




Log of our
second trip of 2011

Findley State Park

Wellington, Ohio

May 30 - June 2, 2011

Attended: Dad, Gracie, Moosie

Start 35,681 End 35,744 -- 63 miles

Click any of the images for a higher resolution picture

Having fought so hard for so long to keep from improving this state park campground, the State finally put in two rows of electric. It isn't much but it is a start.

That being said, when the weather is dry the trail systems is first rate.

We went from a cold, snowy winter to a wet and very cold spring. Actually, we had no spring. None at all. It just went from frigid and snowing to cold and rainy to ninety degrees and humid. Huge quantities of water have been falling. Serious rain. And large numbers of tornadoes eating a whole in the southern states. Hundreds have been killed. That's my excuse for not camping and I'm sticking to it. That and my law practice has been keeping me busy.

But now I have a couple of days almost free and, darn it, I'm going camping. So I roll up to site 228. The dogs and I are here! And the phone rings. Going back to Cleveland for an arraignment tomorrow, Tuesday. Going to Stow on Wednesday. Need to set a meeting on Tuesday. Choosing Findley was proper for the work. I'll be driving back and forth a number of times.

Pine Sperm

I arrived about four pm in ninety degree heat. I'm set up on site 228 and likin' it. Between phone calls the dogs and we did the 3.75 miles around the park. Wish I'd worn my walking shoes rather than the Tevas. My feet haven't grown accustom to the Tevas. Grace did NOT like the heat! She is slower and slower.

A case brought me back to town on Tuesday morning. So be it. We were back in the box by about 11 am. We took a short walk and puttered around the site. I did a lot of reading. I caught up on documentation. I had a very full day.

Wednesday dawned much cooler. Our campground walk was much more enjoyable. There is green everywhere. The pine trees are dropping pollen covering everything with a greenish-yellow haze. When the wind blows, it looks like a greenish-yellow fog. Neat. Look above at the road. It is actually tinted greenish-yellow. To the left is a green campsite!

The crows are back, in force. After the swine flu epidemic killed off all of the local crows, we didn't see them. The epidemic is over. They are back in force.

Windows are covered!

Where's the Dogs?

I'm sitting in front of my fire reading my Kindle (Hans Kung: What I Believe). Because the park is just about empty, there is no need for me to tether the dogs. I didn't realize how involved I'd get in the book and about an hour later I look around. Uh oh! No dogs. "Grace!" "Moose!" Nothing! I surmise they went inside and went to bed. They're like that. Bed time is bed time. Inside, on the bed, I find Moose:

That's one of them. What of Grace? Well, Grace took a flashlight to find. She was right behind me, about fifteen feet into the woods. She found a nice comfy and cool spot amoung the groundcover. Click on the picture for a larger version.

Holes!

There are quite a number of pine trees that have holes bored in them. I have yet to see the culprit. A very few are bored by ants. I expect a woodpecker is making the majority of the holes.

Meanwhile, back at home

On arrival back at home, we were greeted with our first roses and two newly hatched cardinal chicks in a nest in the tree next to the tower. Here's a link to the pictures I took of the cardinals.

For up-to-date park maps and information, check the Ohio State Park website for Findley State Park