16 Degree Road Trip

2/14/16 - Valentine's Day

So the temps were only supposed to be teens today.  Neither of us felt like hiking long distances in that type of cold, but neither of us wanted to stay inside.  Kerry had wanted to go to the Lanternman's Mill in Mill Creek Metroparks, up in Youngstown Ohio, for some time now.  There are some other falls in the park too, so we figured today would be a good day to go see them.

We also heard that Brandywine Falls was frozen after the arctic like temperatures we had been experiencing.  Sounded like something we had to see, and not too too far from Mill Creek Metroparks.  So that was our first stop and this time, we just parked at the falls, camera in hand.  Wow!  What a difference 9 days can make!

Brandywine Falls 2/5/16

Brandywine Falls 2/14/16

We got to Mill Creek Metroparks and were totally blown away.  We parked in a small lot at Lanternman's Mill, and walked the small distance to the mill.  There is an overlook of the mill and the falls, an observation deck right next to the falls, and a pretty cool covered bridge upstream of the mill.  

 

All of that is worth the drive, in of itself.  What we were totally not expecting was from the mill falls, the river drops into an amazing gorge with a boardwalk trail extending the length of the gorge, along one side, and about half way up the height of the gorge.  We only walked about a quarter of a mile down the gorge, and there were so many cool rock formations, views of the river and this time of year ice formations.  This was even more spectacular than the falls, perhaps because it was so unexpected. 

We drove the roadways to check out the rest of the park.  We came across a really cool suspension bridge, some amazing old buildings and ended up at Fellows Riverside Garden.  We didn't explore any of these things, but merely conducted a scouting mission.  We will definitively be back to explore this Metropark in depth.

Hike to Brandywine Falls

2/5/2016

A visit to Brandywine Falls had been on the list for quite some time.  We had a Friday off from work so we decided to make the drive and take the hike.  Brandywine Falls is located in the Brecksville Area of the Cuyahoga Valley National Park, near Cleveland, OH.  It's only about a 2 hour drive from Columbus and we have just begun to explore this area.  Two years ago we parked the truck at one of the train stations and for $3.00 a person we stowed the bikes on a special car and rode the train 15 miles out, and rode the bikes back along the Towpath Trail to the car.  A bike ride and a train ride... how could you go wrong.

Now, you can park right at Brandywine Falls and have a very short walk from the parking lot to the falls, but that doesn't sound much like us.  We parked at the Boston Store Visitor Center, got a map and our National Park hiking pin, and headed north on the Towpath Trail about a half mile to a connector trail to the Standford Trail.  Turns out you can park at the Standford Farm, behind the barn in a small dirt lot.  You can usually make this a loop trail, but a foot bridge over the Brandywine Creek washed out last spring and has not been replaced.  In the summer time, during warm weather and low water levels, they say you can cross the creek by hopping from rock to rock.  Being that it is February after a few day of ran, we didn't want to chance it, and just made it an out and back trail (the solid green trail on the map), a total of about 4.65 miles.

The trail half frozen, half muddy on the way out, and was only going to get worse on the way back as temperatures were climbing to a whopping 38 degrees (On the way back, we actually walked the Stanford Rd back to Boston Store to avoid the now completely muddy trail.)  The trail started out in old field habitat, but quickly turned to mature open woods.  There were two hills to contend with, but nothing to killer.  It was a nice walk in the woods, but nothing compared to the falls that waited at the halfway point.

These falls drop 65 feet into a gorge, with enormous boulders below.  There is a beautiful elevated boardwalk along the side of the gorge, ending at large observation deck about middle height of the falls. Incredible.

 

Once again we pretty much had the trail to ourselves, and only a few people on the deck. Shortly after our arrival, the other hikers left, and we had the deck to ourselves.  It was the perfect place, and the perfect time for me to take a knee and ask for her hand in marriage.  Luckily she said yes, as a friend pointed out, that would have been a long, awkward hike and drive home otherwise!

The hike was nice, and highly recommended.  And if you don't hike, you at least have to see these falls, they truly amazing... even if you don't get engaged while you are there.

We are super excited to be starting this new phase of our adventure Together Outdoors.

Quick Florida Trip

1/16/2015

We made it down to Palm Coast Florida for a quick visit for some family time, some nature time and some sunshine.  Mother nature didn't disappoint.  While it may not have been super warm by Florida standards, it was 40 degrees warmer than home and the sun was shining.

We flew in on Saturday morning and that night we went into St. Augustine for dinner and to look at the lights.  St. Augustine goes all out for their Christmas lights and leaves them up the whole month of January.  So after some fresh shrimp, we took a tram tour historic area of the city.



The next morning, we headed down to the beach for sunrise.  One of my favorite things to do, that is, except for the waking up early part.  A morning person I am not.  The sunrise was underwhelming.  But how can you not be happy to be on the beach.  The wind.  The waves.  The wildlife.  The sun.  The company.

After breakfast at our favorite local diner the Chicken Pantry, what we affectionately call the duck hut, for what reason, I have no idea, Kerry and I were off to Washington Oaks Gardens State Park.  Started on the beach side and walked north along the beach to an outcropping of coquina rock.

  


We then crossed A1A to the botanical gardens side of the park.  The live oaks and spanish moss here are amazing and the golden afternoon light lit them perfectly.  We were sitting behind the visitor center on a patio under the shade of a massive oak.  We heard the low rumbling of a great horned owl waking up from a slumber and spent the next hour or so looking for it in the tree we were sitting under.  It's call grew louder and louder, and we were certain it was in the tree we were sitting under.   Eventually a crowd grew, all of us with our necks crooked, looking up into this tree.  We met a local photographer who said he has been hearing the owl for weeks, but has yet to find it.  We left, still without seeing it. We checked the photogs website, and he too was unsuccessful.  While we did not see the great horned owl, we did see 4 bald eagles, an osprey, and a Florida water snake.

The next day another shot at the sunrise.  Again.  A little underwhelming photography wise.  Today we met up with the family to explore St. Augustine.  Such a cool city, rich in history and lots to do.  We started with the Castillo De San Marcos National Monument.  It was MLK Day so it was free for the day, which also meant it was crowded.  A really neat place to visit, for both history and photography.  Afterwards we then took a walk down St. George Street, passing the oldest wooden school house in the United States.

 

After lunch, we headed over to the St. Augustine Lighthouse.  A climb up the 219 steps to the top deck and a great view of St. Augustine, and Matanzas River and the Atlantic Ocean.

The next morning was the sunrise we were looking for, and just in time as it was our last of the trip.  A front was moving through, and the temperature was only about 34 degrees and windy.  My hands were frozen after taking pictures but it was worth it.  The clouds associated with the front provided excellent interest in the sky and the colors were spectacular.  The middle of the sunrise was the best and lasted only about 5 minutes.  After that I concentrated on the seabirds in plentiful numbers.  We had a little ruddy turnstone following us, nearly underfoot.  I wonder if he was hoping for us to kick something in the sand as we walked.  Ring-billed gulls were plentiful.  And a new species for me, a redknot, though it was in it's duller winter plumage.

Later in the day we took a walk along one of the numerous greenway trails in Palm Coast.  A nice 3 mile walk through the oaks and palm trees.  Another new bird for me, a limpkin, and we saw a bald eagle soaring high above too.  A great trip hate to see it end.