17 September 2021 Albion Fair

 

11 September 2021 Mentor Lagoons

 We made an early visit to Mentor Lagoons in hope of good birding morning.  Surprisingly, the birding was quiet.  We spotted a great blue heron from a different angle.

Our other sighting was in the nature preserve area.  A lucky spotting of a bald eagle made the morning.

10 September 2021 Lake Erie Sunset

For me, sunset is the most peaceful time.  Tonight, we made a visit to the lake, sat on a swing, and enjoyed time together.  There was no green flash this evening, but there was quiet time to sit and enjoy.

7 September 2021 Irvine Flats

We were returning to Ohio, but set aside time to make our favorite walk along the old rail trail at Irvine Flats. It seems the snapping turtles have displaced all the soft-shelled turtles in the ponds.

The ponds are often summer homes for a great blue herons and little green herons. The great blues have moved to a less accessible wet area to the north, but we did spot a little green near the far shore.

The trail used to be filled with great blue lobelia and other wildflowers. The Forest Service started out sourcing the mowing of the walking trail. Now it is a hunt to find the few remaing flowers.

We stopped for a few items at a local store on the way home.  There was lilely a local car show and this great looking '57 Chevy was stopped for an errand on the way home.  There are more images here.

6 September 2021 Visiting Boot Jack

 We were in Boot Jack for a hike in a gamelands.  Phin seemed really happy.

He had good reason for the puppy smile as our day included blue skies and sunshine.

Besides geocaching, we were on the lookout for nature sightings including a garter snake and a toad.

It was a good day to be out.

5 September 2021 Elk Rail Trail

 There are not many rail trails in PA State Game Lands.  Today we were stopping to hike one in Elk County with a trail of geocaches.  My knee was killing me, but it was time to prove I can still hike.  The pain was made easier by a really attractive trail through the woods.  For most of the time I stayed on the trail while Ali chased the cache.  There was one cache hidden in a steep area that she didn't spot.  She had spotted a northern slimy salamander so I made my way up the incline to see the salamander and stayed to look for the find.

Eventually, I spotted the cache too.  The small waterfall below was an attractive spot to stop for a view.

Rain eventually chased us off the trail, but it was another day of what would hopefully be a comeback for me.

3 September 2021 The Fair is Back

 We were happy to be back at the Great Geauga County Fair.  It was much quieter this year.  We didn't spend much time near people.  It was different, yet familiar, and comforting.