[MayDay]

Knowing that the weather was going to be good this weekend, I suggested to my partner that we do something "outdoors". Not outdoorsy, because as we all know - I'm not, never have been, and never will be "outdoorsy". But I thought - how about a hike in the Cuyahoga Valley National Park? Looking at the maps they provide, I thought we could hit the Towpath and venture off onto the Buckeye Trail and it wouldn't be so bad... well, when we got home I plotted our route - turns out we hiked about SEVEN miles (11.2km)  :eek: http://www.gmap-pedometer.com/?r=1339100

http://www.clevelandskyscrapers.com/cvnpmap.jpg

Anyway, here are some photos from our hike:

Pulling into downtown Peninsula, we first stop and fuel up for the hike at the Winking Lizard Tavern (hey, two black and golds - Guiness with Great Lakes Dortmunder Gold - count as fuel!)
http://www.clevelandskyscrapers.com/cvnp07/cvnp07_1.jpg

The Cuyahoga Valley Scenic Railroad train ready for departure:
http://www.clevelandskyscrapers.com/cvnp07/cvnp07_2.jpg

The entrance to the Ohio and Erie Canal Towpath Trail. The canal connected the Ohio River at Portsmouth with Lake Erie near downtown Cleveland. It was via this canal that Cleveland became a major city, as goods were put on small barges and towed up and down the canal route by horses or mules on a path that ran alongside the canal. Thus the name "Towpath". http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ohio_and_Erie_Canal:
http://www.clevelandskyscrapers.com/cvnp07/cvnp07_3.jpg

Off we go!
http://www.clevelandskyscrapers.com/cvnp07/cvnp07_4.jpg

All kinds of interesting bits of nature to see - a birds' nest:
http://www.clevelandskyscrapers.com/cvnp07/cvnp07_5.jpg

Hard to imagine that this (former lock of the Ohio & Erie Canal) was the infrastructure that made Cleveland boom into a major city:
http://www.clevelandskyscrapers.com/cvnp07/cvnp07_6.jpg

My partner wanted to take a photo of the flowers - not bad! :)
http://www.clevelandskyscrapers.com/cvnp07/cvnp07_7.jpg

A tunnel underneath an old rail line:
http://www.clevelandskyscrapers.com/cvnp07/cvnp07_8.jpg

Either a crane or a heron - tried to get a pic, but the little bugger got away:
http://www.clevelandskyscrapers.com/cvnp07/cvnp07_9.jpg

Some flora:
http://www.clevelandskyscrapers.com/cvnp07/cvnp07_10.jpg

I have to interject with some fashion commentary. There are shorts out there that are loose-fitting and make jogging enjoyable but are long enough to prevent blinding everyone with your pasty thighs - please consider them. Thank you!
http://www.clevelandskyscrapers.com/cvnp07/cvnp07_11.jpg

"Lonesome Lock" - so called for its isolated location:
http://www.clevelandskyscrapers.com/cvnp07/cvnp07_12.jpg

Some leaves starting to change color - we'll probably be back later in the fall:
http://www.clevelandskyscrapers.com/cvnp07/cvnp07_13.jpg

A portion of the trail is on an elevated boardwalk; something about "sensitive ecosystem":
http://www.clevelandskyscrapers.com/cvnp07/cvnp07_14.jpg

Looking back at the Cuyahoga:
http://www.clevelandskyscrapers.com/cvnp07/cvnp07_15.jpg

Some more flora - Baby's Breath I believe:
http://www.clevelandskyscrapers.com/cvnp07/cvnp07_16.jpg

The marshy Stumpy Basin area:
http://www.clevelandskyscrapers.com/cvnp07/cvnp07_17.jpg

Aflac!
http://www.clevelandskyscrapers.com/cvnp07/cvnp07_18.jpg

The Turnpike bridge looms in the distance:
http://www.clevelandskyscrapers.com/cvnp07/cvnp07_19.jpg

Thought this might look good in b/w:
http://www.clevelandskyscrapers.com/cvnp07/cvnp07_20.jpg

There's that d@mn bird again - got him!
http://www.clevelandskyscrapers.com/cvnp07/cvnp07_21.jpg

Pretty colors!
http://www.clevelandskyscrapers.com/cvnp07/cvnp07_22.jpg

No idea what this is, but it was colorful:
http://www.clevelandskyscrapers.com/cvnp07/cvnp07_23.jpg

Under the bridge... wasn't that a song by the Red Hot Chili Peppers?
http://www.clevelandskyscrapers.com/cvnp07/cvnp07_24.jpg

Gooo Turnpike!
http://www.clevelandskyscrapers.com/cvnp07/cvnp07_25.jpg

Now officially on the Buckeye Trail - a little less groomed than the Towpath but it'll work:
http://www.clevelandskyscrapers.com/cvnp07/cvnp07_26.jpg

*Ahem* - reason #247 not to let the partner hold the camera when nature calls  :rolleyes:
http://www.clevelandskyscrapers.com/cvnp07/cvnp07_27.jpg

Back to the trail:
http://www.clevelandskyscrapers.com/cvnp07/cvnp07_28.jpg

The trail leads to a clearing on a hill - lovely view:
http://www.clevelandskyscrapers.com/cvnp07/cvnp07_29.jpg

These paint stripes were how we knew we were in the right place:
http://www.clevelandskyscrapers.com/cvnp07/cvnp07_30.jpg

Now over the Turnpike on a bridge:
http://www.clevelandskyscrapers.com/cvnp07/cvnp07_31.jpg

Pine trees!
http://www.clevelandskyscrapers.com/cvnp07/cvnp07_32.jpg

Grassy knoll?
http://www.clevelandskyscrapers.com/cvnp07/cvnp07_33.jpg

The fungus among us:
http://www.clevelandskyscrapers.com/cvnp07/cvnp07_34.jpg

http://www.clevelandskyscrapers.com/cvnp07/cvnp07_35.jpg

Once we got closer to Peninsula, the trail was brick paved - pretty cool!
http://www.clevelandskyscrapers.com/cvnp07/cvnp07_36.jpg

Back where we started:
http://www.clevelandskyscrapers.com/cvnp07/cvnp07_37.jpg

And taking the Turnpike back where we belong (downtown just visible in the lower left):
http://www.clevelandskyscrapers.com/cvnp07/cvnp07_38.jpg

Home sweet home - hope you enjoyed!
http://www.clevelandskyscrapers.com/cvnp07/cvnp07_39.jpg

[ColDayMan]

Nice shots!

[KevinFromTexas]

Beautiful photos, and area. That one of the boardwalk and the pine trees are really something. Very nice. Especially the one of the pines. I felt like I was there.

[JManc]

this in ohio? pretty area. reminds me of upstate NY and central PA.

[MayDay]

^Yep, the following photo was taken from the Turnpike (I-80, the highway seen in the pics) - it's about 25ish miles southeast of downtown Cleveland:

http://www.clevelandskyscrapers.com/cvnp07/cvnp07_38.jpg

[xzmattzx]

Nice pictures. I like the nature pictures, and seeing the old locks sitting in the woods is cool.