Indiana's Brown County State Park

A trip into beautiful Brown County State Park near Nashville, Indiana, had a few surprises, one of which was that any wildlife there was watching us, not the other way around.

Brown County SP goes against everything you've heard about Indiana (it's not flat as a table boring), because south of Indianapolis, the countryside is more hilly, giving plenty of quiet, relaxing views. 

Take the trails around the lakes there, where the tree color will be popping in a week or two. But I didn't see many creatures there, other than the usual dozens of deer at sunset. One family of four stood in the middle of the road, staring at me, apparently puzzled that I would consider using their highway.

The hikes up and down the hollers, around the lakes and along the ridges were colorful, but certainly not premium autumn color-- yet.


On trail #4, I heard a deep bass-drum hammering on a tree, signaling the arrival of a pileated woodpecker. Now, plenty of my friends have seen these Woody Woodpecker-style birds but I go looking for them and rarely have the good fortune to watch one work.  Saw a few of them at Brown County State Park.

Muscatatuck National Wildlife Refuge

It's been raining, or posing a serious threat of same, so biking on this Indiana trip has been much less than expected. So, when plans don't quite turn out as planned, I go to Plan B, which includes wildlife refuges and/or history.

Fall color hasn't hit here yet in Brown County, Indiana, although some of the sassafras and dogwoods have shown some nice yellows and reds.

Muscatatuck National Wildlife Refuge was a nice option, although still quiet and awaiting its fall migrations. Only three other cars passed us along the car tour while we were there and they were filled with fishermen. 

The Myers barn, shown here, has been rehabbed by volunteers, and is similar to area farms that were once scattered through the refuge's boundaries. As for wildlife, we saw a few deer, some great blue herons, and a few assorted songbirds. Generally, wildlife viewing was scarce compared to Lancaster's Middle Creek or Delaware's Prime Hook or Bombay Hook, but the trip was still worth the time.

Marines training for boot camp

 

Top-- Marine private Jose Pol screams orders at a poolee, or prospective Marine, during physical training last week. The training, says Sgt. Patrick D. Herman, is made to simulate Parris Island boot camp, and 'sets up the poolees for success.'

Top right-- Dakota Fauver, York City, carries Phillip Tracey, Glen Rock, across muddy ground last week at the York  Fair during physical training while answering the sargeant with a crisp "Yes, sir!" or "No, Sir!"

Kayla Mills, Dover, takes a quick break during physical training exercises last week at the York Fair. The training is to help poolees (prospective Marines) get ready for Parris Island boot camp.

Matthew Dietz, Thomasville, carries Jessica Bonaduci,York City, during physical training exercise at last week's York Fair.


Jessica Bonaduci, York City, her face covered with mud, stands at attention while a Marine yells orders and instructions.

Phillip Tracey, Glen Rock,  left, and Parker Reed, York City, simulate dragging another Marine during a fire fight during which they'd be forced to slide along the ground.

Lancaster's Enola Low Grade rail trail

Took a ride on the Enola Low Grade rail trail in Lancaster County Sunday. It's commendable that something is being done with the trail after years of fighting with property owners for right-of-way. But riding the trail makes York Countians grateful for the York County Heritage Rail Trail. Or nearly any other trail. This trail might have a future, but it's a long, long ways away.

 The Enola Trail was recently 'improved' with a new stone surface. But the surface is still awful, loaded with larger limestone, not the crusher waste or something similar that could easily be packed into a hard surface. We rode only half the trail; we sometimes struggled to keep the bikes upright and battled loose rocks.  We had enough, turned around and went home. There was standing water on the trail as well, but that can be excused because of recent storms. 

 

York's Heritage Rail Trail is hard to beat for things to see and do, smooth surface and scenery. 

Below are excerpts from Lancaster Online story by Ad Crable from September 12.

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By AD CRABLE
Staff Writer 

 

A new age of public use may be dawning on the former Enola Low Grade rail line.
Closed for nearly a year for an Amtrak power line project, the 23-mile rail-trail is opening again sporting a 16-foot-wide crushed stone trail surface.

