A Change Up

Michael and I usually try to hike at the Cincinnati Nature Center every Sunday afternoon.  The weather is supposed to turn a little ugly tomorrow so we decided to get a hike in today.  We took Mark and Ella today.  The place was jammed packed because of the weather and a special event they were having.

 

It's that time of year when they tap the maple trees.

Check out the little ting seed that has jut started to grow in the front center of the picture.

A boy and his dog.  And she loves every sniff of all the trails.

I thought this looks like an alligator with his mouth open ready to chomp on the stick.

Wildflower Trail

1.25 miles:  moderate

 

The mud was fun to try to walk in.  We slid all over the place.

The first creek crossing went well.  Except for the deep hole Ella had to swim through.

The Nature Center had had to cut down lots of ash trees because of the infestation of the ash bore beetle.  Someone has become really creative.  Can't wait until Ellis sees this.

We also ended up doing the Fernwood trail...1.38 miles:  difficult

The second creek crossing was not as successful for some of us.

This is Michael's 'I hate it when she makes us take pictures' smile.

And this is his 'ok already, I'm smiling...take the stupid picture' face.  With Mark coaching him from behind.

This was a great find.  A pair of Adirondack chairs facing the sunset.

At one point Michael became one with the earth.  In other word's he fell.

A flock of geese flying over.  I love that sounds...reminds me of WI.

The sun getting ready to set and the Nature Center getting ready to close.  I am guessing by the time you add up all the walking to get to the head of the trails, we walked an extra mile or so.  So today was a good hiking day...over three miles which in the mud seemed like twice that.