A Hike with Lisa

Today we hiked with Marie's long-time friend Lisa. I met Lisa once before about 20 years ago. We met up at a different trailhead from where Marie and I walked last week on the Ontario & Western Rail Trail. We connected today to that hike.

The trail is 27 miles long (and I've now done 4 of them). Today's miles were different, so that is good, but the trail here is so close to the busy road that we could hardly visit for the noise.

This is pretty cool. The low hills in the background are just that- hills. One of them is called Morgan Hill. Directly behind them is the Ashokan Reservoir (link below), and behind that are the Catskills, and from there you can see the highest point in the Catskills, and the eastern end of the Finger Lakes Trail is up there.

There were occasional low berms between the trail and the road and various groups had adopted them to landscape. Not too much of interest in this season (some ornamental grasses that still look OK), but this caught my eye. This is a honey locust. However, this is not a typical growth from for a locust at all. This looks like it has been trained into more of a bonsai shape for landscaping purposes. I like it! I'd like to see it with leaves.

One of the underpasses had a nice mural that hasn't been defaced yet. (most of the interpretive signs were)

More errands. I actually did some editing work while Marie rested. Dinner and our game.

Miles walked in 2026: 68.1

Ontario and Western Rail Trail, Hurly north to Esopus Creek and back, 3.9 miles.

See Ashokan Reservoir Hike

Goodbye Philadelphia in the Rain

It was a good day to spend in the car, and that filled most of the day. David waves us off from his doorstep.

We did begin with something very nice. Rachel had to go to work, but David and Marie...

... and Carmen and I went out to breakfast. Carmen is a long-time friend of Dave and Rachel, and I've known her for probably 10 years, but I guess she hasn't made it on the blog before.

Just a few more images of Philadelphia from yesterday. Philly has hundreds of murals. (Nope, I just looked it up- they have 4000-5000 and it is known as the mural capital of the world.) Here's one. A lot of them are really amazing, but I can't catch photos from the moving car. Maybe some trip I'll try to do a better job with pictures of murals.

And if this doesn't say Philadelphia to you, I can't make it any better. This is a straight-on view of City Hall with the statue of William Penn on the top.

And an attempt to catch a side view on a different street.

It rained ALL day, turning to slush as we got back to Marie's. But tomorrow is another day!

See Rooted

So Long, Marie- Hello, Bill

 It's really hard to get my head around the idea that exactly 25 hours ago I was on the train just leaving New York. Now I'm home.

Had to say so long to Marie.

But after 12 hours on the train (maybe 6 hours sleep), I hopped in my car which was unmolested, and it started right up. Drove to Ann Arbor, and went to Bill's house.

We walked downtown to go to breakfast and Bivouac (the primary camping/hiking outfitter in A2) to look for maps. We got one of the ones we wanted. But somewhere on that wall behind Bill is a picture of me and Marie, and maybe Mathilda, because Bivouac is where I purchased all my original backpacking gear except the pack in 1993.

The only flowers blooming here are on a wall mural, although most of the snow is gone.

We walked back to his house and had a blast looking at maps. We are cooking up a potential adventure for this summer. Not 100% sure yet, but probably. Here's a clue.

Then another 4 hours to drive home. Snow pretty much gone here too!

Tomorrow, I'm sure you'll see more Flower Show. I need to stop adventuring and get back to work! Now it's time to rest.

Miles hiked in 2025: 46.4

Sidewalks and a couple of parks through Ann Arbor- 5.5 miles

See Thorne Preserve and Ferncliff Forest

Philadelphia Riverwalk Again

 This morning, Marie, Pam, Larry and I hiked down to the Schuylkill River and did part of the Riverwalk. It was in the 50s, but there with a brisk little breeze. There were a lot of people walking and jogging despite the fact that it's a workday. (Marie and I hiked a good piece of it in 2020)

This is where the sidewalk climbs up to cross multiple railroad tracks before you descend to the river edge. I like that it's like a plaza with seating places as well as the walkway. You can climb the stairs on the left, or the accessible ramp switchbacks its way back and forth across it.

Once you get across the tracks, there is a more ordinary stair/ramp going down to the river. This view lets you see how the Riverwalk is right beside the water.

We did not go the direction this is facing, but turned right and headed basically north along the river.

There is art along the way. This sculpture is called "Air" by Walter Hancock. It makes me wonder if there are Fire, Earth, and Water somewhere else.

This mural is called "Convergence" by Rebecca Rutstein. It is supposed to be a meditation on the river.

