“I can’t breathe,” said my mother in a panicked tone as she floated in the pool. “I need to get out.” Moments ago she had been splashing around, content. She now was breathing with shallow puffs. I cradled her in my arms and turned her body toward the windows on the side of the pool. […]
Volunteer sunflowers
Some of my favorite plants in the gardens that I tend to are those I had nothing to do with their inclusion. (The converse is also true, particularly with stealthily introduced invasives.) This year at Ann’s Place joe-pye weed stretches high in the back garden above the Virginia rye, golden rod and the remaining phragmites […]
Summer weeds
Earlier in the week I was looking to take a day off from my gardening chores. It had become increasingly hot and I needed a break. I went outside to retrieve the morning paper and via a light, cooling wind I heard the weeds approving of my decision, encouraging me to take the rest of […]
The last day
Like all our other mornings, we started our last day on the towpath trail with beautiful weather. With the exception of being caught for over 1 hour in a downpour on our first day, our trip has been idyllic. The morning starts out cool with a light wind coming over the river. But before we […]
Cleveland detours
We exit the trail at Harvard Ave. in the middle of an industrial park. We head left and then right looking for the trail. There is only construction. Then we come to another section that says “Trail Closed.” After re-examining the trail map as well as Google maps we continue forward. A mountainous slag heap […]
A short ride
It’s a clear, hot sunny morning. We leave Massillon to ride the Ohio and Erie Canal Towpath trail, which is adjacent to the Tuscarawas River. The stone dust trail sits high above the river, which has dropped at least 6 feet based on the silt marks on nearby vegetation and its V-shaped banks. People are […]
Biking in Akron
As we enter the outskirts of Akron, the trail becomes increasingly urban and industrial. Old factories sit quietly on the side and empty bottles, cans, paper and other garbage pollute the canal. Still, turtles sun themselves on logs, people fish and a great blue heron leads us down the canal toward town. While the waterways […]
The buildings of Millersburg
We had the opportunity the other day to walk the streets of Millersburg. It is an old town with a base of historical and architecturally interesting buildings. We stayed at the Hotel Millersburg, which was built in 1847 and is the third oldest continuously operating hotel in Ohio. It is a favorite of those who […]
Amish hill country: Part 1
It is cool and partly cloudy this morning, a welcome change to the last few days. As we leave Millersburg and roll down to the trail, we have started to see the Amish. A family walking down Main Street. A young girl on her bicycle. A family in a buggy. Once we hit the trail, […]
Coffee in Fredericksburg
Its a busy Saturday morning in Fredericksburg. The day is heating up and so is the ball game in the field down by Salt Creek. Tractors, horse buggies, cars, trucks and electric bicycles are jockeying for space and taking their turn at the 4-way stop in the center of town. Lem’s pizza is doing a […]