Standing Rock has all sorts of folklore surrounding it. Most of it is probably just tall tales passed down through the generations. Still, it is an interesting landmark in the middle of the Cuyahoga River as it passes through Kent, Ohio. Today it was hosting a flotilla of geese.
We also spotting a few mallards on the far side of the river.
It was a cold and windy day with snow swirling in the park. We found most of the caches in the park and had some much needed exercise on a winter day.
The Keyser Barn is over 100 years old. It was restored for Cuyahoga Falls bicentenntial. Its a beautiful remnant to the farming past of the town.
Chief Pontiac
As January progressed later sunsets made a few evening walks possible. We visited Gully Brook to give the dogs and us some exercise. The woods were wet, but the walk was fun. We finished our walk as the last light faded.
It seems as though every visit to Bradley Nature Park and Bradley Woods is a wet, muddy adventure. Today was no different. The weather closer to the lake was cold and biting today as we made our first stop and Bradley Nature Park. We walked lightly through the water and avoided a few left behind objects to find all the caches in the park, but one.
It was a very mild day and perfect for a walk on the Buckeye Trail in Cleveland Metropark's Brecksville Reservation. This is a familiar walk for us and one of the best stretches of Buckeye Trail.
Ali uses a "tool" to release a high-hanging cache container.
I expect the pandemic eventually got to everyone. After decades of travel, my world had become a small home office. Over the holidays I decided I needed to do something to make it through winter. We had bird feeders scattered throughout the yard. I decided to bring them close to the house at a place where we could both enjoy their beauty. Please enjoy this posts and the others of our backyard guests this winter.
There was a time we were frequent visitors to the Rookery. Our visits are less frequent, but they are still pleasant. We didn't spot any birds on our visit, but we took the dogs to the far end of the park. With our first dogs Murray and Becky these were crazy spirited races to the sign marking the park boundary and back. This cold afternoon was a little gentler, but very pleasant.
Sunset was stretching out so we were able to make walks a little later. There was a new geocache at Beartown Reservation. The ground was mostly snow free. Our cold loop walk wasn't long, but we were happy to be out.
A cold snap of winter weather had chased most of the park's pandemic visitors indoors. The light crowd of dedicated park visitors seemed like a normal winter day on the trail.
Some winter days the world exists in black and whte.
There are days during the winter where temperature isn't that low, but the humidity will chill to the bone instantly. The chill gets there and stays long beyond the time you leave the trails. It was that day today in Richfield Heritage Preserve. The dampness was carried on a fog.
It was a bitterly cold afternoon. In northeast Ohio one either stays indoors and waits for longer, brighter, warmer days or one goes out and makes something of the miserable weather. Three birds and a few deer spotted while walking together with the dogs moves the world one more day closer to the next spring and gives back a few memories. Besides, there is always hot chocolate and a blanket waiting at home.
It's nearly the first official day of winter, Phineas understands the need for comfort. 😀 He's a special beagle. 💓
In Northeast Ohio some Decmeber days just never get brighter. This was one of those days. After much recent rain and storms the bridle trail in South Chagrin was wet with downed branches everywhere.
