Nature
It’s Been Awhile, A Couple Of June Hikes In Community Park
A lot has changed since my last visit to the Community Park near my home in Hazle Township Luzerne County. I was away for a couple of weeks. The last time I was here many of the trees still were leafless. When I returned Monday afternoon I found all of the trees covered with lush…
Read MoreEurope Day Seven: Slovakia. A Morning Walk In Old Town Kosice And Beautiful Mestsky Park
The weather was perfect when I awoke early my first morning in Kosice, Slovakia. It was my first full day in the native country of some of my ancestors. The skies were clear, calm, deep blue, with a pleasant temperature in the low 60’s. Perfect walking weather. So, after a cup of coffee I was…
Read MoreA Weasel, A Chipmunk And Some Birds On A Cool And Cloudy June Hike At The Susquehanna Wetlands.
It was a cool, cloudy and very windy June day when I woke up Saturday morning. The 58 degree temperature seemed much colder with the strong northwesterly wind. The weather didn’t discourage me from driving the 20 miles to the Susquehanna Wetlands in Salem Township in Luzerne County. I wasn’t expecting to see a lot…
Read MoreEurope Day Seven. Slovakia: An Afternoon Walk In Kosice.
After my morning walk in Kosice, Slovakia, I had a late and hearty breakfast at the hotel and rested a bit while I caught up with editing the many photographs I was taking. Around 2 p.m. I decided to venture out again. I had hoped to walk to the Hornad River which flows through the…
Read MoreEurope Day Eight: Slovakia: A Hike In The Hills Outside Of Kosice.
On Tuesday morning, my second full day in in Slovakia, I decided to hike in the woodlands near Kosice. I didn’t rent a car, as originally planned, on this trip (I got my first International Divers license for the trip). I had arranged, on Wednesday, for a driver to take me to look for…
Read MoreMountain Laurel And Song Birds: A Hike To The Tank Hollow Overlook In Carbon County
It is late June, and that means the mountain laurel are blooming here in Northeastern Pennsylvania. Mountain laurel is our State Flower. It’s white, and pinkish flowers can be seen throughout the mountains of Pennsylvania. in mid to late June. However, the intensity of the bloom varies from year to year. Last year was not…
Read MoreMy Last Spring Hike , And A Couple Of Summer Hikes, In Community Park In Hazle Township
I continued my daily routine of taking an afternoon walk in the Community Park near my home in Hazle Township, Luzerne County this past week. Last Friday was my last Spring walk in the park. It was hard to believe the Summer Solstice arrived on Tuesday. Winters here in Northeastern Pennsylvania seem to last forever,…
Read MoreEurope Day Nine: Slovakia : No Relatives In Smolnik But A Wonderful Drive Through The Mountains And Countryside
After my early morning walk through the streets of Kosice , I was looking forward to my drive to the village of Smolnik. I learned Smolnik was a small village situated in the mountains of eastern Slovakia about 35 miles west of Kosice. It has a population of a little under a 1000 residents. I…
Read MoreA Kingfisher, An Eagle and Wood Duck, Oh My! Another Hike In The Susquehanna Wetlands
It is hard to believe, for me anyway , that Summer arrived last week. Spring passed so quickly. But , it was a perfect summer morning when I awoke Saturday. There was hazy sunshine, a light breeze and pleasant temperatures in the low 60’s. Of course, I decided to take the half hour drive to…
Read MoreEurope Day Nine: Slovakia: In Evening In Kosice: The Singing Fountain Is Enchanting.
I have posted a few photos of the famous Singing Fountain in Kosice, Slovakia in my earlier blog posts. I loved the fountain from the first time I saw it’s dancing waters and heard classical music my first day in Kosice.. It is one of the most popular attractions in Old Town Kosice. It certainly…
Read MoreNo Bear, But Some Birds And A Snake On The Greater Hazleton Rails To Trails.
On Saturday evening I received a text from a friend that there was a large male black bear on the Greater Hazleton Rails to Trails in Hazle Township, Luzerne County. So, of course on Sunday morning I was driving to the Greater Hazleton Rails to Trails to look for the bear. I decided to start…
Read MoreEurope Day Ten: Slovakia: A Long Walk And A Visit To The Botanical Gardens In Kosice Before The Storms.
I awoke early again on Thursday morning. It was my last full day in Kosice, Slovakia. I wanted to visit the botanical gardens in the city before I left. . The botanical gardens in Kosice were located about 2 1/2 mile from the Hilton Hotel where I was staying. It rained during the night. Rain…
Read MoreClose, But Sill No Bear, Another Hike On The Greater Hazleton Rails To Trails.
It was cloudy with a few showers here in Northeastern Pennsylvania on Saturday morning. I decided to stay close to home. There were a few more bear sightings at the Greater Hazleton Rails to Trails near my home in Luzerne County this past week. So, of course I was off to too go looking for…
Read MoreEurope Day Eleven: Slovakia: One Last Walk Through The Streets Of Kosice.
