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.