Friday, July 1, 2011

Travels With Clancy: A Walk in the Woods

Clancy and I had a great return to our travels this week with a trip to Rowe Woods, which is part of the Cincinnati Nature Center. The Cincinnati Nature Center is not actually in Cincinnati, but is instead in neighboring Clermont County. Clermont is a predominantly rural county, but I was still surprised to find such a large, unspoiled woods less than an hour away from home.

The Nature Center has two locations, Rowe Woods in Milford, Ohio, and Long Branch Farm & Trails in nearby Goshen. Long Branch is only open to CNC members, so Clancy and I went to Rowe Woods. As usual, we went early in the morning, as Clancy has an aversion to mid-day heat. That works for me though, as I am typically a morning person, and I have to admit I am not a fan of heat myself.

I immediately liked Rowe Woods as soon as we drove in, as the road is marked with cute signs warning drivers to slow down and be on the lookout for the many animal residents.


Rowe Woods boasts ten different trails for walkers to explore. Clancy and I chose the Edge Trail, which is represented by a turtle, and listed as "easy." As we are the clumsiest pair on two or four feet, this seemed like a good choice for us.


The trails are all marked with signposts to point walkers in the right direction. I was grateful for this, as I can easily get lost in my own neighborhood. Clancy and I followed the turtle, and started off into the woods.




The Edge Trail leads walkers around the Powel Crosley Lake, and includes a boardwalk to walk along the lake's edge.


Clancy and I walked along the boardwalk, and saw numerous turtles or possibly frogs sliding into the water to get away from us. I don't think they appreciated the interruption of their day, as they disappeared instantly, leaving only a bubble in the water. Clancy was completely puzzled by the bubbles, and cocked his ears at them, staring at the bubbling water for the whole length of the boardwalk.

We continued on, and came upon a small wooden shelter overlooking the lake.


Benches line the inside walls, and the shelter is clearly intended as a place for walkers to rest and enjoy some shade. Or, since the trails are open year-round, step inside and get a break from the cold wind during a winter hike.

It was a welcome find for Clancy, as he was already getting hot.


We took a little break, and enjoyed the view of the lake through the trees surrounding the shelter.


Following our turtle sign, we continued on into the woods, where the trail gets a bit steeper.



Eventually, the trail winds around the Marsh Pond. I loved this old canoe resting near the dock.


While I can't say the pond itself is pretty, as the water is an unsightly brown, it still seemed like a peaceful, quiet place to sit on the dock and relax.


With that, Clancy and I reached the end of the Edge Trail, and made our way back to the Visitor Center and parking lot.

I was so taken with Rowe Woods that I decided to purchase a membership to the Nature Center, so I can return at any time at no charge. I want to explore the other nine trails, and see the woods through the change of seasons. I've no doubt the trails are spectacular in the fall.

As a member, I will also be able to visit Long Branch, so I am definitely adding that to my list of travels. I have next week off work, so I am keeping my fingers crossed for good weather and a cooperative car, so Clancy and I can do plenty of exploring.

Happy Fourth of July weekend to my American friends, and to my Canadian buddies, Happy Canada Day! :)

25 comments:

  1. Have a happy 4th of July! I'm sure Clancy loves to sniff all of the fascinating smells on your adventures. :)

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  2. That's so cool! I used to work as a naturalist in a nature center, wow, twenty years ago. Your pictures take me back. It was at a lake similar to this one with boardwalks and murky water. And I love turtles and frogs (weird, I know).

    Have a great Fourth of July!

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  3. Clancy looks a little tuckered out. I can't wait to see the autumn photos :)

    Happy 4th!

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  4. What a pretty place! And I agree with Carol....Clancy looks like he could use a drink! :)
    Thanks for sharing your adventures with us!

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  5. Another great post Julie. What I really like about this series is that it reminds me that so often we overlook the great places right in our own backyards.

    Have a great Fourth!

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  6. A beautiful place and great of you to take a camera along to document

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  7. A wonderful place and pictures to match.

    Happy 4th July.
    Yvonne.

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  8. I'm a walker, those trails look like an amazing place to explore!

    Enjoy the holiday weekend :)

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  9. I would LOVE to take a walk there! I just really love that kind of thing. Your photos are fantastic - thanks for sharing them. And I laughed when you said they mark the easier trails with a turtle - that's great! I love it!

