Riverfront and Ohio St. bridge..

Saturday was another nice day, so Mike and I decided to check out the downtown part of the Greenway. We started at the Ohio St. Bridge, where the creek dumps into the Ohio River. This old bridge will eventually become an overlook at this section of trail with a park around it, but right now is just an old rusty bridge with lots of junk around it and a lot of trash along the creek where people dump stuff. It's one of those bridges you can look through, so I was trying to take pics through it of the water below.
We headed on downtown past the riverboat casino.

The lower drive/boat ramp/amphtheater area was closed for high water and debris, so we went to the Visitor Center parking lot and walked up behind the museum and the 4 Freedoms Monument. Mike checked out the new Vietnam Wall, which we had not seen yet. He pointed out names of guys he had gone to grade school and high school with.

There wasn't a lot of nature to see......

I tried to track a gull (Ring-Billed would be my best guess based on the black wing tips and the territory map for it)

Looked at some trees..one with an old nest......

Watched a barge heading downriver.....Mostly, I enjoyed the backside of the museum and its sculptures, and the Celestial Gate. The gate fascinated me......lovely lines and wavy bits of stainless steel, and each planet represented on a pedestal. The other sculptures in the area.....Bend of the River, and The River, and several I didn't know......were all interesting.....I like sculpture.

I loved the old train behind the train musem and the tops of the great old houses I could see along First Street. I really love those old houses and would like to see inside of them. Just the sort of place that would be wonderful to live if you had the money to renovate, pay the property taxes, and heat one!

We are blessed with a wonderful river flowing by our city and looping into our tight "horseshoe bend". I'm glad the city is trying to revitalize downtown and make better use of this beauty.

Pigeon Creek Greenway trail..

I finished up Friday by leaving the ducks and geese behind............... and walking part of the Pigeon Creek Greenway trail (http://www.pcgreenway.org/route.html). I used to walk it regularly until my knee told me that I couldn't do that any more. It reminded my why today, on the way back! (groan, creak, pop, ouch, ouch, ouch). The city plans to eventually make this trail circle our entire city! They have an area by the Ohio River finished....walking on the levee basically, and this short 2 mile stretch along part of Pigeon Creek. I would love to take a canoe on the creek if they ever offer rentals.The winding path leads under two highways and along the levee in the finished area. My goal was to get to "the big fish". This is a sculpture that was erected near one marshy overflow area where I thought I might see more water fowl....but didn't. I was pleased that the "Big Fish" was still there and basically un-vandalized! It is a huge fishing pole with a metal fish suspended from it. I'd hate to pull that monster in!

I enjoyed watching the clouds and the dark shapes of the trees peeking over the levee more than anything. I'll come back some day when things are green again for better shots.

So often with nature photography, we don't find the picture that we went out looking for, but we find something we like just as well :-) God keeps us in a state of surprise!

I liked this "S".....for spooky.....tree. Tree branches against clouds are always a favorite of mine.

Duck..Duck..Goose! (part 3: portraits and fun clips)

The following sequence was my one real disappointment....they are slightly out of focus! I'll print them small and maybe it will be less noticable.

"Two heads are better than one"

Duck...Duck...Goose (cont.)

The flock of Canada geese was fairly large and some stood along the edge of the lake,

some swam,

and the largest portion after having their treat from the little boy played or preened in a large puddle next to the lake. I enjoyed their many poses.

This one was a strange shot because the wing you see outstretched is on the goose behind the first goose giving a weird perspective.

I didn't even see this guys tongue until I got home to the computer!

They seemed to enjoy this small dirty puddle more than the beautiful blue lake!

Duck...duck...goose!

I started yesterday with a "sick" sewing machine :-( So since I had to take it to the "sewing machine emergency room" for a quick fix (it really did turn out to be quick and he didn't even charge me!), I took the camera along to stop at nearby Garvin Park and the Pigeon Creek Greenway to see what I might see. I arrived at the lake just in time to watch a lady with a little boy throwing food to the friendly flock of Canada geese, Mallard ducks and other domestic white ducks that hang out at the lake just for these handouts. What a pleasant day it turned out to be! I seldom watch water fowl and really enjoyed the various poses and posturings they made. I think I will post a bunch of them over several days because I loved them all.....I took the usual 200+ shots.....and I really don't know which to post!

I think I will start with ducks....I don't know my ducks very well, but there were several pairs of Mallards and several of the domestic white ducks. All swimming in the lake or perched on the edge.

Scattered among them were 2 oddballs. I'm guessing they are some sort of hybrid mix....a little of this and a little of that. But very striking in their coloration!

I call this guy "Funny Duck"...he just struck me that way, but I thought his colors were very pretty.

Then there was one with a beautiful brown coloration and a very strange looking eye (I thought)

It's harder to select Mallard pictures, but these were 3 that I liked.

The female Mallard was very pretty and really loved ducking and diving. The male joined her occasionally, but prefered to sit and watch.

I'll leave today with all the ducks sailing off , enjoying their afternoon swim.