August 6, 2010 - Cuyahoga Valley Nat'l Park

Here is some of my pictures from the Cuyahoga Valley National Park in Ohio. It was a really great area and very accessible to everyone. The canal systems they had back in the 1800s were very interesting, too.

One of many different wildflowers

Daddy Long-Legs like spider...they were everywhere!

First hiking trail of the day...

Ohio & Erie Canal System - Lock 38
Very cool system to haul goods by canal boats with mules pulling them down the canal.

Bridge near the first visitor's center

Great Blue Heron

taking off...

So many butterflies in Ohio!

Nice bridge on the way out to the Beaver Marsh

Got Fungus?

Painted Turtle soaking up some sun!

Everette Covered Bridge

Me at Brandywine Falls

Brandywine Falls

Trail to Brandywine Falls...

Redwing Black Bird

Another Painted Turtle!

Native Snapping Turtle - this was about a foot and a half long!

The Beaver Marshes

Hike to Ice Box Cave

Trail to Ice Box Cave

Trail to Ice Box Cave

Trail to Ice Box Cave

Trail to Ice Box Cave

Trail to Ice Box Cave

Along the trail to Ice Box Cave

Tree growing out of the wall

Just outside Ice Box Cave - the coldest place in the area!

Inside of Ice Box Cave

Entrance to Ice Box Cave

Along the Ledges Trail

Weird shaped tree along the Ledges Trail

Along the Ledges Trail

Ledges Trail

Ledges Trail

Ledges Trail

Here is a little crevice I was checking out. I had to use my camera phone flash to see.

I start to take pictures inside and poke my head down inside this area...(if you look close enough on the top you'll see some white round things...)

I realize that this crevice is full of big spiders that have many egg sacs all around me. I take a quick picture and rush out. I was flipping out and shaking to make sure none were on me!

Walkway at the end of the Ledges Trail

Can you believe this is in Ohio and not some jungle?

Leaving the trail...

The end of the trail

This park was beautiful and would love to visit again during the fall to see all the different colors.

Leaving Ohio...

Well, I am sitting in the airport waiting to board soon. Ohio has been a fun state and really enjoyed my time here. The locals are extremely friendly and the service was amazing (California employers should send waiters/waitresses/servers or any service providers here to learn how to treat customers)! I enjoyed new places to eat (White Castle, Five Guys, Golden Corral, Bob Evans, Waffle House, etc.). Also, I was able to visit the beautiful Cuyahoga Valley National Park, First Ladies Nat'l Historic Site, President Garfield's Nat'l Historic Site, Rock & Roll Museum & Hall of Fame, and finally The Pro Football Hall of Fame Enshirement Festival. The weekend for the enshrinement was a once in a lifetime opportunity and will always cherish and remember all the events I was able to attend/experience. When I get home, I plan to upload my pictures from the Nat'l Park and Hall of Fame Enshrinement weekend.

My high low for the week was - High=Shaking Emmitt Smith's hand Low=trying to find gas near the airport for my rental car - I drove for 20 minutes in the middle of nowhere and finally found some on the opposite side of the freeway where I started!!

Anyhow, what a trip! Come back to read and see some pictures from the last part of the trip!

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My view for the HALL OF FAME game

Just shook Emmitt Smith's hand!

Just shook Emmitt Smith's hand! Freakin out still

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Autograph of Mr. Cowboy Bob Lilly HOF 1980!

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Rock n' Roll Hall of Fame and More

Today I went to the Rock n' Roll Hall of Fame in Cleveland. It has many things there to see and interact with. I really enjoyed my 5 hours there. Recently I took a guitar class at a local junior college and learned many things about the guitar and history of it. Without this prior knowledge, the guitars and musicians/pioneers of the past wouldn't have meant much to me. The only bummer of the museum was that I wasn't able to take pictures inside the museum. So, the only pictures I have are from the lobby. There was many exhibits, but my favorite ones were: Elvis, Jimi Hendrix, Michael Jackson, The Beatles & John Lennon, David Bowie, The Stones, and Les Paul history. Here are a few pictures from the lobby:

Duran Duran - John Taylor's Bass

ZZ Top's Eliminator

Michael Jackson art piece

George Harrison art piece

Cleveland Browns Stadium right next to the R&R Museum

After, there I went and had a great lunch from a vendor near the R&R Museum - chili dog w/mustard, polish sausage w/peppers, onions, and mustard, and a pop (soda)! Excellent! Thanks Julie Bastulli for the recommendation!!

On my way back to the room, I stopped at the Ohio-Erie Canal Reservation Visitor Center. It was interesting and had a great short hike around the area. I took many pictures of the place. There was many birds, huge dragonflies, butterflies, frogs, flowers, trees, etc. Here are a few pictures:

Cardinal - only saw this one

Bees were everywhere


More bees on flowers...

Another strange flower

Wild Raspberries - Yes, I did eat them!

Down by the canal

Railroad tracks and sewer pipe over the canal

Dragonfly

Looking out near the canal

Another waterway to the canal

Lily pads and a blooming flower

Self Portrait on a walkway

Another self portrait!

The hike back to the car...

Tomorrow the plan is to head to the Cuyahoga Valley National Park and then a weekend of Football!!!