When I got back to Cincinnati, so much had changed. New apartment buildings sprung up in different parts of the city, boutique stores were now opened in past run down areas of town, houses were all of the sudden completing rehab projects, but on the other hand there were also shops that were now boarded up. The world was in transition. New beginnings and past defeats.
Covid definitely took a hit on the economy.
One new place I drive past at least twice a week is called “The Fix”. They are located right by the highway-on-ramp to I-71 from where I live. But I could never figure out how to get there. It’s on an odd corner where a one way street meets two way traffic.
I planned a visit this evening with my friend Rebecca. It was one of those nights where I could have totally crashed and went to bed at 8 pm, but knew I could steal some of her energy if I met up. I told her I wanted to check out this place and I’m so glad we did!
The outside is very modern and I love the name’- says it all right? If you need a fix, whether its coffee (aka caffeine) or an alcoholic beverage to relax, they have it.
With great beer choices on tap at reasonable prices, I was set. They also offered a stocked microbrew variety in the fridge. Vegan cookies and coffee cakes lined the counter as a perfect combination with an am coffee.
I loved the exposed brick wall and wooden interior. I went back the next morning for a coffee on my way to meet a friend, and each table was with a student, snacking and working online. A great local spot.
Their outdoor venue was complete with decorative lighting, variety of seat options and a stage for performances.
Hillary Hahn sang to us that night. I personally loved her original songs written in hard times with lovers past. It was like she was speaking to me directly and knew my stories.
This coffeeshop/bar opened right before COVID hit. I met the owner and he is an interesting young man, world traveller, entrepreneur and very positive. He said if he can survive with COVID hitting, he knows he will be a success once the world settles back into place. Love that he didn’t give up.
We should all be supporting our local businesses in these times and this newly discovered one is well worth the visit! Everyone go and get your fix’!
Sunday I wanted to hike another trail but needed to stay close to Kathy’s house since she had a date with the Bengals on tv that afternoon. It’s their family Sunday tradition and I was happy to be included in it.
I haven’t been hiking in Ault Park since my kids were younger. This park is located in Hyde Park/Mt. Lookout area of Cincinnati. A place very familiar to me since my kids ran cross country here and went to elementary school close by. We used to explore the trails and look for cool leaves just to have something fun to do. One time we even stumbled across a hidden treasure, which was left behind for discovery. I think it was part of a ‘geocaching’ site.
Never really knew the official name of these trails. It is located in Ault Park.
The loop was fairly simple but beautiful this time of year.
This was the entrance and I made Kathy stop so I could snap a photo of her wearing her Sunday Bengals uniform. They lost 0-27. Not sure when that team will ever pick back up. Last time they won a Superbowl was when I was in college. (hate to admit that was a VERY long time ago!) I used to work the hot dog stand at the stadium with my college roomates.
Hidden bridges were throughout this park.
Talking about projects happening in the area.
I appreciate the steps and how they look naturally part of nature. Not perfect. Blending in with the ground color and tree trunks.
Fungi taking its place and making tree stumps decorative.
We came across an old railroad track. Many of the boards were rotted out but we were careful crossing.
Some graffitti from the locals
Looking down at the four story height of the tracks. I used to love heights when I was a kid. No fear. Now its more of a conversation in my head to not be fearful.
Was pointing at the berries in the trees. I couldn’t capture them on my iphone, but they were awesome shades of blue, purple and magenta.
This plant was the only one of its kind . I didn’t see another one the entire hike. Leaves as soft as velvet. Made me wonder how he ended up here.
Remembering to look up.
There were a couple of fallen trees we had to climb over in the path.
I felt like I was following the ‘yellow brick road’ of leaves.
Every color represented here.
A twisted broken tree reminded me of how complicated all life can be.
I was admiring the dots on the red leaves, and then noticed how beautiful this arrangement was just naturally hanging out together.
A new type of acorn I had not see before. It looked like it was wearing a furry Russian hat.
Ault park has a beautiful gazebo up on the hill with this view. Today there was a mini concert going on as well as a photoshoot. This was the view looking down from the upper levels.
