Thursday, June 24, 2010

Hocking Hills for our Anniversary


Lisa and I returned to Hocking Hills, to celebrate our second anniversary.  The trip was a lot of fun, despite the heat.  We stayed in a new cabin and were pleasantly surprised to discover a nest outside the sliding glass door to our porch.

We got to watch both parents feeding their babies all weekend.  It was a lot of fun.  We think that they are Flycatchers.


Rather than visiting Old Man's Cave again we decided to explore some of the other sites in Hocking County.  We went to Ash Cave, which in my opinion is more impressive than Old Man's Cave.  Lisa suffered through the heat while I played with my camera.  I am experimenting with a new type of photography, called HDR (high dynamic range).  Basically you take 3 different exposures and combine them into one image.  I think the results are pretty amazing.  Here are a couple of images of Ash Cave and its surroundings.





The scenery is amazing throughout Hocking County.  I enjoy driving there with all the windy roads, despite the stress of having to be constantly on the lookout for Deer and other woodland creatures.  Speaking of woodland creatures on our way to see the sights on Saturday we crested a hill and in the distance on the road ahead was what initially looked like a fox.  I immediately started to slow and as we got closer the "fox" didn't run away.  Turns out it was a Pomeranian that had been shaved in the front and was wandering the woods.  Lisa got out to check on him.  Several work trucks coming the other way also stopped.  I was afraid that with so many stopped cars that an idiot would cause an accident so I got out and picked the puppy up (looking back on it not the smartest move).  We put him/her in the back seat and drove to the ranger station near Old Man's Cave.  By the time we got there our little friend had cooled off enough to be himself.  In other words a biting, growling, tough guy.  We decided to let the ranger extract him from the backseat.  they have a kennel behind the ranger station and our new friend seemed happy to be there.

We continued on to see the sights.  However, on the way back in nearly the same stretch of road we came across a Turtle in the middle of the road.  Once again I stopped and Lisa got out and moved him to a safe place off the road.  

I love my wife dearly, but I think that animals can sense that she is a Veterinarian.  We always seem to come across animals in need of help.  I don't mind, I actually enjoy it, but sometimes I wish they would wait until we are on our way home without plans.

I can't believe that Lisa and i have been married now for 2 years.  It has been the happiest time of my life.  Love you Honey.