Clear Creek Sights

Joan and I spent time this late July and August hiking back and forth across Clear Creek Metro Park. Here's a snapshot of the park map. (Click on the image to enlarge.)

It's been a wet year, so there was plenty to see along the trails. At the very start of the Fern Trail, we caught the tail end of a bounty of flowers, including crimson beebalm and a tall phlox.

Viewed from the road berm.

From the other side of that patch, the American bellflower among others.

A view from the trail.

Nearby a young phoebe watched. At this time of year the birds don't sing much, nesting having been completed, but the woods are never completely silent.

An Eastern Tiger Swallowtail butterfly.

A crane-fly orchid was growing demurely in the woods. We saw a couple of these; they are inconspicuous and easy to pass by.

We also saw two putty-root orchids bearing seed pods. This plant is unusual in that its leaves deploy in early winter and disappear in the spring as its competitors for sunlight leaf out.

There were vigorous patches of pinesap poking up through the leaf litter. This plant has no chlorophyll,

but rather is a myco-heterotroph, with a parasitic relationship on fungi in the soil. Other common names for it are Dutchman's pipe and false beech-drops.

Every hike saw at least two toads, sometimes three. Here's one:

And another one!

Along the Tulip Trail there was a swath of severe wind damage. A huge gust must have driven up the side of the ridge, smashing into trees anchored in waterlogged soil. The cut ends were fresh.

 Joan inspects the wide opening in the canopy.

The frequent storms this summer left the Tulip damp.

A burst of sunlight illuminated a patch on the Hemlock Trail. We consider the Hemlock to be the most scenic trail at Clear Creek.

Fallen timber has been used to buttress this creekside section of the Hemlock. Also, a portion of the trail near the creek was being rerouted to higher ground. 

Most of the fungi we saw had been trampled or sampled by wildlife, but this specimen, at least a foot tall, was still unblemished.

Frilly skirts.

Up in the meadow Joan spotted a caterpillar of the black-waved flannel moth, a first for us.

A peek from the front.

The stinging hairs are supposed to pack quite a punch. We didn't test it.

There's a lot to be seen if you don't zoom along the trails. Including rest stops and chatting with other hikers, Joan and I manage about 1½ miles per hour.

Fairfield Sweet Sixteenth

My trip to Fairfield in March 2018 was the sixteenth now documented in this blog. Yes, it's taken a while for me get started on this entry. I promise to keep it brief, so let's jump in:

I stayed at the Men's Peace Palace, as last time. Given the time of year, I saw lots of sunrises, and some were photo-worthy.

The entryway looked familiar, including the reminders on the floor to remove one's shoes.

I finally noticed that the coat hangers in the entryway bore duck heads.

It was the same room I had back in November.

In the middle of one thunderstorm-wracked night the power went out on parts of the campus, including the Peace Palace. My battery-powered clock woke me at the correct time, but I couldn't turn on any lights. I was able to navigate with my camping headlamp, and the building's hot water was still comfortably warm when I turned it all the way to "H," so no harm done. The power came back later in the morning.

My two-week visit included five days of Ayurvedic treatments at The Raj, which were welcome and very settling. One evening I took this photo combining the entry and the moon.

The shirodhara treatment, oil poured slowly on the forehead, was especially calming.

Between the extended group meditations in the Golden Dome, my Raj treatments, and iffy weather I had only a few opportunities to wander. On one of my walks I discovered that the old railroad depot had undergone another reincarnation.

The expansion of the North Campus Village was continuing.

Is that a giant spider up there?

Concrete was being poured.

This zoom shows some of the tubing and mechanisms of a long-distance pour. Click on the image to enlarge.

Sure it's not injecting alien eggs into the ground?

On one of my walks uptown -- or is it downtown? -- near the square, anyway, this juxtaposition caught my eye.

That's Fairfield!

Now for my campus-area photos; first, an engaging trio of trees near the student union.

A Chevy Volt was charging up near the Sustainable Living Center.

On the other side of the green battery shed, a student project had been installed next to the photovoltaic panels.

EVSE is an acronym for Electric Vehicle Service Equipment. The charging equipment within the car and the EVSE negotiate a power level for charging that's acceptable to both parties.

OpenEVSE is an outfit that will either sell you a completed EVSE, an EVSE kit that you assemble, or parts to build an EVSE to your own specifications.

Here's a view of the central hallway of the Sustainable Living Center. The whole trunks are much stronger than sawn boards.

I had the opportunity to walk another segment of the Jefferson County Loop Trail, which I have explored over the years. A schedule conflict, however, prevented me from collecting the final mile needed to claim the entire trail.

On the afternoon of March 25th there was to be a Global Group Meditation, where TM practitioners everywhere would gather in groups and meditate at the same time, 5:05 pm in Fairfield. This effort, it was anticipated, would tweak the global level of consciousness for the better. Of particular interest, Maharaja Adhiraj Rajaraam -- also known as Dr. Tony Nader -- would be addressing those of us in Fairfield (via audio link) and answering questions before the meditation start.