Fall colors this year are outstanding! We haven’t had much rain so the leaves are still hanging on!
A perfect picnic spot.
Heading back to reality, up to the urban road that leads us to the trials of life.
The weather here is truly unbelievable. I swear ever since I got back from Phuket two months ago, the temperature has been a mild and sunny forecast with very little rain. It’s truly made the transition here easier. On my days off I find myself sitting outside for hours.
Even though I miss the beaches, swimming, palm trees and friends left behind, the new colors I get to witness here bring me back to new- discovery joy. I feel lucky to be able to hike the trails here and be a tourist in my own country.
I was meeting Jeff today and he is always on a time limit, so I looked up a park/trail near his home base. I came up with Sharon Woods, which I have never been to before. They charged 5$ at the gate for a day pass, or 10$ for a year to all Hamilton County Parks. Figured I am here for a-long-covid-while, so I paid the 10 and got a cute triangular sticker announcing me as a park member.
I found a 4.5 mile trail called The Gorge Trail. Jeff assured me we could complete it within two hours. With his legs, that is definitely possible. (they are forever long!)
I drove around the park first since I have never been there before. I took this photo from my front windshield trying to capture the coloration.
The trail we were about to tackle.
We started at the Heritage Museum landmark and took a bridge over the water to find a very well paved route around the park.
Tough to capture on my iphone, but there were several layers of small waterfalls trickling in the distance filtering into the creek.
Remembering where we’ve been. Overall very easy to walk.
The roots of the trees along the river bank were amazing. Barely holding on.
It almost made me ache in empathic pain watching it survive along the eroding edge.
If I were in Phuket and alone, I would’ve hiked down into the creek and followed to see where led.
The landscape along the water looked like Vermont. Majestic.
Every direction I looked, I was in awe of the coloration.
Remembering to always look up. The blue skies add such contrast.
Tree reaching across our pathway.
Going under the road to the other side of the park.
Loving the orange fallen leaves beside the gray pavement as if our journey was lined in gold trim.
Appreciating the transition.
There were many people out. Some families, some runners, bikers and even a few business men doing a loop while speaking on their cells. But many parts were secluded on this Friday afternoon.
Captured these mallards hanging out on the log. Jeff noticed there were three couples.
Parts of the lake had swamp like growth. The water was still as could be.
Paddle boats, pontoon boats, and kayaks all waiting for summer – or post-covid rentals.
Could not have been a better backdrop for our catching up.
Jeff was always noticing the reflections in the water. I captured this one perfectly.
This park is very well maintained and a beautiful place to soak in nature’s glory.
Friends for life.
We could use some rain here to fill the creeks and water the foliage. But until then—–
Eventually it will come.
** I started a FB group in hopes that others will also share their photos of nature with their personal insights of what they learned on their journeys. I will be publishing a book soon, one from my lessons in Phuket, Thailand and the second from my trail hiking in Ohio and Kentucky.
Looking forward to inspiring others to get out. Seek nature, which thankfully is free, and listen to what it is telling us. I am amazed at what I have learned by simply opening up my eyes and listening to Her wisdom.
Look for my new group. Sign up to post your own stories.
Hiking alone takes on a totally different mindset. Not good or bad. Just different. I was caught observing some of the things my previous hike mates admired. (Rebecca with her mushrooms, Nancy with her moss, Kathy with her bugs, Tiffani with her bird calls, and Debbie with reminding me to look up) But without conversation I found more answers to my emotions and future goals. As if the trees were speaking to me and leading me in a new direction of thought.
The visuals of seeing many of the fall leaves on the ground in the midst of bland already dead brown and grey, reminded me of who I am. I was also able to follow my instincts more and not worry as much if I was on the right path or how much longer I would be. It was peaceful. Adventurous. A perfect stop on my way home from Tennessee.
Tiffani told me about this area which is right after you get out of the mountain tunnel that takes you into Kentucky.
It was a back and forth trail but in a state park which I knew offered a lot of other trail options as well.
