1 July 2017 A Wild(life) Return to Quehanna

We planned to make another visit to the Quehanna Wild Area for hiking and caching. While we were still having breakfast, a doe strolled through our view behind the kitchen. She was browsing heavily on one type of plant and within 20 feet of our sport ute as we watched.

We hoped out wildlife sightings might include a few ducks on the water beyond this blind, but all we enjoyed this afternoon was a pleasant view of the water.

Our wildlife viewing became a little more interesting when we spotted the rattlesnake below in the road. When we drove by it was stretched out and giving a good impression of a dead rattlesnake after being run over. As we left the ute and approached, it quickly curled up and let us know it was alive and not please to see us. He rattled a few times as we approached.

It was a busy day for butterflies near our first unfound cache of the day.

We looked for a very lonely multi which hadn't been found in years. The first stage was an information stage so we were able to get coordinates for the final. Our walk to the final was fun with big helpings of blueberries, but no find for us.

We were on the way back to the geo-ute when disaster nearly struck. I had been diligent and watchful for rattlesnakes througout the day. I let my wariness lapse and Phineas was put at risk. Before I realized there was a danger, he had happily bounded past a sleeping rattlesnake on the rocks by the edge of the trail. The rattlesnake woke and was beyond angry. I was left with a happy energetic beagle on the end of the leash and separated from me by a an angry rattlesnake. We were six feet apart with a rattlesnake in the middle. I didn't dare drop the leash and take a chance since Phin, like most beagles, is a scent runner. Instead I timed my move (and got lucky) and was eventually on the other side unharmed with Phineas. The super angry rattlesnake eventually moved across the trail leaving safe passage for Ali and Lizzie.

We were on our way home. I was disappointed that we had once again not seen elk. Then they appeared roadside and as large as life. Wow!

30 June 2017 Checking Our Cache

We needed to check one of our Pennsylvania caches today so we decided to take a couple walks near the cache. We started with a walk along the Allegheny River in the National Forest on the old Newbold Estate. We enjoyed a few early summer wildflowers, but saw no ducks on the Allegheny.

Indian Pipes

We spotted creeping bellflower not far from where the old estate was built.

The spotted wintergreen was not quite yet in bloom.

The old estate holds the remnants of old trout ponds. Over our years of visiting, they have continued to fill in, but they are havens for herons, turtles, and a few ducks. The dogs make capturing any of these in images a feat of luck.

Over the past couple years, the National Forest Service has been working to reduce invasive species and replant the old bean field. Our geocache is in the area along the Brokenstraw. There were still construction vehicles present for this visit.

The parking lot is a nice addition rather than the roadside pull-off. The field seems to just be coming into bloom, but the area seems to have been replanted with prairie wildflowers.

There were still a few berries available for eating pleasure.

Hopefully when we return with the replacement cache, there area will be filled with wildflowers.

28 June 2017 A Second Heron

In April I was lucky to spot a female great blue heron at the pond by my home office. I was hoping the sighting wasn't a lucky chance. Today, I was happy to spot a male spending time near the pond. Hopefully they will be regular visitors.

26 June 2017 Baby Bunnies

I was in the yard for a rare relaxing evening of weeding and tending the garden. I was much surprised to lift a pile of leaves and find the gathering of baby bunnies below with their mom. Here's hoping they don't grow up to wreak havoc on our garden, but they are fun to see.

25 June 2017 Lizzie Thinks She's a Cat

I was used to doing this with each of the many cats we owned through the years. I was surprised to see Lizzie chase the light.

She's a gentle, happy dog!

We planned to spend the morning before our drive hiking to the back of the property. Getting to the high point at this time of year always means cleaning the fallen debris, pulling garlic mustard and looking for whatever wildlife we can find. We were at the start of the journey when we found a salamander in the wet area near the stream.

We always make the walk at least at this time of the year to see if our round-leaf orchids have returned and hopefully see a spike blooming from one of them. It takes us near the highest point of the property and is an energetic climb. We were on our way up the last bit when Ali spotted this beautiful polyphemus moth.

We also found three round leaf orchids, but sadly no spikes.

24 June 2017 Roadside Stands

During each year we stop for a number of items at roadside stands. Berries, honey, corn, flowers, garlic, and plants are just a small part of the list. We were passing through the tiny borough of Mill Village and stopped for strawberries from an amish farmer parked at an antique store. On our way out of Mill Village we stopped at a permanent roadside market for hostas. We've purchased produce and plants there before and were hoping to buy plants to build a small hosta bed in an available space in Ohio.

We also made a stop on our journey at a gamelands for few puzzle cache hides. Summer has settled into the woods so there are fewer flowers, but we enjoyed the stream and were able to spot pyrola in bloom.

Lizzie and Phineas have become quite a pair. They play often and both have a fondness for downed logs. Adopting Lizzie in Michigan with very limited socialization time for the pair was a bit of a gamble, but they are gentle souls and have bonded well.

17 June 2017 Another Gameland Visit

With five planned audits this year, I was happy to have two of them successfully completed so I was able to enjoy a quiet weekend. Our walk for the day was a visit to a stat game land. This game field still had a lot of corn on the stalks. With reduced snow the deer may have been able to feed through the winter on their preferred choice of acorns.

It's the season for daisies in the fields.

Lizzie always expects a treat when Ali looks for something in her cache bag. It's not like she gets more the one or two in an afternoon of hiking.

The twin blossoms of partridge berries were plentiful in the woods this afternoon.,/br>

12 June 2017 Walking an Old Golf Course

It was the end of the first day of an audit. I was happy all had gone well, but wanted a walk in the park. There's an old golf course in Aurora that has been converted to a park on the way home. There is an unfound cache in the park. I've looked for it multiple times with no success so I now know this is a great place to walk to a cache I won't find.

The old tunnel for the rail overpass is one of a few old hints of the railroad line that passed along the edge of the park.

Some of the old clusters of trees from the golf course still stand.

11 June 2017 Strawberry Season

I was happy to be in town for one morning of strawberry picking. I remember when we were first living in our home we had a small party for our interns. It was fourth of July, and Ali went picking with them in the morning. Now the season is over by the middle of June.

After the picking and an afternoon of chores, we spent the last of the day walking at Orchard Hills until sunset.

10 June 2017 Mayfield Cruise

It was cruise night in Mayfield and the weather was perfect. I was happy at the thought of seeing the old cars, but first there were chores followed by a walk along the Chagrin River.

We spotted a heron in flight

and maybe some of its recent meals.

Lizzie is her own dog. She enjoys just standing in water.

This snake was still digesting a prior meal and not moving very quickly.

Since the weather was perfect and evening was cruise time, I took time to clean and detail the miata. She didn't participate in the cruise, but was the perfect car for us to ride there.

It was a perfect evening for convertibles.

Especially Impala convertibles

This gorgeous 62 Catalina sported the rare eight lug wheels.

There were two of my favorite fastback oldies here with a Torino GT sporting a California black plate and a American Motors Marlin.

Thus 63 Chrysler 300 was done up as an old school muscle car.

It has been a long time since Ralph Nader wrongly concluded Corvairs were unsafe at any speed. This one is was a nice example of a first generation car that in many ways was far ahead of the rest of the crowd. Today, they are still a fun, inexpensive classic ride that looks great on cruise night.

I don't think many VW bus engines looked this good any time after the first few days on the road.

The evening even included an appearance by the Euclid Beach Rocket Car.