We did not walk quite as far as Marie and I did in 2020 (link below), but we did a total of 3.5 miles, my longest hike since being sick. Also, Marie and I walked a few blocks to get bagels earlier in the morning.

Other than that, we fixed food and played games. There was also a nap.

Miles hiked in 2025: 22.3

See Philadelphia Riverwalk

Around Grand Ledge

I'm tired. It was a good sales day, but not stellar. Since it was such a big event, I thought I might do better. Lots and lots of people wanted to talk, but that did not always translate to sales. I don't mind talking to people (when I know that's what I'm there for), but I wish it would have converted to more sales.

Anyway, after we unloaded our cars (not very near our booths and had to drag our carts across wet, thick grass), the parking was a half-mile away! So at the end of the day, when I was walking that half mile again to get the car, I walked through the park along the Grand River.

The park has a couple of fun things for kids other than the usual playground equipment. This one is for making music. The flowers are bells. The pipes make different tones when you bang on them, and the other two are instruments with steel strings.

Naturally, on a hot day, the splash pad was hugely attractive.

I'm sure this mural has all kinds of references to Grand Ledge history, but I don't know what they are, and I'm too tired to care tonight.

There is a really nice hiking trail, just down the street from where I was, but I was also to tired to go do that.

I bought a piece of gas station pizza and a fountain drink with lots of ice, and drove home. Since I can hardly keep my eyes open, I think I'll be passing out soon.

See Grand River in Lansing

A Good Day at the Office

 
Who cares if it's Monday? It was a really good day at the office-- the North Country Trail Association office, that is.

Here's a quilt that hangs on the office wall. It's one that was made for the auction a few years ago to raise money for land protection. Notice the seven states in the squares around the edges.



I went down to meet with the Park Service staff in the morning. It was all good. We're still smiling afterwards. Superintendent Mark Weaver on the right and Trail Manager Chris Loudenslager on the left.



After lunch, I met with our new Executive Director, Andrea Ketchmark, on the left. She's only new in that role; she's been with the organization for several years, and just is a natural fit for the job. Other staff members Amelia, Allison and Tarin.



The pictures are pretty funny. It looks like the two offices are divided by gender. Actually David, the development guy, was on the phone so he didn't come out for the photo and Matt, the map guy, works from home. The NPS are currently all guys, but it's not a sexist group!

Finally, I've showed you these before, but I'm posting them again, because it's been 4 years. These murals were painted by local high school kids, and are mounted on the outside of the building. Top to bottom on the blog are left to right on the wall, so the hiker "moves" eastward along the trail.







It was an awesome day discussing what some of my future involvement with the trail will be.

In other amazing news, I heard from Tony Reznicek. He's "Mr. Michigan Plants," in charge of the University of Michigan Herbarium. I sent him the plant I thought was Picris hieracioides, Ox Tongue, only because it is alien and this is far from where it's been recorded before. That might be a somewhat big deal. Anyway... he emailed me. I DID key it out correctly, and he did remember me. My specimen is going in the Herbarium.

This has been a top-of-the-line quality day. I think I'm worn out!

	See North Country Trail Murals See Ox Tongue
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Goodbye Philly, for Another Year

 
We left Philadelphia this morning. I didn't make it as close to home as planned due to bad weather, but I'm on my way.

Philadelphia is a city of contrasts. There are many buildings dating to Colonial days. Skyscrapers and brownstone can be seen in most every view.



We all walked Rachel to work as part of our farewells. She helps develop curriculum at the Franklin Institute Science Museum.



And, of course, nothing says Philadelphia like row houses.



But the city also has dozens of wonderful murals. Here's an example.


One last view of the skyline on the way out of town.

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There's a Place Called Kokomo

 
And it's in the middle of Indiana. City of an auto accident I was once in. City today of Thanksgiving dinner.



They had a bunch of small murals of the local area. The train station was one of them. We ate at the Windmill Restaurant. If you're also ever in Kokomo, I recommend it. The food was delicious and it didn't cost an arm and a leg.



Loretta got caught in a huge detour around Louisville, so we warmed a booth and had hot drinks for over an hour waiting for her, and they were nice to us anyway. Then we ordered awesome dinners. I had pork chops, Loretta had steak and shrimp and Omer just had steak without the icky little crustaceans.



Now this is a realistic Indiana mural. Flat and corn.

We also saw some genuine Indiana history. This round barn is now part of the Fulton County Museum. That would be a fun place to go back to for a visit. Looked like they had quite a few interesting things to look at.



Home safe and sound (oh yes, with new windshield wipers for the day's excitement), and now I'm getting ready to go to work for the night.

	See Interesting Barns
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