Archive for May 2017
Spring Is A Little Behind At The Greater Hazleton Rails To Trails But It’s Still Spring
Spring was in full bloom at the PPL Wetlands yesterday. I wanted to stay close to home today, I still have some catching up to do from my recent trip to Poland, so I decided to hike out the local Rails to Trails. It was overcast and a bit cooler today as I set out…
Read MoreSpring Is A Little Behind At The Greater Hazleton Rails To Trails But It's Still Spring
A Short Hike Out Community Park. No Bald Eagles So I Had To Settle For An Osprey
After a chilly start the temperatures neared 80 degrees today. I decided to take a quick hike out out local Community Park in Hazle Township after work to see if the bald eagle that was seen a few weeks ago was still there. The park was crowded with many families enjoying the warmth and Some…
Read MorePoland Day Four: Off To The Mountains; A Bus, Taxi and Van Ride to Tatra National Park
It was raining when I awoke on Tuesday morning but I wanted to take one more walk through the streets of Krakow before I headed to the mountains. I put on my rain gear and headed out into the cool and wet morning. . It was early and there was no one on the cobblestone…
Read MorePoland Day Four: The Hotel Gorski Kalatowki: A Hiker’s, And Skier’s Paradise In The Tatra National Park.
After a jarring five minute ride up the cobblestone road I found myself at the Hotel Gorski Kalatowki. I was attracted to this hotel by it’s isolation, located within the boundaries of the Tatra National Park. I wasn’t quite sure what to expect at the hotel, but I was impressed with the beauty of…
Read MorePoland Day Four: The Hotel Gorski Kalatowki: A Hiker's, And Skier's Paradise In The Tatra National Park.
Poland Day Five. Hiking In The Beautiful Tatra National Park
I awoke early the next day, and, looking out my window to check the weather I saw that there were a number of deer in the fields outside of the hotel. I watched them graze on the newly sprouting grass and noticed they were also feeding on the many wild crocuses that were scattered, wilted…
Read MorePoland Day Six: A Final Walk In The Tatra Mountains And A Bus Ride Back To Krakow
My hopes to see some sunshine on my last morning in the Tatra Mountains were disappointed when I awoke to another cool and cloudy day. It looked like rain, or snow, but I only had a few hours until my bus left for Krakow so I was left the hotel at dawn for one last…
Read MorePoland Day Six: Walking In The Footsteps Of A Great Man: Karol Józef Wojtyał
After arriving at the Hotel Grodek in Krakow, I set up my electronics in my room and soon was in the lobby meeting my guide for the afternoon, a friendly and knowledgeable fellow by the name of , Adam. I arranged for him to drive me to Wadowice, the birthplace of my favorite Pope, Pope…
Read MoreCloudy, Wet And Cold, But It’s Still Spring At The PPL Wetlands.
[huge_it_share][huge_it_share]The cool weather continued today here in Northeastern Pennsylvania. It was cloudy, with a few showers and temperatures well below normal, remaining in the low 50’s. I knew however, that despite the cool weather, nature would not shalt it’s annual spectacular show. So I headed down to the PPL Wetlands to see what was new.…
Read MoreCloudy, Wet And Cold, But It's Still Spring At The PPL Wetlands.
Poland Day Eight: Czestohowa: The Splendor Of Jasna Gora , Home Of The The Black Maddona, And A Hike To A Lake
After my long morning hike I returned to the hotel for breakfast, consumed a lot of coffee, and spent some time editing the many photographs I had taken this past week in Poland. Around noon, looking out my hotel window, I noticed a lot of folks carrying Easter baskets as they walked toward the monastery. …
Read MoreGame Lands 119: Thanks To A Heavy Downpour, I Have Found Some New, And Beautiful Hiking Trails.
It was another cold and rainy morning here in Northeastern Pennsylvania. I haven’t missed a day of hiking on a weekend for years, but I was considering it today. I thought the rain would prevent me from taking my camera and I was a bit tired as I I have been pushing it since I…
Read MoreFinally Some Nice Weather For An Afternoon Walk At Community Park.
It was another cold start this morning, with temperatures near the freezing mark. It was also mostly clear, and in May, the sun is strong and it turned out to be a nice day. So I decided to see if I could find an eagle or an osprey out Lake Irena at out local Community…
Read MorePoland Day Nine: Living My Father’s Dream: Easter At Czestochowa.
