SKIES OVER CHESTNUT RIDGE METRO PARK (FOR SKY WATCH FRIDAY)

We will head back to Chestnut Ridge for this SKY Watch Friday Only about 20 minutes drive from my home in Lancaster,Ohio I have found a great place to hike and view the sky.

Chestnut Ridge Metro Park rises more than 150 feet—reaching an elevation above sea level of 1,050 feet. The above photo shows the skyline of Columbus, Ohio. (Photo was taken from an overlook on the trail)

     Now on the way to the metro park the skies had me a little worried:

Fortunately, many Ohio Farmers have already harvested their corn crop. As a matter of interest;  Ohio corn growers planted an estimated 100,000 more acres of corn in 2009 than they did last year.

    Well the hike is about over but I think one more look at the sky through the trees is appropriate.

As the sun goes down on the ridge a few of the oak leaves are highlighted.

HAAPY HOLIDAYS AND “THANKS FOR STOPPING BY”

For some great books about the SKY stop by the Book Store

Technorati Tags: SKY WATCH FRIDAY,CHESTNUT RIDGE METRO PARK,LANCASTER OHIO,COLUMBUS OHIO,BOOK STORE

 

ONE OF THE OLDER GRISTMILLS IN OHIO (FAIRFIELD COUNTY’S OWN ROCK MILL)

 

     Just outside of Lancaster,Ohio in Fairfield County one can find ROCK MILL.

     The RESTORATION of the mill is well underway and when operational will be driven by a 26-foot diameter wooden water wheel.

The  mill was originally built in 1787 by Joseph Loveland and Hezekiah Smith. If one wants to help with the restoration contact:

Fairfield County Historical Parks ~ 407 E. Main Street, Lancaster, Ohio 43130
Phone: (740) 681-7249 ~ Fax: (740) 681-4719
Email: director@historicalparks.org

     Just down the road you have Rock Mill Lake which is impounded by Hunters Run Structure No. 9 Dam on the Hocking River in Fairfield County, Ohio and is used for flood control and recreation ( FISHING ) etc.

 In closing I would like to mention a couple blogs I follow. First, JOYFUL REFLECTIONS visit Betsy from Tennessee. She really likes waterfalls and has some great photos on her blog. She is also an expert on the “church calendar” as one can tell by a couple of her recent posts. Second, ED KITCHEN PAINTINGS. you might even be able to find a painting of ROCK MILL.

 Ted R. says, “ after reading Betsy’s blog I had to go out and find a waterfall (in the rain) and as always THANKS FOR STOPPING BY.

Technorati Tags: QUALITY TIME,ROCK MILL,FAIRFIELD COUNTY OHIO,LANCASTER OHIO,ROCK MILL LAKE

 

MY YEAR OF WATER FOR WATERY WEDNESDAY (THREE STATES & ONE PROVINCE) OHIO,NEW YORK,FLORIDA.AND ONTARIO,CANADA

Some of these photos have shown up in previous posts. Can you figure out where they were taken. ( some are easy some are not) HAVE FUN. This is a WATERY WEDNESDAY POST.

How often, oh, how often,
In the days that had gone by,
I had stood on that bridge at midnight
And gazed on that wave and sky! Thanks Mr. Longfellow

Technorati Tags: WATERY WEDNESDAY,OHIO,NEW YORK STATE,FLORIDA,ONTARIO CANADA,WATER,QUALITY TIME,LANCASTER OHIO

 THE CHRISTMAS BEARS SAY,”THANKS FOR STOPPING BY.”

VISIT THE BOOK STORE FOR SOME WATERY BOOKS

CORNER GAS #1 COMEDY SITCOM IN CANADA (THERE ARE A FEW PEOPLE IN LANCASTER,OHIO THAT REMIND ME OF THESE CHARACTERS)

I know a little toooo much Amazon advertising but I’ve got to pay for next years golf somehow. So Ted R. says;

 PLEASE BEAR WITH ME

Technorati Tags: QUALITY TIME,LANCASTER OHIO,CORNER GAS

 

THE FIRST RIDGE IN THE FOOTHILLS OF THE APPALACIAN MOUNTAINS

A MY WORLD POST of a great metro park near Lancaster,Ohio

     Welcome to CHESTNUT RIDGE METRO PARK 486 acres, more than 70 species of birds, and a 2-acre pond.

(THANKS GOOGLE)

First, a look at the  sky before heading out    Looks a little “iffy” to me but by the time Ted R. and I reached the metro park things had cleared up.

 In the early fall I sat under that tree on a warm Sunday afternoon and took a nap.

Trail heads to top of ridge which I have hiked before. This happens to be a great park to take children for fishing,playground,and hiking.

A trip around the  2-acre pond. In the summer there is some serious fishing going on.

Make sure to read the “fishing rules” children 15 yrs old or younger. Photo bottom right Lockville Park probably next weeks That’s MY WORLD TUESDAY post.

Ted R. saying, “Thanks for stopping by.”

Technorati Tags: QUALITY TIME,LANCASTER OHIO,THAT'S MY WORLD TUESDAY,CHESTNUST RIDGE METRO PARK

SCENIC SUNDAY FROM LANCASTER,OHIO. TODAY’S FEATURE: “A WETLAND MITIGATION AREA” in Ohio

 

 FOR SOME GREAT SCENERY FROM AROUND THE WORLD THE “GO TO” SPOT IS SCENIC SUNDAY

What we have here is the “ Coon Path Road Wetland Mitigation Area.” I have driven by this area many times on my way to play golf and have been intrigued by how and why the 26.5 acres is as it is. Looks like an interesting place to explore. Well maybe not.

The scenic first photo was taken from Coon Path Road (road at bottom of photo). The entire area is enclosed by Rt. 33 bypass on the left, Rt 33 on the right and Coon Path at the bottom. (thanks Google for the aerial) 

This is a a pooled mitigation site created in 2002 to compensate for unavoidable wetland impacts resulting from Ohio Dept. Of Transportation project.

Upper right photo shows one of MANY “No Trespassing Signs.” I love railroad tracks and trains. I found it very difficult to not, “ just wander down the tracks.”

Just a few of the signs telling me not to explore further. But, I did learn via the sign that this whole area is a “mitigation area.”

Wow what’s that??? Go to Google and find out. “The site has been planted with over 32,500 container grown plants, 500 bare root stems, and 200 gallon container sized trees to develop a diverse community of aquatic bed, non-persistent emergent, and forested vegetation.” CLICK TO READ THE WHOLE STORY. I just want to say thanks for all the work and effort that went into creating this area.

This is what I call a true “multiuse area” railroad,power,pipeline,highway and unfortunately someone dumped some tires on the other side of the tracks. Yet, with a lot of work we have a scenic wetlands that is only going to improve with time. (Lancaster really did need a bypass)

To see where this last photo came from and see many more photos CLICK. Above photo shows Coon Path Road where I took several of my photos.

As a kid I had the opportunity to walk many miles of the railroad tracks and explore the farmland marsh area. What made it really great was my good friend Allen and I skipped  school to do it. At the time I think we were in the 7th or 8th grade. As I recall the fishing was pretty good and there were no signs saying, NO TRESPASSING.

   JOE TODD SAYS, “THANKS FOR STOPPING BY.””

Technorati Tags: SCENIC SUNDAY,OHIO MITIGATION AREA,COON PATH ROAD,OHIO WETLANDS,ROUTE 33 BYPASS LANCASTER OHIO