This morning I decided to head out for a hike for a few miles along the trails north of town. They wind through some old mined land along Cow Creek.
I dont think I had been there since June. As I entered the forest I was surprised how quiet it was, very few birds, a low chorus of insects and the cool breeze in the trees. This place was alive with migrants in June, now it seems to be dozing in the after glow of summer.
A single Buckeye leaf pointed the way along the trail. Hickories, elms, oaks and a thick growth of vines line the trail as well. Judging by the
number of
invisible spider threads that I ran into, I was the first person along the trail this morning.
I came across this interesting fungi growing in a low area, it was around 8 inches in diameter.
I'm not sure what its called.
I stopped and listened to the stream running into an old mining pit. This was much fuller last June, and there are no turtles sunbathing this morning. Just an old chair someone has left for some reason .
I found some Cardinal Flower growing near where the stream trickled into the pit.
Lobelia Cardinalis , Cardinal Flower is known for its beautiful red flowers and I can see why.
With all of the
Olympics Ive watched lately I thought of
synchronized swimming, but in this case
synchronized chewing. I gave them a 7.
I
finally heard some birds up ahead and found several chickadees
nosily feeding in the lower understory around a pit. They never sat still long enough for me to get a photo. I sat and drank my water watching them for a while. The large piece of sandstone that I sat on had ripple marks from
millions of years ago when swamps and a shallow ocean filled this area. A female cardinal landed noisily a few feet from me, she took one long cartoon double take at me and flashed off into the trees. The breeze picked up tossing a few leaves , the chickadees moved on. I could hear some traffic beginning to pick up off to the south as well as church bells announcing Nine O'clock Mass at Sacred Heart. The first full week of school has come and gone leaving me to appreciate these times when I can get out by myself and go for an early hike.
This morning I decided to head out for a hike for a few miles along the trails north of town. They wind through some old mined land along Cow Creek. I dont think I had been there since June. As I entered the forest I was surprised how quiet it was, very few birds, a low chorus of insects and the cool breeze in the trees. This place was alive with migrants in June, now it seems to be dozing in the after glow of summer.
A single Buckeye leaf pointed the way along the trail. Hickories, elms, oaks and a thick growth of vines line the trail as well. Judging by the number of invisible spider threads that I ran into, I was the first person along the trail this morning.
I came across this interesting fungi growing in a low area, it was around 8 inches in diameter. I'm not sure what its called. 
I stopped and listened to the stream running into an old mining pit. This was much fuller last June, and there are no turtles sunbathing this morning. Just an old chair someone has left for some reason .
I found some Cardinal Flower growing near where the stream trickled into the pit. Lobelia Cardinalis , Cardinal Flower is known for its beautiful red flowers and I can see why.
With all of the Olympics Ive watched lately I thought of synchronized swimming, but in this case synchronized chewing. I gave them a 7.
I finally heard some birds up ahead and found several chickadees nosily feeding in the lower understory around a pit. They never sat still long enough for me to get a photo. I sat and drank my water watching them for a while. The large piece of sandstone that I sat on had ripple marks from millions of years ago when swamps and a shallow ocean filled this area. A female cardinal landed noisily a few feet from me, she took one long cartoon double take at me and flashed off into the trees. The breeze picked up tossing a few leaves , the chickadees moved on. I could hear some traffic beginning to pick up off to the south as well as church bells announcing Nine O'clock Mass at Sacred Heart. The first full week of school has come and gone leaving me to appreciate these times when I can get out by myself and go for an early hike. 
1 comment:
Nice pics. Looks like a place I would like to visit.
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