A Few Short Walks Close To Home

A Few Short Walks Close To Home

stormy sky and lake
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It’s late November now and that means an early sunset here in Northeastern Pennsylvania. The sun now sets around  4:40 p.m. Not much time after a day at the office to get out for my  walks with my camera. WW II tank and memorials at park

However, being a holiday week, and with the hope of another sighting the two bald eagles I saw out at our Community Park last weekend, I left the office early for a couple of short walks out Lake Irena this week. 

On Tuesday there was some sunshine and temperatures were around 45 degrees which is around average for this time of year.  There no water fowl on the lake and only a few folks enjoying the beauty of the lake.walks along Lake Irena

I took a quick walk around the lake before the sunset and was disappointed I  didn’t see the eagles. In fact the only wildlife I saw or heard were a few crows flying overhead. bridge over stream

It was still nice to get out and enjoy the late Autumn sunshine. Here is a link to some more photographs from my walk. Community Park November 21 2017 gazebo in park on sunset on walks

I left the office early and returned the next day but this walk was in much different weather conditions. Lake Irena took on a much different appearance. It was cloudy, colder and windy at the park.bare trees and clouds at lake

I again took a quick walk around the lake and once again did not see any eagles.  And, as on the previous day, the only wildlife were some crows flying in the stormy sky.crow in flight

As I was photographing the crows I thought I was going to be rewarded with a bald eagle sighting. However, the large object flying in the clouds wasn’t an eagle. It was a jet flying low, probably on it’s final descent into the airport at Avoca. jet airplane in flight

It was blustery and cold on my walk. Once again I only walked around the lake twice. Here is a link to some more photographs from my walk. Community Park November 22 2017.storms clouds and lake

 I took another short  walk close to home on Thanksgiving morning. I had to prepare some food for our Thanksgiving dinner so I decided to take a quick walk out the Rail to Trails path before I started. rails to trails entrance

The Broad Street entrance to the trail was open again. The drainage work on the trail being almost completed. 

It was a sunny, and colder morning with temperatures in the mid 20’s. The skies were cloudless and deep blue. I loved the contrast of the pitch pines against the blue skies. I spent many hours hiking under these trees over the years. pitch pines on trail

I was surprised, and happy, to see a number of people walking and running on the trail. They, too, like me,  were probably wanting  to burn  off some calories before the feasting that lay ahead. tree lined trail

There were also some wild critters on the trail on this cold Thanksgiving morning. I saw a few squirrels, chipmunks and a number of birds. including this tufted titmouse . tufted titmouse on branch

I walked out about two miles before I decided  to return, enjoying the beauty of the trail. Here is a link to some more photographs of my walk. Rails to Trails November 23 2017.tree lined trail

I am so glad we have this beautiful trails and parks so near home. They provide me with peaceful sanctuaries to walk and think, and were much needed in the difficult times of these past few week

I was so fortunate to enjoy a delicious Thanksgiving dinner prepared by my nieces Kelly and her husband Ethan, my nice  Cassidy and nephews Charlie and Brandon. They carried on this tradition started by their parents. It was nice to share the day with our entire family. Of course, it was not the same, the void was deep. But we made the best of this situation as we could. And I know Charles and Linda were with us in spirit and were so proud of their children for keeping this tradition. 

“When I’m in turmoil, when I can’t think, when I’m exhausted and afraid and feeling very, very alone, I go for walks. It’s just one of those things I do. I walk and I walk and sooner or later something comes to me, something to make me feel less like jumping off a building.” 
― Jim Butcher

tufted titmouse on branch