Although tempted to complete my walk I cut it short. This was wise, because the treatments at the Raj had calmed my metabolism a lot, and I was getting accustomed to a new prescription. I knew I shouldn't stress myself with an extra two miles.

At the Dome the gathered souls were first addressed by Dr./Raja John Hagelin, and a video of him was played, explaining the mechanics of how group practice could affect the greater population. His background as a physicist was put to good use in the video. John also wished another TM notable, Raj Rajeshwari Candace, a happy birthday.

The program then moved to Dr. Nader, who also spent time noting Candace's birthday and praising her works, followed by Candace's thanks, which quickly transformed into lengthy admiration of Dr. Nader's insights and leadership. After a final return expression of thanks to Candace, Dr. Nader unfortunately had time to answer only one question. Then it was the start time for the global meditation.

A look back at the Dome when it was all over, and I was on my way to the Golden Dome Market Cafe for a light dinner.

After a rejuvenating visit to Fairfield I returned home. As for the loop trail -- maybe next time!

HIghlands and Islands: Aigas Field Center and Magnus House

Sunday, June 3rd, was our NatHab group's last full day in Scotland. After breakfast Joan and I took a walk along the Coul House fairy trail.

We also braved the "scary" trail, and emerged into the back lawn.

Jonathan greeted a neighbor's pony.

Then our group was off to visit the Aigas Field Center,

where we paid a nighttime visit several days before to view the nocturnal pine marten. First, we were treated to a presentation by Sir John Lister-Kaye, which covered much of the natural and some political history of this part of Scotland. The "hills and heather" associated with the Highlands are a human creation, started by the cutting down of trees for shelter and fire. The grazing of sheep prevented anything from growing back, and the Highland Clearances pushed the human population to the coastline and beyond. The Victorian landlords deliberately kept their lands cleared of anything that would interfere with hunting the Big Three: red deer, grouse, and salmon. Sir John is dedicated to restoring the true nature of the Highlands as much as possible.

After the presentation we walked to the Scottish wild cat enclosure, making some friends along the way.

The wild cat quarters.

Scottish wild cats appear very similar to domesticated cats, with which they have hybridized. The Field Center is working on establishing a wild cat lineage by breeding only those animals with at least 80% wild genetics (how this is measured, I do not know).

Who are you?

 Being cats, sometimes they are alert,

 sometimes not.

Ahhhhh.

We walked back through the gardens, and Sir John gave us a tour of the Magnus House,

Side view, actually.

Front entrance.

which he had rescued and restored from a shambles on the verge of demolition. Over the decades he and his family have accomplished astonishing feat of renovation and refurbishing, but even so, he wasn't shy about pointing out the Victorian excesses and errors that had been inflicted on the building, such as a section of flat roof whose drains are blocked by ice every winter.

Inside, a map of the Center, whose grounds include the remains of Bronze and Iron Age habitation. (Click on the image to enlarge.)

Our group was treated to a heavenly buffet lunch -- Lady Lucy Lister-Kaye is a Cordon Bleu trained chef. Then it was time for a drive up Glen Cannich and to Mullardoch Dam, the biggest in Scotland.

On the way up the glen we saw plenty of brazen red deer,

Please, no pictures, I'm shedding my winter coat.

and  placid cows.

The Mullardoch dam holds back a large lake, but the water that spins nearby turbines to generate electricity passes through over 5 km of tunnel to exit into Loch Benevean.

Behind the dam.

Below the dam.

This scheme allows the dam creating Loch Benevean to be much smaller than otherwise.

Joan birdwatching, and me looking unsure.

On our way back down Glen Cannich we stopped next to a bridge for more bird watching; I found a colorful spider on the bridge itself.

Another highland coo (or Heilan coo), a group favorite, but especially for Nadia.

Suddenly another roadside surprise materialized with snacks and beverages and hand-painted mugs from the Magnus House. Nadia is holding her highland coo calendar.

Dinner that evening wasn't at the Coul House, but at a local pub, the Allangrange Arms. Jonathan dressed for the occasion.

On our arrival the barman inquired from where we had each come. When Joan and I said Ohio, he called out, "O-H!" Joan and I, surprised, yelled back, "I-O!" to complete The Ohio State University call and response. It turned out he had spent some time in Columbus! The food was superb, as usual ... Jonathan knows how to pick 'em.

There was time for one final expedition to a misty Loch Kinellan the next morning, before heading to the airport.

At the parking area there is a monument to the men of the Black Watch Regiment who died in the Korean War, erected by a local man who'd served in that war.

At the loch we were entertained by coots, and a tufted duck,

but most especially by a horned grebe and her chick. My images aren't the sharpest, but I think you'll catch on.

Don't go too far!

All aboard!

Very snug.

A final sight before reaching the Inverness airport was this monument to the Scottish drovers.

In earlier times the highland cattle were led to market on foot, a long march. On the return the drovers stuck together to deter bandits, who knew the drovers now bore cash, while the dogs dashed home ahead of their masters, living  notification of impending family reunions.

And then we flew home. The ten days since our arrival had been packed with activity, but Joan and I know there is still more to be experienced in the Highlands and Islands.