i spent this past Labor Day at Ricketts Glen State Park. I avoided the crowds on the Falls Trail and spent the days photographing covered bridges and other nearby areas. The cottages on Lake Jean are some of my favorites in the state park system.
The front of the cottage faces the lake.Sunset on Lake Jean. This view is facing east, so there is better view …at sunrise. Seriously, I am never up this early.Expressing how many feel, at a nearby location on Route 118.
The park was open, with some restrictions on check in times and requirements for mask usage in bath houses and park office buildings. Some facilities, such as the boat rental, were closed. Most things seemed to be operating normally.
I did see some interesting birds just sitting outside the cottage. A bald eagle, Canada warbler, a possible vireo, great blue heron, as well as a number of more common species such as chickadee, white breasted nuthatch, robin, chipping sparrow, catbird, and mallard.
As an added bonus, below are a few shots of holiday activity at Frances Slocum State Park in Luzerne County.
The lakeside is a popular area.He had this fishing pier all to himself.
I had promised my cousin that we would take a camping trip to Codorus State Park in Hanover, Pennsylvania over the July Fourth holiday. I decided to stick with the plans despite a weather forecast calling for high heat and humidity with the added bonus of regular thunderstorms popping up. I went back and forth between calling this post “The Camping Trip from Hell” and “Silver Linings.” Ultimately, I couldn’t decide if it was good or bad.
I’m more of a fair weather camping kind of girl, I don’t mind a little rain, as long as I can set up when it ‘s not raining and everything has a chance to dry before I pack up. I was frustrated because all my trips last year were affected by rain, despite being out only 1-2 nights each time. I didn’t get my wish for fair weather on this trip. Everything was wet and/or dirty prior to departure. Pennsylvania is getting record rain, and it kind of stinks. At least the corn is high.
The park itself did not disappoint. I went primarily to see if I could get a glimpse of the newly fledged bald eagles that hatched in an oak tree above Lake Marburg this Spring. They are quite the web cam stars. I did not see the fledglings, but I did get my first look at the parents in flight, having only previously seen them in the nest or resting in a nearby tree. The weather prevented much else in the way of activity.
Nonetheless, it was not a complete loss. On the way to Hanover, I stopped briefly at Samuel S. Lewis State Park. It looks like a great place for a picnic and has a nice scenic view of the Susquehanna valley. The website also recommends kite flying and sledding, and it seems really well suited for those activities.
The flag was still trying to fly proudly on the 4th despite the hot and damp weather.Here’s the view toward the river.
I arrived at Codorus and immediately started to set up camp.
Here is a look at lovely Lake Marburg,
From the band shell area.
On the way home, via Lake Redman, I made a few stops. The first was to photograph this hay field that was harvested just the day before.
Newly harvested hay.
I also took a few pictures of some of the lovely farms of southern York County.
On a trip to the Loyalsock State Forest, I managed to catch a cloud inversion from the High Top overlook one morning. The town 0f Hillsgrove below was completely obscured.
Cloud Inversion, High Top overlook, Sullivan County.
This is the view from the Fireline Trail at Hickory Run State Park of the Lehigh River and an old bridge support. This view from the rim of the Lehigh Gorge is a fairly accessible half mile walk from a road. It should also provide a nice sunset view.
