Justa Rollin’ Right Along


Devil’s Hopyard State Park – East Haddam

Saturday, April 18th, 2009

We had a little adventure today. I decided that it would be a really nice day to go for a short hike at ’s Hopyard State Park in . After all, we haven’t been there since last year.

We had to run down to Norwich for a little while, so the park wasn’t that far away. I even went as far as stopping off to get some Subway sandwiches. Boy, they really don’t taste that much different from when I used to eat them every day for lunch.

We didn’t do all that much at the park. We hiked down past the waterfall and then stopped off at the picnic area to eat our sandwiches. After that, we walked down to my favorite part of the park, next to the river. There is this area that is just chock full of Hemlock trees and moss that is really cool looking. Since I already exhausted every photo-op in this particular park, I decided to mix things up a little and take some photos of the river.

Bookmark and Share

Related posts

A Winter Walk In The Woods

Tuesday, December 23rd, 2008

I can officially call it winter now that it’s the 22nd. It feels like just a few weeks ago that I had sweat dripping off my face from working outside. Now, sweat is just a distant memory.

When I woke up this morning, I noticed a blue sky peeking through the little half circle window above the closed shades in the bedroom. I was pretty happy because every time it’s sunny during these “dark” months, you pretty much have to take advantage of it. Being trapped inside a house during a very snowy weekend can get on your nerves. Not that it isn’t beautiful outside, it’s just that seeing the same walls over and over again can take its toll.

I decided that today would be a great day to take down into the to go for a walk. Since is a Nordic dog, I figured that she would jump at the chance to bounce around in the deep snow. The plan was to hike down the hill behind the house, cross the trail, climb over the rock wall and continue down to the river. Maybe could get a quick drink while we were there and then we would figure out a way to get back up that steep, snowy hill. That was the plan.

I went downstairs to get , who was asleep on the warm . I said, “C’mon …c’mon,” while slapping my hand against my leg. She kind of just lifted her head to look at me. Then, I started jumping around so she would get the message. isn’t the best listener, so it takes a bit of theatrics to get her to do anything. Finally, she got up and followed me up the basement stairs and out the garage door, where I clipped her to her leash. I think she was starting to wake up, because she had a little pep in her step once we hit the driveway .

To get warmed up for the snow hike, I walked her up the driveway to the mailbox and back down to the edge of the . Once we were all set to enter the , I gave her a tug and jumped in myself. She followed me, but once her paws hit the snow and her body sank about a foot into it, she looked a bit discouraged. She glanced up at me with those, “No way, man” eyes. I wasn’t having that, so I started to tug on her leash a little more. We got about 50 feet into the and she stopped. She just stopped. Her head kept on leading back to the driveway. I stood there in utter disappointment. What had this dog turned into? Oh well, today is her birthday and she did just turn 14. I’ll give her a break.

We started heading back up the driveway and she began hopping in the snow. “Oh, so there’s all that energy,” I said. She was saving it to make sure she would make it back to that warm . She might need it to fall asleep again. Oh well. I brought her back inside and headed down into the myself.

Good thing I had my big boots and snow pants on. If I tried to hike around in anything else, I would have been totally covered in snow. We must have over a foot, because the white stuff was well past my shins and right below my kneecaps. It’s not fun when it hits the skin and starts to melt. Winter is all about dressing the right way. I figured that out a long time ago. Believe it or not, the second time I went skiing, I attempted to go down Mt. Snow in jeans. What an idiot. I’ll chalk that up to being an inexperienced youth.

I had my camera in my pocket and was ready to take some really beautiful shots of the New England after a snowstorm. I made it a bit down the hill to the treehouse. I figured I would take a few pictures of it to show you. I mentioned to Laura this morning that we should make a point of fixing it up this , just in case we ever wanted to sit up there and watch the . It’s situated in a nice little cluster of .

Treehouse in Hemlock trees

Treehouse in Hemlock trees

Treehouse in Hemlock trees

Treehouse in Hemlock trees

The treehouse is built very well and quite sturdy, so I don’t think we’ll have any problems maintaining it. Laura already climbed up there over the to peek out the window. I got about half way up and turned around. I few years ago, I would have been jumping up and down on top of the roof. What the heck happened to me?

I continued down the hill, across the trail, all the way to the river. It’s really not that far, but when you are lifting your knees to your chest, trying to walk, it seems a lot further than it really is.

I made it to the river and took a few photos. This one was the best.