For nearly two decades, the rail line had been a bitter battleground over its use and ownership. Martic, Sadsbury, Providence, Bart, Eden and Conestoga townships, which had fought a county takeover to make it a public rail-trail, won the battle and were awarded ownership in 2008, along with $1.4 million from Norfolk Southern for maintenance.

This past weekend, the township celebrated a grand reopening for its 8.27 miles. A trail map with parking and access points is available online at the township's website here.

Providence Township officials, who once fought a public trail, are now leading the charge to get its new owners to unite and turn the trail and its 850 acres into a countywide asset.

The new surface now makes bicycling more feasible. Other permitted uses include horseback riding, walking, jogging, birdwatching and cross-country skiing.

Providence officials are considering paving half the right of way for use by Plain Sect horse and buggies — and developing the trail through Quarryville Borough so kids could use it to walk or bike to school.

There is a detour around the Route 222 crossing near Quarryville where the stone tunnel was demolished. Eventually, Providence Township officials hope to build a pedestrian bridge over the highway.

Read more: http://lancasteronline.com/article/local/457248_Rail-trail-paved-for-more-uses-by-public.html#ixzz1YMnoLG9Q

York Fair Preschool Day

Weather may have played havoc with last week's York Fair which ended Sunday, but Preschool Day on Friday still had its share of kids running around.

Top right, Jessica Whitmore of Jefferson checks son Andrew's smile after he petted a rabbit at the York Fair's 4-H Learning Center. 

At left, Liam Werner, 4, of Frederick, Md., gives a goat a bottle of milk at the York Fair's York County 4-H Learning Center.

At top, Ian makes a face at Mom and Dad in the Horticulture Hall.

York Revolution wins second half title

After the York Revolution won the first game of a Thursday night doubleheader, the players and coaches were waiting to find how the Lancaster Barnstormers were playing in their game. A loss there would clinch the title for York, no matter how the Revs second game ended.

The Barnstormers lost and manager Andy Etchebarren congratulated his Revs players midway through the second game, despite being behind at the time. A Revs player said it just wouldn't feel right to celebrate after a loss.

So, the Revs rallied to win.  It was that simple.

The staff covered the lockers and furniture with plastic, in anticipation of a rowdy celebration. Plenty of champagne bottles and beer cans were opened. Most of it was sprayed.

 The plastic was a very good move.

Students Day at York Fair

Students Day at the York Fair is always busy, many schools districts dismissing early so the kids can hit the fair.
At top, Megan Schmincke, 16,  right, and Erin Folk, 15, take a high ride on the Fireball during Kids' Day Tuesday, September 13, 2011, at the York Fair. Left-- Faith Zurick, 12, KyLynn Lauer, 12. At right, Chris Schmidt, 15, takes a fall from the Bad Boy Bulls.

An impressive collection down the drain

Ed Sowers, York, has collected everything about entertainment, from posters, to mugs, sheet music, books and videos and DVDs.  Last weekend's flooding sent more than three feet of water into his basement, which destroyed much of the collection.

Holtwood Dam is a temporary tourist attraction

When Roger Wilson of New Park brings his grandchildren to Lock 12 and the Holtwood Dam on days of normal flow, there are plenty of places to relax, climb on rocks, swim in shallow pools. Friday wasn't one of those days. Because of the week's flooding, water over the Holtwood Dam is flowing at a higher rate than at any time in a decade.  Water was about 500,000 cubic feet per second, compared to a normal rate of 37,000 cfs.

Flooding hits York County

 After a day of shooting property damage from the near-constant three days of rain we shifted into another gear to show damage of another sort.  People, and how they are hurt by the nine inches of rain became the focus.

Click here to see the York Dispatch staff's view of the flooding.

Flooding is so bad here that old timers are saying it's the worst flooding since-- you got it-- Hurricane Agnes in 1972.

Matthew and Tabitha Walker, Manchester, top right, were forced to spend Wednesday night in a hotel because of flooding to their home, but their two cats weren't allowed. The Walkers and a few other pet owners took their animals to the York County SPCA for temporary shelter. The Walkers visited Ebony and Star, above, Thursday morning.

