Went for a Walk | The Beauty Around Us

Posts tagged ‘Went for a Walk’

Friday Afternoon Drive: Allegany State Park

Bob and I went for a drive Friday afternoon. We drove to Allegany State Park via Bradford, PA. Our first stop was at Willow Dale Duck Pond. Our second stop was at Marilla Reservoir.

From Marilla Reservoir we drove into Bradford, stopping at Country Fair. We went to the bathroom and picked up a couple snacks and water to drink. From Bradford we drove to Allegany State Park, entering the park via Interstate Parkway to ASP Route 2. We followed ASP 2 to France Brook Road. The unpaved France Book Road runs from ASP Route 2, about 5 miles south of Red House Lake, to ASP Route 1 near Bay State Road.

One view from France Brook Road

We turned right onto ASP Route 1 and stopped at the Program Site 62 sign for Bridal Falls. It’s a short (~.25 mile) hike to Bridal Falls from the roadside parking area.

Bridal Falls

Leaving Bridal Falls, we continued our drive on ASP Route 1 to Red House Lake. We passed by the Tudor-style Red House Administration Building and parked alongside the lake near the arched bridge. The bridge crosses over the Red House Lake Dam. We hiked on a trail that went around the spillway. It was our first time on this trail.

Red House Brook

We discovered that there were 30-meter and 50-meter ski jumps at Allegany State Park.
We passed by the ski jump on our way around the spillway.
I didn’t realize it was a ski jump at the time.
I’ll be sure to take a picture next time we are in the area!

We climbed back up to ASP Route 1 from the spillway area. Part way across the arched bridge are steps that lead down to the creek bed. We walked a short distance down the steps to an overlook of the Red House Lake dam.

Red House Lake dam

Red House Lake

This was our last stop on our Friday afternoon drive. From Allegany State Park we drove back home. It was a beautiful afternoon for a drive.

Friday Afternoon Drive: Marilla Reservoir

Bob and I went for a drive Friday afternoon. We drove to Allegany State Park via Bradford, PA. Our first stop was at Willow Dale Duck Pond.

From Willow Dale Duck Pond we continued driving on PA Route 346 towards Bradford, PA. In only a few short miles we reached Marilla Reservoir.

Marilla Reservoir

We walked the one-mile trail surrounding the reservoir. The trail, which features three wooden bridges, is wide and constructed of a tightly compacted crushed gravel surface. One of the wooden bridges is seen in the photograph displayed above, way off in the distance. From this bridge you can look across the reservoir and see another wooden bridge.

the Erik Benjamin covered bridge

I used a telescopic lens to photograph the covered bridge
from the bridge seen across the reservoir in the previous photograph.

The majority of the trail winds through woods alongside the edge of the reservoir.

Marilla Bridges Trail

I liked how this tree was framed and how the light was hitting it.

Our final destination was Allegany State Park, the subject of my next blog post.

An Afternoon Walk at A Nature Center

More walking is in our future, with BOTH of us now owning a Fitbit. My Fitbit Flex arrived from Amazon on Tuesday, and Bob purchased a Fitbit Charge HR at Walmart on Wednesday.

We went for a walk at the Audubon Center & Sanctuary in Jamestown, NY yesterday afternoon, soon after Bob came home from work. We walked for approximately 2 miles (1 1/2 hours), following mainly the Yellow and Orange Trails. What a beautiful afternoon for a walk!

One of several small ponds at Audubon Center & Sanctuary

We walked around Big Pond and Spatterdock Pond.

This is Big Pond.
Water used to fill the pond.

A pair of Geese on Spatterdock Pond.

Spatterdock Pond

I spotted this butterfly, while walking around Spatterdock Pond.

Spatterdock Boardwalk
and Photo Blind overlooking Spatterdock Pond
This boardwalk is one of my favorite features at Audubon.

The highlight of our walk was seeing a muskrat toward the end of our walk.

a muskrat!
I had never personally seen a muskrat.

Bob and I each have a goal of 10,000 steps each day. Since Tuesday afternoon I have walked 24,283 steps. Since Wednesday afternoon Bob has walked 27,065 steps. Yesterday, I *almost* reached my goal with 9,754 steps!

