hikes
Mississippi Day Five. An Evening At Point Park Pascagoula, No Sunset But Some Cool Clouds
My morning hike tired me out on Sunday so I decided to stay in Pascagoula and watch the sunset from the beach at Point Park. It was windy and cool when I arrived at the park with some interesting cloud formations in the skies over the beach. Point Park, as I’ve mentioned in previous blogs,…
Read MoreA Few Photos Of The River Otters And Resident Birds From a Walk In The Susquehanna Wetlands
I was looking forward to hiking in the Susquehanna Wetlands this weekend after my trip to Mississippi and Alabama. On my last hike, two weeks ago, I saw a family of river otters playing in a pond in the wetlands. Seeing these graceful and playful beautiful animals is always a wonderful experience. And I am…
Read MoreMississippi Day Six: Another Change Of Plans Leads Me to A Hike In The Muddy Creek Wetlands In Alabama
After my morning visit to the Lake Mars pier I returned to my hotel and was planning on driving to Mobile Alabama to visit the Botanical Gardens there. I chose a hotel near the Botanical Gardens so I could visit on Monday afternoon and again Tuesday morning before my flight back home. I checked out…
Read MoreA Couple Mid December Hikes in Community Park.
It has been three weeks since I last hiked in the Community Park near my home in Hazle Township, Luzerne County. It is mid December now and in many years here in Northeastern Pennsylvania the lakes and ponds would be frozen and covered in snow and ice. . Not this year. On Tuesday afternoon I…
Read MoreMississippi Day Seven. A Walk Before The Rain On The Campus Of The University Of South Alabama
Before my recent visit to Mississippi and Alabama I never heard of the University of South Alabama. I chose the Holiday Inn Express hotel where I was staying in on my last night in the Deep South since it was close to the Mobile Botanical Gardens which I planned to visit. Unfortunately the Botanical Gardens…
Read MoreA Dreary, Cold And Uneventful December Hike In The Susquehanna Wetlands And River Lands.
I changed my routine last week and hiked in the Susquehanna Wetlands and River Lands on Friday afternoon. (I usually hike here on the weekend. And I usually refer to this nature preserve as the wetlands but it also includes both the nature preserve, the wetlands, and a park with a lake and picnic areas,…
Read MoreBald Eagles, A Red Tailed Hawk And A Kingfisher On Another Dark And Dreary December Day In the Susquehanna Wetlands
It was another dark and dreary December day here in Northeastern Pennsylvania on Sunday. Temperatures were near freezing with a strong westerly wind. I decided to return to the Susquehanna Wetlands in Luzerne County. I had just hiked there Friday afternoon, on another dark and dreary day. I know there are dozens of beautiful hiking…
Read MoreA Hike In The Unexpected And Magical Christmas Eve Snow In the Susquehanna Wetlands
At this stage of my life there are only two days in the year I welcome snow, Christmas Eve and Christmas Day. So I was surprised and delighted when I awoke early on Christmas Eve to find my back yard in Hazle Township, Luzerne County covered with over an inch of newly fallen snow . …
Read MoreSunshine, A Pair Of American Wigeons And No Snow On A Year End Walk In The Susquehanna Wetlands.
After seeing so much wildlife at the Susquehanna Wetlands on my walk in the Christmas Eve snow on Friday, I decided to return for a year end hike on Sunday morning. I have come to love this small nature preserve a little more with each hike. I enjoy hiking and searching for the many critters…
Read MoreA Foggy New Year’s Eve Hike Along The Ocean At Barnegat Lighthouse State Park In New Jersey
For the first time in my life I decided to spend New Year’s Eve away from my home and family. A relationship I was in for a couple of years ended this year and I was single again. Long story, but all that glitters isn’t gold I guess. Wanting to reflect on the situation, me…
Read MoreA New Year’s Day Walk In The Rain And Fog On Long Beach Island, New Jersey.
As readers of my previous blog post would know I spent New Year’s Eve alone at the LBI Hotel in Surf City on Long Beach Island in New Jersey. It was a quiet and reflective night. My plan for New Year’s Day, when I decided to travel to Long Beach Island, was to hike along…
Read MoreA Windy And Wintery Afternoon Walk In The Susquehanna Wetlands.
Wintery weather returned to Northeastern Pennsylvania on Friday. We have had mostly above average weather these past two weeks and no snow since unexpected Christmas Eve snowfall. On Thursday night around three inches of snow fall here in Hazle Township, Luzerne County. During the day the winds picked up and the temperature dropped. Once again, …
Read MoreChasing Eagles and Muskrats On A Frigid Winter Day in Susquehanna Wetlands
It was a frigid winter morning when I awoke Saturday. The temperature was 12 degrees at my home in Hazle Township, Luzerne County. The twilight skies were clear and calm. There have been far fewer of these frigid winter days the past few years. The climate is changing and we have been having much milder…
Read MoreSome Winter Visitors In My Backyard
With the arrival of the cold weather and short days of winter I haven’t been taking my afternoon hikes in Community Park or the coal reclamation lands near my home here in Hazle Township, Luzerne County. I now take my afternoon walks on the streets in my neighborhood. My wildlife observation is limited to my…
Read MoreWinter Settles In At The Susquehanna Wetlands.
