25 July 2016 A Good Day For Butterflies

Our big stop of the day was our first visit to John Bryan State Park. The butterflies were plentiful at this attractive park. We enjoyed the trails, time spent hiking along the Little Miami, and seeing the abundant foliage from spring wilflowers. If just a small portion of the many hepatica we spotted were to bloom, it would be an impressive spring sight along the trails.

I usually don't consider wearing special biking gear, but if I did, I wouldn't be using this well-meaning but rather exposed changing area. :0

We also enjoyed a quick stop in the Clifton Gorge State Nature Preserve. The area was over-run while we were there with teens from a nearby private camp so our stay was short. The gorge area and the park both deserve another visit.

While at the park we also made a stop at a monument to Edward Orton, Sr, Orton was a former president of the predecessor of Ohio State University and a pioneer in the field of geology. His son is at least as important to us as one of the pioneers of technical ceramics in the United States. The local geologic features in the area and the proximity to Ohio State made this a fitting place to leave a monument in his memory