the old train view

The skies brightened up for about 20 minutes Friday so I snapped a few photos of the Wally Road Scenic Byway.( www.wallyroad.org) I looked up from the road and saw some of the close-up scenery that made this one of the top scenic train rides in the Midwest.

Here is Wally Road nestled between Mohican River Inn cliffs and the Mohican State Scenic River.

these cliffs are about 150 feet high with the sandstone face...the view from a train car must have been magical to flatlanders like me

Thw old Smoke Signal pit is about 600 feet up the hill from this spot

The Hemlocks and Oaks hold their own by anchoring into the fissures in the sandstone bedrock, and by creating a network of roots throughout the thin soils on these hills

Here is the new rustic sign at the entry...look for it when you visit!

A few of my favorite photos

as the Ohio snow falls upon these hills



i looked back through all the pictures from summer



here are some of my favorites from this place



we hope you come see it for yourself in '09!







Happy New Year!





along the hiking trails

daisies

impatiens

minds open to wonder

simplicity

i think i am hiding by turning green

hemlock anchoring into the fertile soil from above the cliff

simply gorgeous fern

dogwood blossoms like fluttering butterflies

i could go on....

Close Encounters

I had the very unique experience today of driving alongside the Bald Eagle as she flew above the river, up the valley toward Smith's Campground and Cabins. As I pulled from my driveway onto Wally Road, I spotted her to my right over the River. She stayed about 30-40 feet above the water as she flew. From our driveway to the north there is a half mile stretch of road where the River parellels the road. She was of course very graceful in flight, and came to perch in a huge Sycamore as I went off to the post office to get my mail. If I had had my camera, I could post the photos. But photos wouldn't do her justice. As the saying goes, a picture is worth a thousand words...but an experience is worth a thousand pictures.

Thanksgiving is obviously over...

This group of 15 turkeys enjoyed the early morning solitude of the hill. They pecked their way down the hill, across the parking area, and then stood on the edge and considered wandering down the hill toward Wally Road for a minute. After some tentative head bobbing, they turned back around and went back across the parking lot, and finally back into the woods near AJ's. After about 5 minutes of observing them, I did get a 'cluck' when they saw me with the camera around the corner of the front door.

The River

Nice picture from Monday morning of the Mohican River about 3 miles south of us on this road...we have experienced some sunshine since Monday...so we are still happy down here in the valley.

AJ's Bar and Grill is OPENING!!!!!

We are excited to announce we will be opening AJs Bar & Grill the first week of December! Our Winter schedule will be Friday evenings, Saturdays and Sundays. Our starting menu will be simple...burgers, dogs, deli sandwiches, french fries, and other appetizers, and there will be a selection of beverages as well!

The atmosphere is warm, cozy, homey, and we hope you will enjoy spending an evening or weekend with us sometime in the near future! The atmosphere is completed with a pool table, juke box, dart board, video games, satellite TV, and... as long as the world's financial systems are still sort of working, we are proud to say we have the only ATM on the Wally Road Scenic Byway! (if the financial systems do collapse, we will accept eggs, nuts, cheese and potatoes as currency in exchange for beer. So start saving!)

Watch for New Year's Eve packages coming soon!

Thanks for keeping in touch with us!
Andy

Follow up to Sunday morning walk

i thought it would be neat to see the same things from last Sunday since we got snow

here are pictures of the valley, and the moss-covered log (now the snow-covered log)

here are Christmas Ferns covered in snow, and the buck rub again located at the switchback on the trail that leads to the Indian Smoke Signal Pit


Eastern White Pine cone , nestled in snow





check back again soon to see more great views of the grounds at Mohican River Inn!

Sunday Morning walk

I got away for 15 minutes and walked halfway up the hill. In that time I saw a bald eagle fly overhead, a deer run around the hill and out of sight, and some chipmunks.

The eagle sometimes follows the ridge up from the river valley and soars out over the Mohican River where it bends at the Lake Fork Tributary across from the smoke signal pit at the highest point on the ridge.

Also kicked up a deer. Fortunately it was a doe so it wasn't like I was invading her territory as opposed to a buck who may want me out of his territory this time of year...all hocked up on testosterone and such (the buck, that is, not me...). Here is a picture of the nearest "buck rub" I saw. They mark their territory by rubbing the smooth bark off young trees...a calling card that says 'stay back.'

Of course the camera is never fast enough to get the bald eagle. Someday maybe I will get a picture of her close up...

Polyface, Inc.

If you get a moment, check out this link to Polyface, Inc.

http://www.polyfacefarms.com/

Their philosophy is inspiring and while not producing agricultural products at the inn, reflects our idea of sustaining the landscape we have.

It's worth a couple minutes look if you get a moment...

CONFERENCE AREA

THESE PICTURES SHOW SEATING SET-UP FOR 50 PEOPLE

AJs and the conference area SNEAK PEEK!!!

ok....for the first time ever.......

TAKE A PEEK

"HISTORY"

"NATURE"

"HERITAGE"

More deer

First here is our woodpecker tree at the end of the inn...full of holes and has already broken up enough that it won't pose a threat of falling on anyone...you can see the birds visit it just about any time of day if you just wait a few minutes

These guys were hanging out just outside the office door a couple days ago. Got a picture through the window...it' reflective glass so they couldn't see me right inside the door...

Got another picture of mama as she walked across the drive and into the woods downhill...

Weekend Walk--just photos

Chipmunks

Here's a set of cool pictures close up of my closest neighbor--a chipmunk. There are actually several around the inn and you can watch them running around the hillside. If you scare them, they let out a squeak as they run away that makes you chuckle. Often there are 2 at a time chasing each other around, and they are more evident than ever right now as they rustle through the leaves and make a lot of playful commotion.

Here is a link to learn more about these critters.

http://www.chipmunkplace.org/

Oh, Deer

The local family of deer is pretty used to people at this point. But with their annual rut coming soon, we will be a bit more cautious when we walk the trails.








The top photo is of the mama about 75 feet from the office door...

and the bottom photo is of her twins... about 20 feet from the balcony of Room 103...still with their spots.

Friendliest tree I ever met...

As the winds reached 70 miles per hour, the red maple close the the deck couldn't take it anymore. As I watched from inside, the tree fell--in slow motion--and lighted upon the deck as gently as could be. It missed the large picture window, the patio door, the upstairs window, the 2 flower pots, and the fountain. And the deck was still intact, as sturdy as ever. The photo shows the size of the tree, as it hung another 10 feet over the other side of the 40 foot long deck!

Clean-up took a day but no-one, or no-thing (except the tree) was injured. That is a friendly half ton of tree!

Time to plant the partial-shade garden now that the tree has relinquished some of its claim to the sunlight...