Winter in Northeastern Pennsylvania can be cold and harsh. And, even though we are having another winter with above average temperatures, it is still gets col here. I saw plenty of evidence of this when I returned to hike in the Susquehanna Wetlands in Salem Township in Luzerne County on Friday afternoon. It was mostly…
Read MoreArctic Air Arrives In Northeastern Pennsylvania: A Frigid Hike in the Susquehanna Wetlands
After a frigid Saturday, the Arctic air settled in and it got even colder here in Northeastern Pennsylvania on Sunday. It was -2 degrees when I awoke in my home in Hazle Township, Luzerne County. As usual I decided to hike in the Susquehanna Wetlands. So, after a cup of coffee I was driving in…
Read MoreA Frigid January Late Afternoon Walk In the Susquehanna Wetlands And River Lands
It was another frigid January day here in Northeastern Pennsylvania on Friday. However we had clear blue skies and brilliant sunshine. I decided to take to visit the Susquehanna Wetlands late in the afternoon. It was a cold 13 degrees when I arrived at the wetlands in Salem Township, Luzerne County around 3;30 p.m. Walking…
Read MoreThe Bitter Cold Continues At The Susquehanna Wetlands.
It was another bitter cold day here in Northeastern Pennsylvania on Saturday. The temperature was -4 degrees when I awoke at my home in Hazle Township Luzerne County .Although I had just hiked in the Susquehanna Wetlands the previous evening, I wanted to see if any more ice formed on the Susquehanna River and how…
Read MoreThe Calm Before The Storm: A Walk On Long Beach Island And Cedar Bonnet Island.
The news of an epic coastal snow storm brought me back to Long Beach Island in New Jersey this weekend. I have never seen snow on a beach. It has been on my bucket list a very long time. I visited here four weeks ago, on New Year’s weekend, with the hope of seeing some…
Read MoreBlizzard At The Beach: Long Beach Island New Jersey 2022
It was a last minute decision. But I am so glad I made it. On Friday morning I decided to leave my home in Hazle Township in Northeastern Pennsylvania and drive the three hours to Long Beach Island on the New Jersey shore. They were predicting a Nor’easter with blizzard like conditions. I have always…
Read MoreAn Afternoon Walk In The Aftermath Of The Blizzard On Long Beach Island
In order to qualify as a blizzard a winter storm must have sustained winds of 35 mph, there must be blowing snow reducing visibility under a quarter of a mile and these two conditions must continue for at least three hours. I can personally confirm that the requirements of a blizzard were met Saturday morning…
Read MoreSnow And Ice And A Change Of Plans At The Greater Hazleton Rails To Trails
Followers of my blog and social media post will know I am not a big fan of the cold, snow or ice anymore. Winter is definitely my least favorite season, However, I am not a bear and I do not hibernate for three months. I try to make the best of the cold and dark…
Read MoreA Frigid February Hike In The Susquehanna Wetlands
It was a frigid February morning when I awoke Saturday at my home in Hazle Township Luzerne County. And here in Northeastern Pennsylvania frigid February mornings are not uncommon. We had an ice storm on Friday. The trees in my backyard were coated with a thick layer of ice. I was anxious to drive to…
Read MoreIce On The Mountain. A Magical Hike on The Greater Hazleton Rails To Trails
We had an ice storm here in Northeastern Pennsylvania last Friday. Well, some of us did. It depended on your elevation. My home in the Green Ridge section of Hazle Township, Luzerne County is located atop a ridge. The elevation above sea level is about 1680 feet. There was as lot of ice on the…
Read MoreFlorida Day One: What? No Alligators On The Anhinga Trail In the Everglades National Park.
After my morning hike on the Old Ingraham Highway Trail in the Everglades National Park last Saturday, I spent some time editing photos, working on my blog and hanging at the pool. Around 4:00 p.m. I decided to return to Everglades and hike on the Anhinga and Gumbo-Limbo trails at the Royal Palm Visitor Center. …
Read MoreFlorida Day Two Everglades February 13 2022: A Rainy Day In South Florida
I fell asleep my first night in Florida thinking the next day would be a washout. Rain was in the forecast for most of the day. The chance of rain was 100%. I was planning on hiking on a segment of the Southern Glades Trail and thought I would have to postpone my hike. When…
Read MoreFlorida Day Three : A Cold And Windy Hike On The Southern Glades Trail
The skies were clear when I awoke Monday morning. I was excited to return to the Southern Glades Trail. I learned more about the trail and was going to hike down to where it meets the infamous Aerojet canal. It is about a 3 1/2 mile hike. After having a cup of coffee, I left…
Read MoreFlorida Day Four: Sunrise And An Osprey At Flamingo Beach In The Everglades National Park
After a cup of coffee I left my hotel in Florida City and was on the road early Tuesday morning. I wanted to watch the sunrise at Flamingo at the southernmost point accessible by land in the Everglades National Park. The sun rises around 7 a.m. so I was driving to the Everglades in the…
Read MoreFlorida Day Three: A Pleasant Late Afternoon Walk Along The Aerojet Canal
After my long, cold morning hike last Monday in South Florida, I had a nice breakfast at the Farmers market, edited some photos and became the only person getting some sun at the pool at my hotel. Seems it was too cold for the Florida folks and other tourists. In the late afternoon I decided…
Read MoreFlorida Day Four: Flamingo: A Bumpy Drive And A Backwoods Hike To Remote Bear Lake And Flocks Of Birds
After leaving Eco Lake in Everglades National Park, I drove 2 miles north of the Flamingo Visitor Center and found the access road to the Bear Lake trailhead.. Well it was sort of a road. It was unpaved with large ruts and mud puddles almost the entire two miles to the trailhead. It was a…
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