Flamingo 37 in traditional pink

It's been a long while since I've done a flamingo post. Don't worry, I haven't given up the silliness, and I have several pictures I haven't shared yet. This whole thing started as a joke, and it just keeps on giving. I've tried to have every post a different design of flamingo, or perhaps just in a different pose- unique in some way.

This pretty glass flamingo was in Ann's flower bed (where I stayed Monday night).

And just to carry out the pink theme, she also had one late hydrangea blooming that was a perfect matchmate.

I buckled down and worked hard today. I'm getting some of the needs under control, but I've got a heavy editing schedule this month. That requires gluing my butt to a chair and doing it! (My back is still a mess, but a little better than yesterday. Not sitting helps, but that is incompatible with my crisis worklist.)

See Flamingos

A Cheerful Surprise

Today was filled with the immediate needs of arriving home- laundry, grocery shopping, sorting the mail, emptying the car, correspondence, making a work list...

I never even made a start on any of the big-ticket jobs. Hopefully tomorrow.

Meanwhile, look what that one lonely marigold plant did! If I have to have orange, I like how "checkered" and variegated this is.

My back is killing me. I don't really know what I did, but hopefully it will be much better tomorrow. Soon, I'm going to get horizontal because it hurts less that way.

See Home via Ann Arbor

Home via Ann Arbor

I was going to spend a night with Ester, but she was in Ann Arbor! So I went home that way and she and I (and two other friends from Matthaei Botanical Garden days) had lunch together. I haven't seen Ester in over two years.

Our lunch spot was about 2 blocks from where Bill lives. Go figure. So Bill and I did a 3 mile hike in the Bird Hills park. I used to walk Maggie there before she was mine. That's how long ago I was in that area.

We walked to Barton Dam

and Barton Pond

and back to the car.

About halfway home from there I just couldn't stand driving at 70 mph, the aggressive drivers, and the noise any more. So I got off the interstate and worked my way home on state roads. It took longer, but I was much happier. I think I managed to find a couple of small towns I'd never been in before.

My back is really sore- probably from all the days in the car. Hopefully it will be better tomorrow. All seems to be fine here. Tomorrow I have to get busy on a serious work list.

Bird Hills Park, Ann Arbor. Newport Rd to Barton Pond and back. 3 miles.

See Next Stop Maumee River

Next Stop- Maumee River

Tonight I'm parked with Marianne D- trail friend and Girl Scout friend.

We took a little walk beside the Maumee River. It's much prettier in the green months than last winter!

We went to check out two treehouse cabins which can be rented from Toledo Metroparks. Probably not cheap camper lodging, but right along the trail. Location 41.44967, -83.783427.

In the wildlife department, probably as a result of the hot weather, we found a new hatch of water striders. I'd never seen tiny ones before. I wonder if this means there won't be many next year. If the eggs are supposed to overwinter and hatch in the spring will this be a problem, or will these mature quickly and lay more eggs? I don't know!

And it was a fantastic day for me! I found a new stage of a plant I've only seen in Ohio. This is Wingstem. The seed pods are distinctive and attractive.

One more road day, but it will have adventures. Stay tuned.

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Step Two Homeward

Now I have a friend in my hometown who also likes to hike! Diane and I were a few too many years apart as children to really know each other. Now it turns out that we like a lot of the same things.

We had time for a short hike before I had to hit the road, and she took me to see a piece of rail trail so new it's only been open for about 10 days. This was a section of the Lehigh Valley system. Only 2.3 miles are open yet, but it may get extended.

This line stayed high on the hills for frieght. The passenger line had to stay low to go through Ithaca at the south end of the lake, 500 feet lower down. That means there are some great views. This is the valley south of Watkins Glen, and we think the water there is the south end of Seneca Lake.

I liked this one a lot with hills and a farm.

Then I hit the road and went across western NY. I've shared a lot of views of this drive in several seasons, over the years. All I could get is some drive=by snaps out the windos, but this one is OK. Just the hills I love. Sure, it's not the Adirondacks here, but it's still great. The afternoon light made the trees glow, and the colors are fantastic this year.

And I arrived at blogger-friend Ann's house to spend the night.

Odessa, NY. Bruno Schickel Rail Trail. 2.3 miles

See Time to Leave