Showing posts with label OHIO. Show all posts
Showing posts with label OHIO. Show all posts

Monday, January 02, 2017

Arney Run Park & The Mink Hollow Covered Bridge. #Ohio

MQTlogoa Some Quality Time Links:

Arney Run Park .. Topo map of Arney Run .. Mink Hollow Covered Bridge ..  Christmas Rocks State Nature Preserve ……………………………………….

Near Lancaster, Ohio in Fairfield County…..

DSC_0028 “Located in Hocking Township, Arney Run Park is a quaint yet scenic retreat that features the Mink Hollow Covered Bridge. This historic bridge rests on its original sandstone abutments over Arney Run, a tributary of Clear Creek. The Mink Hollow Covered Bridge has the distinction of having the longest name of any covered bridge in the United States: The Mink Hollow Covered Bridge in Oil Mill Hollow Over Arney Run Near Borcher’s Mill. Picnicking is available on the east side of the covered bridge.”

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DSC_0033 Paved parking lot.. For the Park, Bridge, & Christmas Rocks State Nature Preserve. (sure is a good looking truck)

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Looks like a bucolic place for a picnic when the weather warms up.

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“The old and weary covered bridge
That spans the swollen stream
Is what I picture in my mind
At the start of my favorite dream.”

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“You can tell the bridge was stately
When it was young and new
But the years have been unkind to it
As its' age just grew and grew
The stories that this bridge could tell
Are numerous and happy and sad
Each could fill a book or two
With the experiences it has had.”

DSC_0036 “The stream at times has a gentle flow
At times it's swift and fast
Always being an integral part
Of the covered bridge and its' past
The area's nestled in a grove of trees
A place for picnics and fun
A place for Mom and Dad to rest
And a place for children to run”

DSC_0035 “The bridges' ultimate time of the year
Is the fall, when summer's done
When God gets out his paint brush
And pastels in the warmth of the sun
Each time I close my eyes to sleep
I hope for my favorite dream
The dream where I see the covered bridge
That spans that swollen stream.”

The Old Covered Bridge by Mr. Doug

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Next up:: A hike at Christmas Rocks State Nature Preserve. The Jacob’s Ladder Loop Trail.

DSC_0042 It’s always fun to find a “new” place close to where you live. This SNP used to be by permit only but not any longer. This is a great place to hike.

jtf1 Joe Todd says, ‘’ have a great day.”

Thursday, December 01, 2016

A Virtual Hike On The Main Trail At Blackhand Gorge State Nature Preserve….Ohio

MQTlogoa On a “Quality Time” November day in Ohio I took a hike on the Blackhand Trail near Newark,Ohio…
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UEK7Y0NF Located in Licking County 8 miles east of Newark on State Route 16, exit southeast on State Route 146 and proceed 1/4 mile to County Road 273. The preserve's entrance and parking lot are 1.5 miles south on County Road 273 just outside of Toboso. READ MORE
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DSC_0149 This cabin is near the main parking and trail head for the Blackhand Trail.
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DSC_0157 The paved Blackhand Trail extends 4.2 miles and is primarily used by bicyclists and pedestrians. Being an old rail line we are talking flat….
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DSC_0166DSC_0167 Side loop trail. Back to the bike path..
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As a side note: “Floating the Licking River preserve is permitted. On the west side of the preserve (Upstream) there is a gravel parking lot that is used to access the bike trail. It is on Brownsville
road just before the intersection with Brushy Fork and adjacent to the Licking River. You can park there and launch in the river. Take out is just past the preserve on the east end after passing under the bridge on Toboso road.”
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Deep Cut, where engineers did some blasting to cut through a large outcropping of bedrock .
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DSC_0187 Looks to me like a lot of people have crossed the barrier and done some climbing.. If you climb and fall at least you were warned.
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Not sure what the wall is about.
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DSC_0206 I think it would be really neat to see a train on these tracks/bridge.
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Chestnut trail following the contour of the hill.
DSC_0218 What’s a trail without a pipeline right away.
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This is where I spotted the bald eagle.
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First time I ever saw a bridge/path across a creek that looked like that.
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I wonder what the “gate” is for??? seems out of place to me.. I don’t think you can hike in Ohio without seeing a cornfield.
DSC_0231 Keep that electricity moving..
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DSC_0236 Short stretch of unpaved bike path. I’m not sure extreme caution is called for.
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Time to turn around and head back. Even though the temperature was in the 60’s it was starting to mist a little and I wasn’t prepared for any kind of precipitation. I had about 4 miles to go so I would say I moved at a very brisk pace back to the trailhead.
DSC_0243  The only other person I saw on the trail was a lone biker..
MQTlogoa It was a great day for a “Quality time” hike. In the future I’ll make sure to have an “emergency” rain jacket with me. Thanks for stopping by “My Quality Time.” Now, you get out there and do some hiking and enjoy the great outdoors…. (Better than thinking about politics. LOL)