I awoke early again on my last day in Kosice. I had come to love this interesting city I have never heard of it or this area of our planet a few weeks before my visit. I wanted to walk through it’s charming streets one last time before I had to leave. After a cup…
Read MoreCan It Be July Already? Another Hike In The Susquehanna Wetlands
It was Saturday morning and, even though I had many great places to hike here in Northeastern Pennsylvania, I was going to the Susquehanna Wetlands in Salem Township, Luzerne County. It seems I always find something interesting here. I was still amazed at my trifecta sighting of a bald eagle, belted kingfisher and wood ducks…
Read MoreEurope Day Eleven: Hungary. My Last Hike In Hungary In The Quaint And Green Town Of Vecses
It didn’t take me long after checking into the Airport Hotel near the Budapest Airport to head out and explore the nearby neighborhood. I was considering resting in my room , editing some photos and packing for my return flight early the next morning. But I was in Hungary and decided to take one last hike…
Read MoreNo Bears, Again, But Another Nice, And Historic Hike In The State Game Lands In Dennison Township
My desire and mission to see and photograph a black bear continued on Monday. I decided to hike in State Game Lands 119 in Dennison Township Luzerne County. I have seen many bears hiking here over the years. But so far not a one on about five hikes this year. I was hoping that would…
Read MoreWood Ducks, A Kingfisher And A Bald Eagle, Again, Another Great Hike in the Susquehanna Wetlands
I returned to the Susquehanna Wetlands on Saturday, once again hoping to observe some cool critters to share here on my blog and social media. I always loved hiking and now it is even more enjoyable being able to share photos and reflections from my hikes, . Two weeks ago I saw wood ducks, a…
Read MoreAnother Hike In State Game Lands 119 And On The Black Diamond Trail In Luzerne County.
I know I am getting boring. With so many wonderful places to hike in Northeastern Pennsylvania, I returned to State Game Lands 119 and the Black Diamond Trail in Luzerne County on Sunday morning. I like hiking here since I know the trails and I have seen many black bears on my previous hikes. here…
Read MoreDragonflies, Butterflies And Bees At Lake Irena And Community Park.
I returned to Community Park in Hazle Township, Luzerne County a couple of times these past two weeks. I took my usually three mile afternoon hike around Lake Irena and into the surrounding woodlands. No eagles or bears but a lot of bees, butterflies and dragonflies. The was nice Summer weather for all of my…
Read MoreBirds And A Bobcat, Yep, A Bobcat, At The Susquehanna Wetlands in Luzerne County
I always thought I had seen a bobcat or two on my many miles of hiking in the woods of Northeastern Pennsylvania over the years. However, I was never quite 100% sure. The critters I suspected of being a bobcat always ran quickly into the woods leaving me with some doubt. It looked like a…
Read MoreNo Bears And Not Many Birds But Still Another Nice Hike In State Game Lands 119
I was still excited and elated from my surprise and unexpected encounter with the bobcat in the Susquehanna Wetlands on Sunday morning. It was such a beautiful animal. And I was so fortunate to see and photograph this usually seclusive critter. I decided to search for another one of my favorite Pennsylvania mammals in State…
Read MoreSummer Heat , Cicadas and Cicada Killer Wasps At The Susquehanna Wetlands.
Summer is at it’s peak here in Northeastern Pennsylvania. And this year it has produced some mid-Summer heat. Temperatures reached 90 degrees this past week. As usual, I decided to make my weekly visit to the Susquehanna Wetlands and River Lands in Salem Township Luzerne County. I was still excited from my sighting of the…
Read MoreA Sunny And Hot Hike On The Greater Hazleton Rails To Trails
The heat wave continued here in Northeastern Pennsylvania on Sunday. Temperatures would reach 90 degrees again. I decided to stay close to home and hike on the local Greater Hazleton Rails to Trails in Hazle Township, Luzerne County. I took my usual 2 mile early morning walk in my neighborhood and then drove to the…
Read MoreSummer Heat, Insects, Wildflowers And A Few Birds At Community Park
Summer is at it’s peak here in Northeastern Pennsylvania. And we experienced a Summer heat wave this past week with temperatures reaching 90 degrees. I was able to get out to the Community Park, located a short distance from my home in Hazle Township Luzerne County, for a 3 mile walk on most weekday afternoons. …
Read MoreA Last Minute Decision, And My First Visit To Beautiful Ohiopyle State Park
I awoke Friday morning thinking about hiking somewhere different this weekend. For years I have heard about the beauty of Ohiopyle State Park. Many of my friends who hike and enjoy the outdoors told me it was one of their favorite state parks. It is located in Fayette County in the Laurel Highlands of Southwestern…
Read MoreCucumber Falls And A Hike On The Great Gorge Trail In Ohiopyle State Park
The skies were clear on Summit Mountain when I awoke early Saturday morning on my recent visit to the Laurel Highlands in Southwestern Pennsylvania. However, there was a thick fog in the valley below the Summit Inn were I was staying. I drove into the thick fog on my way to the Ohiopyle State Park …
Read MoreA Hike On The Jonathan Run And Allegheny Passage Trails In Ohiopyle State Park
The skies were mostly clear and it was a cool 57 degrees when I awoke at the Historic Summit Inn in the Laurel Highlands on Sunday. I had a great day at Fallingwater and the Ohiopyle State Park with my niece Cassidy on Saturday. I wanted to get one more hike in the park before…
Read MoreHazy, Hot And Humid, A Mid-Summer Hike At The Susquehanna Wetlands
It’s hard to believe it is mid-Summer already. July passed like the wink of an eye, for me anyway. It is August, and although the Summer is half over , we had an old fashioned heat wave this past week, with temperatures soaring into the 90’s here in Northeastern Pennsylvania. I decided to hike in…
Read MoreA Hike On The Spirit Of Tuscarora Trail At Tuscarora State Park
I decided to hike on the Spirit of Tuscarora Trail in Tuscarora State Park last Sunday. There was a mushroom festival going on nearby so I was going to get in a five mile hike and then visit the festival. Located in Schuylkill County, and first opened in 1971, the Tuscarora State Park is named…
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