Alexandria Franklin, 17, York City, left,  kisses two-month old daughter Atizana Maxfield  at the Manchester Township building Thursday, September 8, 2011, where a temporary Red Cross shelter is operating.  Franklin's other daughter, Jaihree Maxfield, 1, also spent the night.

The water treatment plant in Springettsbury Township was flooded Thursday when the nearby Codorus Creek overflowed its banks, closing the road, and nearly covering up the North Sherman Street bridge. On Thursday evening, when the water level receded, neighbors ventured out to see the damage.

We have lost the Sportcat

Sport, our feline friend and lap companion of 15 good years, died today. She was an extra small cat with an extra large personality. There have been prettier cats, but Sport was really something special. She was social, enjoyed company and talked with everyone. She never did figure out why the chipmunks didn't want to play.

We're hoping smiles of days past replace the tears soon.

Sport picked us out when she was a kitten at the SPCA, posing, purring and parading. It was obvious she wanted to go home with us and not the other dozen or so folks at the SPCA that day. The 1996 Summer Olympics was going on, and after seeing her athletic abilities -- she was in constant motion-- the name Sport seemed to fit. I called her The Sportcat, and she seemed to enjoy the nickname. I could tell. Really.

She never weighed more than 6.5 pounds, probably because of her adventurous spirit, but seemed to know when we were sick. With our noses plugged, our lungs on fire from coughing and feeling like General Custer on a bad day, Sport slowed down long enough to climb on the bed and cuddle. It seemed to work better than all the cold medicine in the world.

Oh, it hurts losing a friend. But it was 15 warm, cuddly and happy hears.  Thank you, m'dear.

Hospice of Lancaster County sets record

The Hospice of Lancaster County's Labor Day auction concluded Monday with record donations, despite a  sour economy in general and in particular, a Monday  dampened by a rain storm. The rain came when everyone was sitting down to enjoy the Amish prepared lunches -- donuts!-- so everyone stayed inside until the rain stopped and then continued buying.

The Amish community plays a big part in the auction, and makes use of  Hospice services during the year. When auction day comes, the Amish are auctioneers, bidders, cooks and bakers. And the kids are something special to photograph-- can't imagine cuter children. While most Amish don't want their picture taken, these photos were taken with parental permission and signed releases.

Rain won't wash out Hospice of Lancaster County Auction

Hospice of Lancaster County is dedicated to providing care and comfort to help patients and families live better at end of life.

Labor Day's rain might wash out some holiday barbeque plans, but the annual Hospice of Lancaster County Auction will continue uninterrupted.  All auctions for new and used items will be inside and protected from the rain.

Amish play a big part in the auction, preparing all the food, and provide auction items, including sheds and furniture. 

The thousands of customers can taste traditional Amish-cooked food including barbequed chicken and glazed donuts. The winner of a new Harley Davidson and Ford Mustang will also be announced this afternoon.

From the Lancasteronline.com website--  Hospice of Lancaster County's popular Labor Day Auction runs from 8:30 a.m. to 6 p.m. Monday at the Lampeter Fairgrounds, Route 741 and Lampeter Road.
 
The event, which is free and open to the public, features elaborate quilts, handcrafted Amish furniture, more than 150 pieces of framed local artwork, sports and celebrity memorabilia, vacation packages, jewelry, home and garden accessories, plants, gift certificates, crafts and Amish-prepared food.

Read more: http://lancasteronline.com/article/local/451127_The-art-of-celebrating-Labor-Day-weekend.html#ixzz1X1e9gJ1v

Craig Studenroth of B & B Communcations, Lancaster, checks a speaker that is part of a system that shows, even to bidders in the back rows, items that are being auctioned off . The biggest auctions are inside two buildings, so rain shouldn't keep people away. 

herons on the codorus

Aren't as many herons around as there were earlier in the summer, but there are still a few lurking along the Codorus Creek, looking for dinner. The bright-white great egrets, which nested at Kiwanis Lake, are now all out of their nests. While the herons blend in to their surroundings, egrets stand out, easy to see.