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  10. It looks so peaceful! Beautiful photos thanks for sharing your adventures with Clancy.

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  11. @BIP, thanks! I hope you had a wonderful Canada Day!

    @Janel, yeah, that's Clancy's primary interest LOL. Happy 4th to you!

    @LG, oh, I bet that was a great job! I got a kick out of the turtles/frogs, they disappeared so quickly I wasn't entirely sure what they were! Happy 4th!

    @Carol, the funny thing was, we had only been going about 20 minutes at that point, but Clancy was acting as if we'd gone 3 hours. :D Happy 4th to you!

    @Becky, thanks, and you're welcome, so glad you like them!

    @Tim, thanks! That was my goal with this series, and so far it has been better than I expected. I had really taken the parks around here for granted. Happy 4th to you as well!

    @RJR, thanks so much!

    @Yvonne, thank you!

    @Joanne, thank you, I hope you have a great weekend as well. :)

    @Brenda, LOL, yeah, the turtle was definitely the right match for Clancy and me. We'll have to move up to some of the more graceful animals next time LOL. Thanks so much!

    @Jennifer, it really was a peaceful place. Thanks!

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  12. What a beautiful and peaceful place! I especially liked the woodwalk along the water. :)I bet the remaining trails are equally nice to walk on and explore. Love Clancy's expression as usual, he sure has a way of letting you know it's time to have a rest. ;) Thanks for letting us be a part of your travels, I always enjoy getting to see new places like that! :) Have a great 4th of July weekend!

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  13. So glad I stopped by, didn't get to during the A-Z challenge, but better late than never! The walking trail looks great, such a lovely environment. Have a blessed weekend. Amanda

    Amanda - Realityarts-Creativity
    Art Blog

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  14. What a beautiful place. That first sign reminds me of a sign I saw on my way to Wyoming last weekend warning of animals on the road - only the picture was of road kill. Isn't that weird? I should have taken a picture.

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  15. What a gorgeous place! Looks amazing, relaxing, etc.! I'm a little envious of you & Clancy. hehe

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  16. I love all the green! When I visit my sister in Illinois, we go to a similar place called Morton's. It's beautiful like Rowe Woods with plenty of walking trails. An oasis near the city. Beautiful. Happy 4th, Julie!

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  17. That looks like my kind of place. We frequent Red River Gorge but it is not as well marked. :)

    Clancy needs a bandanna like have for my girls. It's made to be soaked in water and holds it for a long time. I keep mine in the fridge so it is supper cool. It always invokes laughter when someone opens my fridge to find 3 dog bandanna's. :)

    Happy 4th!!!
    Jules @ Trying To Get Over The Rainbow

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  18. @Carina, thanks! I loved that boardwalk too.

    @Amanda, thanks so much for stopping by, it's great to meet you!

    @Michelle, oh, that is weird! What the heck??

    @Trisha, thanks! It really is a gorgeous place.

    @Liz, I agree, I love all the green. Thanks so much, happy 4th to you as well!

    @Jules, thanks for the suggestion with the bandanna, I've never seen one like that but I am going to look for one now. Red River Gorge is on my list of places to go, I'm really looking forward to it as I've never been. Happy 4th to you!

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  19. Lovely pictures, that looks like a nice park. It would look great in the fall to with all those trees and the water.

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  20. It looks so lovely and serene.
    Be well, Julie.
    xoRobyn

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  21. @Claire, I agree, I'm really looking forward to going in the fall. That's my favorite time of year anyway, so pretty.

    @Robyn, thanks, you too! :)

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  22. Cute pets!


    You have a fabulous blog! I’m an author and illustrator and I made some awards to give to fellow bloggers whose sites I enjoy. I want to award you with the Creative Blog Award for all the hard work you do!

    Go to http://astorybookworld.blogspot.com/p/awards.html and pick up your award.
    ~Deirdra

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  23. Wow, very nice! What a great find! I dropped in to follow back & I'm so glad I came across this post. Lovely pics!

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  24. @Deirdra, oh thank you, that's so nice of you. I will be by your site, thanks so much!

    @Retired Knitter, it really was, I can't wait to go back to this woods.

    @Su, thanks! I'm so glad I found your blog, it's just great. Thanks for coming by!

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