the harmony hike revisited

In addition to our usual Knob Hill walk today, we decided to re-visit the old Harmony Hike trail - the first good walking place that Jubilee and I found after coming to PA. 

 We had never seen it during the springtime.

 Good weeds ...

 ... and buds ....

 Dogwood still blooming ...

 John and Jubilee checking out the creek ...

 Still a good walk.  The poles for the are obviously tall tine trees - you can see where the branches have been taken off.

 

In other news, we were visited by some friends from Wellsville - Jeanne and Kevin.  We usually met them on Friday nights in Wellsville for a fish dinner at the "Hog".  The restaurant in Cranberry didn't even come close to the Hog, but we were happy to see Jeanne and Kevin.

 (wish my hair would grow!!!)

 Leafing continuing at a rate that is impossible to keep up with!

 Saw this white blooming tree over on the Harmony Trail where you could still see the red buds ...

 View from our window ...

the sunken garden trail

An amazingly beautiful spring day, early this morning we headed up to Moraine State Park for a hike around the sunken garden.  We had the trail to ourselves, then a picnic lunch at the lakeside.  Such a palpable quietness there.

 This is the sunken garden.

 This is the bridge that Jubilee fell off of.  Her eyesight is not good anymore and she can't seem to be able to judge distances.  Anyway, she enjoyed the swim.

 Full of stickers.  Jubilee is always interested in what I am photographing.  I was worried that she would walk across this and then we would have a lame dog to carry back to the car ...

 We could smell these "blossoms".

down by the canal

Somewhat cooler than usual in Florida, it's a good time for walks down by the canal.

This is the heron that hangs out on the back of the decoy.

An unusual looking bird on the other side of the lake (hard to see because he was so far away) ...

... and neighbor Linda's lovely fence flowers ...

It's all a far cry from the snow and below freezing temperatures that John will face when he heads back North next week.  If all goes well, Jubilee and I should be up there in February, before the winter ends.

McConnell's Mill, probably for the last time

We went up to McConnell's Mill today for a walk.  It's a nice day, partly cloudy, not too hot.  I was reminded of that first trip we took to this park when Jubilee and I first arrived in western Pennsylvania 2 years ago.  We didn't even have a place to live yet, but we had found this magical root and rock wonderland that cuts deep into Pennsylvania's farmland.  We have periodically returned to this park for a revival of spirit.

It was quite crowded today - a bicycle thing going on as well as a whole fleet of motorcycles passing through - so we didn't stay long.  I suspect this might have been our last visit.  It was a good find.

North Park Mountain Bike Trails

What a beautiful day.  It is cold (sort of) but feels great to be outside.  We went over to North Park looking for the Rachel Carson Trail, and ended up on a mountain bike trail.  This is of interest to John since he has a mountain bike.  We didn't see many people on bikes, though.  Only four.

 I am always worried about my ears in cold weather, and had this band on my head which John said made a "muffin top".

 We came across this cute cabin ...

 No trespassing signs all over it, but, I mean, why not?

 It was a kind of open shelter ...

 ... made from rock and wood ...

 This is one of the signs at the head of an "advanced" mountain trail.  Note the skull and crossbones.  It is definitely not a ride for a beginner.  There are "jumps"

.

 Jubilee is headed over the "jump" ...

Some cool trail markers ...

 I wouldn't want to be in the way ...

 Then there was this thing that looked like a mountain bike challenge or something ...

 John had trouble walking it, much less maneuvering a bike around it ...

 Jubilee follows John at his heals around the track.  She wanted to be up there with him!