I had been wanting to get in at least one more camping adventure before the really cold weather arrived. Chris and I were planning on going to Hawk Mountain over the weekend…a place that both of us had wanted to go to for a while, but had never been. It’s currently the season for raptor migration so it’s definitely the best time to go. I managed to convince him that we should go camping at Locust Lake State Park, about 50 minutes from Hawk Mountain. I’d never heard of this State Park, but the photos looked nice. After running some errands on Saturday morning, we were in the car on our way to the park. Everything was about an hour and a half to two hours from Philadelphia so it wasn’t that far away. We picked out a campsite and set up our tent before heading out to dinner. We didn’t think that we’d find a good restaurant anywhere nearby, but we had a fabulous dinner at a somewhat upscale restaurant in Pottsville called The Greystone Restaurant. Honestly, it was probably the only upscale restaurant in Pottsville or maybe even a 30 mile radius. After we had full bellies, we headed back to the campground to start a campfire and make s’mores for dessert and being geeks with our headlamps. It was a cold night, but I prefer that.
In the morning, we packed everything up and then headed out for Hawk Mountain, stopping at a small old hotel for some breakfast. It was a beautiful day outside and we were ready to see some raptors! We arrived there and hiked to the first lookout….and then the second. I was in a crabby mood. I didn’t find Hawk Mountain as appealing as I thought it would be. Granted, the weather wasn’t right for birds, but even on a bad day, I’ve seen more birds at hidden gem lookouts closer to Philly. I guess there are some other perks about Hawk Mountain, but I couldn’t see that it was all that much better. Maybe on a good day. Nevertheless, the weather was nice and it was really funny (and cool) to see so many people looking for birds.
We made a stop at the New Bethel Cemetery that I had first visited with Albert and Steve. It was a sunny day and not nearly as spooky as the foggy, cold day when we had visited in May.
We stopped at Cabela’s on our way home. Neither of us had been there either. Chris bought thermal pants. I bought…FUDGE. Yes, FUDGE. Who would have guessed that Cabela’s has awesome fudge, but they do. So if you go there, go to the fudge shop because it’s AWESOME.
That is all.
Broad & Spring Garden, Philadelphia.
I never got around to posting the photos from the April 24 5K walk/run event at the Philadelphia Museum of Art that benefited United Cerebral Palsy. Here are a select bunch from the night. If you would like to give a donation to United Cerebral Palsy of Philadelphia or if you would like to participate in one of the upcoming benefit events, please check out the UCP Philadelphia website.
Bowman’s Hill Wildflower Preserve - New Hope, Pennsylvania
Zizia aurea (Golden Alexander)
Aristolochia macrophylla (Dutchman’s Pipe)
Galium sp.
Calycanthus floridus (Carolina allspice)
Rhododendron calendulaceum (Flame Azalea)
Rhododendron calendulaceum (Flame Azalea)
Parthenocissus quinquefolia (Virginia creeper) - (through Zizia aurea)
Zizia aurea (Golden Alexander)
Zizia aurea (Golden Alexander)
Species unknown
Possible Lupine species?
Arisaema tripyllum (Jack-in-the-pulpit)
Daucus carota L. (Queen Ann’s Lace)
So apparently a white tailed deer went charging through the window of a local hair salon somewhere here in the eastern Pennsylvania area. A friend shared the story with me, which is worth the read, but the supporting photo is mine. And it just made me have a good laugh. Have a look at the article. LINK
It’s been a while since I’ve made any composite photos. I will often go for months without doing any of them and then go on a rampage of making a few of them. I often use 2-4 images. This one was made with two: the photo of the house and a texture image of some plywood.
I had gone to Gettysburg National Military Park with my parents about a month ago when I went to our cabin to relax during my recovery. Gettysburg isn’t too far from our cabin so we often go there when we feel like taking a drive. The sky was really overcast and generally crappy. And it was hot and humid. I didn’t feel like taking photos.
I normally don’t work this dark. But I went for dark. I will probably hate it tomorrow.
I wrote about the adventure to Centralia last weekend. After Centralia, we briefly explored the town of Shamokin (which was NOT shamokin like Centralia was), another coal mining town in central PA. As we drove back to Philly, we took a slight detour to check out the very rural area of Kempton, near Hawk Mountain. Steve was sharing a spooky ghost story on the way there. Apparently, serial killer Matthias Schambacher and his wife had rented rooms in their house as a wayside inn to travelers. Rumors began to circulate that guests who had entered their house were never seen again.
Although his gravestone is now gone, Matthias Schambacher is buried in the supposedly haunted New Bethel Cemetery. We saw the general location of where he is buried, along with many other gravestones dating as far back as the mid-1700s on one side of the cemetery. The other side of the cemetery has recent gravestones and burials as recent as a few days prior to our visit.
The location of the cemetery was an absolutely stunning view from a hillside that overlooked the church and the valley. We were there at sunset and the weather seemed to make it a bit eerie, in my opinion…even though Steve kept trying to convince us that it was a peaceful place. Even a killdeer seemed be trying to give us a warning to leave the place. ghosts!!
Last Sunday, Albert and I went to Morris Arboretum because they were having a 75th Anniversary Celebration, complete with free admission (which is normally $10), tours to areas of the arboretum that are generally not open to the public, free food, free entertainment, and many photo opportunities! Neither of us had ever been there, but had wanted to check it out. I had made it a goal to visit every arboretum and public garden in the general vicinity of Philadelphia this year….we’ll see if it actually happens because there are a lot in the area!!
It’s really difficult to believe that this incredibly beautiful place is located in the city of Philadelphia! And I also think that it’s my new favorite place in Philadelphia. Just gorgeous. I really can’t say anymore than that except that I can’t wait to go back.
And the ferns…..oh, the ferns. And there are redwoods, too!
