Much rejoicing

(Admiring the sky.  All photos © 2009 by Robin)

At long last, the month of February has come to an end.  March brings with it the hope of spring even though we know full well that winter isn’t finished with us.  There are buds on the lilac bushes.  The crocuses are pushing up through the dirt.  And never mind that these things began to happen at the end of February.  They belong to March and that hope of warmer and greener things to come.

I don’t know what it is that makes February such a long month.  It certainly isn’t the number of days.  Whatever the cause, and as much as I dislike rushing my life by wishing a month of it away, I’m glad it’s over for another year.

(On the Buckeye Trail.)

As an unplanned celebration of the turning of the calendar page, M and I went for a hike along a nearby lake (on part of the Buckeye Trail) this morning.  The sky was that brilliant, crisp, cold, shade of blue that I think of as March Blue.  It almost matches the color of the ice on the lakes.

(Blue above and below.)

As you might be able to guess from the photos, it is a cold 1st of March.  The winds today are whipping, 16mph sustained, gusts up to 25 mph.  The actual temperature was somewhere around 23°F.  The place we chose for hiking is fairly sheltered from the wind so it wasn’t too bad.  Thermal underwear helps, too.

We were able to hike a part of the Buckeye Trail that we generally avoid during the spring months because most of it is under water, part of the vernal pool system in this area.  (For more information on Ohio vernal pools, visit the Ohio Vernal Pool Partnership.)  In fact, that part of the trail is posted, no horse riding allowed during the spring months.  Horses really churn up the trail when it’s wet and muddy.

(Sun and shadow on the trail.)

The trail was frozen and crunchy.  It was a little like walking on a very shallow creek, occasionally breaking through the ice onto frozen mud.

(Lintel over the path.)

There were a lot of trees down.  The past year has blown a lot of strong winds through the Bogs, including the remnants of Hurricane Ike.  At one point on the trail we saw what looked like a domino effect, six trees in a row all toppled across the trail.  I suspect they’re going to have to reroute the trail.  It looks like too much for volunteers to come in and clear up.

(Frozen.)

It was a nice, invigorating hike.  I’m glad we decided to go.  There’s a lot to be said for spontaneity.

We drove over to the other side of the lake after our hike.  A few brave souls were out on the ice, fishing.

(Ice fishing.)

They had to be freezing out there where there was nothing to block the full force of the wind.  I hope they caught a few fish to make it worth their while.

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