River leading into wetlands

River leading into

The water wasn’t as active as it was a few days ago, after that huge rainfall we had. It was pretty calm today, but I’m sure we’ll see a change after the rain and warm weather that’s predicted for the next few days.

From there, I stopped to smell the figurative roses. It’s not every day I am able to stand, once again, in silence. It was really nice. There were no footprints anywhere, so I knew I was alone. I took a look around to see what I could take pictures of. It was kind of challenging, because there wasn’t a lot of substance. It’s hard to explain, but in the months, there are , trees, flowers, animals, etc…to take pictures of. During winter, there is snow and wood. I did find a few things though…

Branch with buds

Branch with buds

Looking into the sun

Looking into the sun

Small branch with ice on it

Small branch with ice on it

Tree branches in winter

Tree branches in winter

Dried leaf with snow on it

Dried leaf with snow on it

Small tree in winter woods

Small tree in winter

At that point, I figured that I had enough pictures. Trust me, there were many more than what I am showing you, but so many didn’t come out the way I wanted them to. With many of them, I was experimenting with the various settings on the camera.

When my fingers started getting cold, I turned around to head up the hill.

If you have never seen this hill, I’ll tell you that it’s somewhat difficult up when there is no snow on the ground. When there is snow, it’s all the more fun. I made it about half way back up when I stopped at the treehouse again. I saw a few low hanging Hemlock branches, so I pulled the camera back to see what I could do with them.

Close up Hemlock branches

Close up Hemlock branches

That was fun because the Hemlock is my all-time favorite tree.

As I rounded the crest of the hill and got closer to civilization, I felt the cold air against my face. I was using a lot of energy, but not sweating in the least. I continued to walk and thought to myself how beautiful winter and snow can really be. I spend so much of my time complaining about how I can’t go outside and plant things, that I overlook much of what this time of year has to offer. Today was a great day to get outside and remind me of that.

The last picture I took was of one of the Rhodedenrums out in front. It looked to good against the blue sky, I just couldn’t help myself.

Rhodedenrum against blue sky in winter

Rhodedenrum against blue sky in winter

Bookmark and Share

Related posts

More Hiking At Devil’s Hopyard State Park

Monday, July 28th, 2008

Today, we went back to ’s Hopyard State Park in East Haddam for what turned out to be a grueling two mile hike. It felt good, but there was a lot of sweat involved. We went uphill and downhill and everywhere in between. You should’ve seen me huffing and puffing like a fat guy at the tops of the hills. All this hiking should get me in better shape though.

We hiked the entire orange trail which brought us up to the , which was very nice. Then, the trail brought us down to the again and past the ’s Oven. We walked back up to the and past the falls to the car.

I took some more photos of various areas of the orange trail. I really have to stop taking so many pictures. Laura is starting to call me a tourist. Hey, this is the way I live. I am on my third digital camera because I like to use them so much. Also, somebody has got to like these things besides me.

Here are the pics.

Trail marker showing the orange and blue trails.

showing the orange and blue trails.

Me, again, checking out the river.

Me, again, checking out the .

As you can see, I like moss.

As you can see, I like moss.

Arriving at the vista on the orange trail.

Arriving at the on the orange trail.

The Devil\'s Hopyard State Park vista.

The 's Hopyard State Park .

Looking up through some Hemlock trees.

Looking up through some trees.

This frog let me get really close to take a picture.

This let me get really close to take a picture.

Looking down the Eight Mile River.

Looking down the Eight Mile .

A close up of the river bank.

A close up of the bank.

Walking back up the orange trail along side the Eight Mile River.

back up the orange trail along side the Eight Mile .

Bookmark and Share

Related posts

Rhododendrons To Line the Woods

Saturday, June 7th, 2008

Every time I visit either Lowe’s or , I try to go into the nursery to grab a few . I can always find a use for , I just wish they were free. That would be wild.

I need about 50 . I would like to line the entire up front as well as both sides of the driveway. I love the look of fully grown . They are great cover and have wonderful .

I remember one house down in Yonkers that I did some work at years ago. It was owned by an old (rich) dude. He had everything looking just perfect. There were huge , Japanese Yew, Hemlock and all the rest. It was so green and so was I, with envy. I still have the image in my mind and that’s what I would like to have one day.

But for now, I will have to do with small to start.

I bought three of these during my last trip to .

This is one of the areas I would like to line. When the plants grow larger, they will hang over the rocks and all I will have to do is push the mower under the plants. I know, I am too slick.

Bookmark and Share

Related posts





Free Online Ads
Motorcycle Classifieds
Boats For Sale
Free Auto Ads
Free Pet Classifieds