Marge and Linda’s Adventure

These are the two pictures that started it all. Marge posted a couple Bitstrips comic, starring herself and me, on her Facebook page.

It was my idea to combine a lunch date with a nature walk.

We met at Betts Park, here in Warren, at 11:00 AM. It was a good thing we dressed warmly, to include several layers and gloves. The temperature was only 10 degrees, when we set out on our walk.

We weren’t the only ones at the park, braving the cold temperatures.

This sheepdog was taking its owner for a walk.

How cold was it? I believe these photographs will give you a shiver or two!

I took this photograph of Marge, as we were finishing up our walk.

After our walk, we went to Chido’s Restaurant for lunch. We each ordered beef stew and a side salad. The stew was a good choice, after such a cold walk!

Afternoon Walk

Encouraged by The Blue Ridge Gal’s most recent blog post, I put on my walking shoes and went for an afternoon walk. I had a destination in mind — our local water company, where I would drop off this month’s utility payment.

My neighbor, two doors down, was in her front lawn gardening. Sue invited me to see her back yard flower gardens. I’ll be sure and do that sometime this week. Sue’s yard is lovely, front and back.

I walked three blocks and heard falling water. I looked around and found this water garden. Isn’t it pretty?

Girl Carrying a Scooter

As this girl approached me, she asked if I wondered why she wasn’t riding the scooter. So I asked how come she was carrying the scooter rather than riding it. The girl said it hurt her toe to ride the scooter, so she carries it to the playground. This way she will be able to ride for a longer time at the playground.

My destination – our local water company

I dropped off payment for this month’s water bill and visited for a short time with Linda S. before walking back home. I enjoyed our conversation, Linda. I hope you enjoy my blog 🙂

I walked a total of 1.2 miles today. I would like to walk on a regular basis. I know that the exercise is good for me. I won’t promise anything. We’ll just see how it goes. Thank you, Di (the Blue Ridge Gal), for providing the encouragement for me to go for a walk.

Early Summer Visit to the Audubon Center and Sanctuary

My friend Susan and I visited the Audubon Center and Sanctuary in Jamestown, New York. I have visited the Audubon Center numerous times. You may view other blog posts that I have written about visits to the Audubon Center and Sanctuary by clicking on the tag “Audubon Center and Sanctuary” found at the top of this blog post.

This was Susan’s first visit to the Audubon Center. It was a good day for a visit because the cool temperature and light breeze kept the bugs away.

Big Pond
It was a sunny day, with blue skies and white puffy clouds.

One of several small ponds

Sun-bathing Turtle

My friend Susan

A trip to the Audubon Center is not complete without visiting Liberty.

Liberty

This photograph was taken shortly after Liberty had flown here from another perch. One day I hope to capture a good photograph of Liberty in flight. Liberty’s shelter is not large, so I would have to be real quick on the trigger!

There is so much more of the Audubon Center that I would like to share with Susan. I hope that we make a return visit in the near future.

An Afternoon Stroll on the Warren-North Warren Bike/Hike Trail

Bob and I have the good fortune to live near the Warren/North Warren Bike/Hike Trail. The bike/hike trail is an abandoned railroad corridor that has been converted into an off-road trail for recreational use. The current trail goes from Warren’s East Street, alongside the Conewango Creek and Route 62, to North State Street in North Warren. The trail is 2.7 miles long.

Plans are in place for extending the trail an additional 4,300 feet. The 4,300-foot extension will begin at the intersection of North State Street and Route 62, where the trail now ends, and continue north to the northwest corner of the Warren Mall parking lot close to the Conewango Creek. This past Sunday Bob and I went for a walk through our neighborhood and entered the bike/hike trail at the intersection of Jackson Run Road and Route 62. We passed by the grounds of Warren State Hospital.

Warren State Hospital

We walked past the Warren State Hospital grounds but didn’t quite reach the end of the trail. My knee was hurting. Even though we took a break at a bench along the trail, I was afraid if we walked to the end of the trail that I would not be able to walk back home. I took a few more pictures on our way back home.

The Train Station

We’ve eaten at The Train Station restaurant a few times. The food is of good quality and reasonably priced. The bike/hike trail is built on an abandoned railroad corridor. This restaurant was an actual train station when trains went through this corridor. To the left of the restaurant is the Warren State Hospital grounds.