1 November 2015 Caching at Presque Isle

If it weren't for the relentless ticks, Presque Isle might be a perfect place. It was a chilly afternoon to enjoy blue skies and rollers. The caches weren't bad either.

31 October 2015 Fall on the NCT

We decided to take a cool walk on the North Country Trail to continue four-year journey to find the caches in the North Country GeoTrail (NCTGT). We were on a section of trail headed north from Route 321. It's a wonderful section of trail with stream crossings and nice woods.

We took a side trail to search for an out of the way geocache we hadn't found. We were surprised to find a camp along the way. We were even more surprised to find the cache container with a threatening note. We signed the log and moved on.

 

 

We took a different path on our walk back. We found a location with old electrical outlets. At times it's easy to forget the lives and people who used to call the Allegheny National Forest their home. The signs of the former residents have faded in the 50 years since the towns of Kinzua and Corydon faded into the past, but every now and then we see a sign of that past.

 

Interesting birch roots

 

26 October 2015 Fall Vacation Day

We took a quiet day to drive to Parker Dam State Park and walk the trails with the dogs.

On our way home, we stopped for a walk along a private road in Jefferson County to find a handful of caches.

25 October 2015 Fall in ASP

It was a great day for a visit to Allegany State Park. Monday was a vacation day so we had the opportunity to visit the park and enjoy the fall colors on the trail.

Allegany State Park runs along the Pennsylvania and New York border. Our last trail runs along the edge of the park with and old stone boundary marker. Lizzie and I stepped back and forth a few times.

It had been a long time since we last saw a northern slimy salamander. Ali spotted this one near a recently published cache.

24 October 2015 Chapman State Park

Phineas has been with us for 27 months. Today he was with us for the 1,000th find since we adopted him. Time passes too quickly.

23 October 2015 Above the Clouds

My day started with the last leg of my red-eye home and sunrise above the clouds.

On our way home we stopped in Crawford County at a State Game Lands to enjoy the fall day and find a few caches.

22 October 2015 Medical Lake

I had time to spend waiting for a red-eye home so I made a first visit to Medical Lake for a late afternoon walk. The town of Medical Lake developed around the mineral rich Mineral Lake. Like so many small waters high in mineral or salts concentrations in the 1800's, the water developed a reputation for having medicinal properties which led to the development of a small resort town serving the needs of the visitors. The resort only lasted about 25 years, but the town continues to this day with the scenic lake and a main street still dotted with the buildings the lined the dirt road through Medical Lake in the early 1900's. I enjoyed a quiet walk along the peaceful shore and was happy to spot a heron on the way back.

20 October 2015 Fall Evening Along the Spokane River

I found only one of the four caches I searched for along the river, but any opportunity for a walk on short days is a bonus.

I ended the evening with Mongolian Barbeque and a fortune. Hmmmmm... two months later, my lucky star was shining as I was told I didn't have cancer.

18 October 2015 Slavin Conservancy

I arrived in the early afternoon for a week in Spokane. I had never visited Slavin before, but it was near the airport, had caches, offered much walking, and was an easy drive to my hotel at the end. It was a very good choice for some needed exercise. The area also contained a 2002 multi.

I assumed this was the final resting place of Inky, Charm, Louie, and Chance either someone's beloved dogs or horses laid to rest overlooking the lands they once roamed.

This red shafted flicker deserved better than my image, but it was a lousy day for birding images.