As I stated in my prior blog post, I awoke on Saturday evening to the sounds of explosion of fireworks coming from the monastery at Jasna Gora. The next morning, Easter Sunday, I again awoke to the sound of fireworks. This time they were being set off for the morning services at the Church of…
Read MorePoland Day Nine: Living My Father's Dream: Easter At Czestochowa.
A Lot Of Spring Happening Out There
It was a long day in court and at the office so I was glad the weather was nice when I got home in the afternoon. I had planned to head back to community park but decided to stay near my house and walk out the nearby railroad tracks. May is the month of growth…
Read MorePoland Day Ten: Back On The Road, Or Train, Again. Czestochowa to Krakow
I awoke on another rainy and cool morning in Czestohowa. Poland was experiencing one of it’s coldest April’s in years during my visit. I quickly dressed and headed outside since I wanted to get one last walk in before my train ride back to Krakow. I again walked down the central avenue paying closer attention…
Read MorePoland Day Ten: Back To Exploring Krakow, And It’s Churches, History And Food
It was a 10 minute taxi ride from the train station to the beautiful Sheraton Hotel in Krakow, which is located near Wawel Castle just outside of old town. I arrived around one p.m. After checking in the hotel and settling in my room I immediately sent my cloths for some much needed laundering. …
Read MorePoland Day Ten: Back To Exploring Krakow, And It's Churches, History And Food
Poland Day Eleven: Krakow: Chilly , Rainy Weather But An Informative Walking Tour With A Heartwarming Guide
I awoke early the next morning in Krakow to find the unseasonably cold and rainy weather continuing in Poland. I again dressed in my rain gear and headed out into the cold rain that was falling. We had a walking tour arranged for 9:30 a.m but I wanted to do some early exploring and decided…
Read MoreThe Splendor Of Spring At The PPL Wetlands
It was another cool and foggy start today here in Northeastern Pennsylvania. But, it’s Spring, and I wasn’t staying indoors, so I decided to see what was new at the PPL Wetlands in Salem Township. What I found was a fresh, light green that is so special and only found in May in these parts.…
Read MoreClouds, Blue Skies, Birds, Trees And Some Other Spring Stuff
Well we finally got some of my favorite Spring weather here today in Northeastern Pennsylvania. Sunshine, deep blue skies and scattered puffy cumulus clouds with warmer temperatures in the 60’s.. Some of the finest weather of the year, in my opinion anyway. I took a walk near out to the railroad tracks near my house…
Read MoreAnother Spring Walk Close To Home.
The weather has warmed up and it’s finally starting to feel like Spring here in Northeastern Pennsylvania. And it was another nice day to take a walk this afternoon. I,again, walked out to the mining reclamation area and railroad tracks near my house. On the way I saw a lot more insect activity as the…
Read MoreUp Close Or From Far Away: Everything Looks Good This Time Of Year.
The heat was on here today in Northeastern Pennsylvania Temperatures climbed into the upper 80’s. I was hoping heat would bring out the insects so I took a short walk after work with my macro lens. I enjoy seeing thing through the macro lens, it lets me look into an entire new world. I saw…
Read MoreSome Spring Hikes Near Home.
It felt more like Summer than Spring these past few days here in Northeastern Pennsylvania. I took advantage of the beautiful weather, taking a few short hikes near my home to enjoy the many things occurring in the natural world this month. The trees, including the birch, have leaves still showing that refreshing early Spring…
Read MorePPL Wetlands: The Birds Are Back
It was the weekend and, of course, we had another rainy start here in Northeastern Pennsylvania. I drove to the PPL Wetlands and started my walk in a light, chilly rain. The waters of the Susquehanna River was high from the rain we have been having. I was thinking I’d see some water fowl today…
Read MoreAnother Hike In The State Game Lands: There Really Is a Cuckoo Bird. I Saw My First One Today!
It was a chilly and windy start today, temperatures in the mid 40’s here in Northeastern Pennsylvania. But we had some sun, which is always a good thing, but even more so in May. I decided to hike out in the State Game lands, 119 out in Dennison Township. I always enjoyed hiking in the…
Read MorePoland Day Eleven: Krakow: Kazimierz and Schindler’s Factory: Good, Evil And The Horrors Of Hate
Sorry for the delay in my blog posts about my recent trip to Poland but I had some technical problems with some photo galleries. I think I figured it out now . In my last blog post, we were entering our van for the short ride to the Kazimierz district of Krakow. I visited this…
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