and enjoying “nature”. We have been taking the time to soak up the sun and the beauty before Mother Nature whacks us upside the head with snow and cold and gloom.

Here at Chez Knit we sort of sit at the confluence of three separate, and fabulous, park systems that offer us a basket/bucket/boat load of recreational opportunities. There is the Cuyahoga Valley National Park, an entrance of which sits a mere 10 minute drive from the house. Then there is the Cleveland Metroparks system, otherwise known as the “Emerald Necklace, an entrance of which sits a mere 5 minute drive (or 15 minute walk) from Chez Knit. And finally there is the Summit County Bike and Hike, also within easy distance. We are over abundantly blessed.

Yesterday was one of those days where we couldn’t miss the opportunity to spend some time on the Tow Path, which is part of the National Park system, which was closed during the shut down….but everyone just went around the barrier.

You can pick up the Cuyahoga Valley Scenic Railroad here at the park. Good to know for the next time that HHBL gets me to take one of those 25 mile bike rides. Ride down to Akron, take the train back, put the bike in the car, go home and die.

My bridge photography was sadly lacking and boring yesterday. Needs work. Needs better light. I am yawning just looking at these.

Nothing like a bit of graffiti humor. I was hoping for something by Banksy but I had to settle for this.

It was a beautiful day for bikes. And the path was very busy with them. Some have bells to let you know they are approaching. Some people tell you. Some people just whiz by and scare the every loving daylights out of you.

And then there are the dogs. I could have just sat myself down on a park bench and taken photos for an hour and not seen two dogs that were a like. Big dogs. Small dogs. Old dogs. Puppies. Well trained dogs. And not well trained dogs.

And then there was Bernie.

His sweet owners didn’t think that it was possible to get him to sit still long enough to get a photo.

I love a challenge.

Just watch out for the drool.

There is the occasional fisherman on the banks of the river. Not sure what he would be catching AND I am not sure if he is allowed to keep it even if he did catch it.

I don’t understand fishing.

Fishing zen and I are not acquainted.

Snakes. Why did there have to be snakes. And believe me when I tell you that the picture of the snake skin doesn’t do justice to the size of the thing.

Are there anaconda’s in the Frozen Northeast Ohio?

Then there were the Wooly Bears.

There were a whole heck of a lot of them, scurrying across the path. You would think that they don’t move that fast but you would be wrong. The folk lore goes that you can predict how severe the winter is going to be by the proportion of brown and black in the Wooly Bears strips. More brown, milder winter. More black, buy another snow shovel. I saw a range of stripe sizes so I am going to say that our winter weather will be just a schizophrenic as usual.

And finally, as we ended our 4+ mile walk, we heard the train comin’ round the bend.

I can’t understand why all those people down at the other end are looking at me in that funny way. Haven’t they ever seen a woman with a camera kneel down and take an off kilter picture of the side of a train before?

What is so odd about that?

I love living in a place where it is so easy to find the road less traveled.