Welcome sign to the information center. I didn’t stop. I was following my google maps from ‘All Trails leading to the hiking trail I decided to adventure on first.
As usual the walkway started off quite clear and wide with gravel.
It led to a few historic rocks dating back to the 1700s. Apparently there is a lot of Civil War history here.
Ode to Daniel Boone.
Peaking up the hill I saw these caves which I later read were used as bunkers for the war. I climbed up to take a closer look.
This landscape was perfect for hiding out.
I took a side trail and climbed up the hillside to see if I could catch a good view.
It dead ended but was pretty nonetheless.
I was really admiring the colorful leaves with the greyed out backdrops.
Sometimes I feel like this leaf. A little tattered and worn, but still showing as much color as I have left.
I put my hands on this tree to capture some of its wisdom.
Final hike up to the top where you could see Kentucky, Tennessee and Virginia all in the same view. There were trees in the way and the photo was not even worth saving. A bit of a disappointment. So I headed back down.
Capturing the history of what walked before us.
I followed another trail that said it would take me to a historic fort.
My new trail crossed a couple paved roads and continued into different parts of the park.
This tells the story a bit about the war and why this spot was so important.
They had a historic cannon aimed towards the Tennessee border.
Sporting my 513′ so they knew I was a Northerner 🙂
Coming back I was loving the contrast again of the trees with the rock coloration.
I made it back to the parking lot and started google mapping my way back to Cincinnati. For some reason, my instincts kept telling me to turn around. Just as I was leaving the park, I did a u-turn and headed back to the location where I had just left.
The road was now open to Pinnacle Point.
I really had no idea what that was, but my gut was telling me to drive up and I am so glad I did! The roads on the way up were tightly curved and winding up the mountain, my ears popped. I was thinking back to my scooter days and dreaming of taking these curves on it instead of my 2005 Rendezvous.
Elevation here is 2440 feet.
This was my first glance through the trees.
A beautiful walkway to the viewpoint.
Not really sure what this rock was, but definitely interesting. I’m sure a landmark of some sort. I’m always amazed at how nature sometimes looks like it should fall over but is still stable.
A wonderful view from the top. Much better than the one I spent an hour hiking up to previously.
You could literally see for miles and catch all three states.
The tiny clouds just about at eye level.
The Tennessee mountains stretching in front. Or was that Virginia? I honestly don’t know.
People at the top observing were more familiar with the area and discussing the houses which they seemed to recognize below.
Can’t get enough. But my time was up. It was now approaching 1 pm and I hadn’t eaten breakfast or had any water with me to hydrate. Time to head out.
I followed a different pathway out. Love the stone with the trees. There were many hiking trails off this viewpoint. Maybe I will head back another time to check them out when I have more energy.
With our battle wounds from hiking the trails less traveled, we decided to check out the city of Knoxville. As we approached civilization, we noticed everyone was wearing orange. It was unbelievable really. Such support of their team here who apparently had a game that day.
In retrospect I should’ve taken a photo of some of the groups walking across the street to really capture the color. Anyone from Tennessee is probably not phased by it. But for a tourist like myself, the support shown by fans was quite impressive.
Another beautiful shot from the passenger seat as we made our way into the city.
We went over Gay Street bridge as we google mapped our way to a brewery. I needed a drink 🙂
Downtown was adorably quaint. Almost old fashion looking in parts.
The Tennessee sign is proudly hanging out front of the Covid-closed theatre.
This trolley was offering free rides. If more time permitted, I would have jumped on just to see where it went.
I did a flight of four beers from this establishment. The tastes were wildly unique. One literally tasted like a cream soda. So I mixed it with a coffee stout. Genius suggestion.
A beer flight and nachos later, we discovered some quaint boutiques which twisted my wallet enough to have me avoid going into any others.
This was the little shopping area we walked around, looks like a scene out of a movie.
Women’s Suffrage Monument.
Walking further down this block was a mini sculpture park.
Lots of interesting pieces displayed.
I wondered if they were temporary or a permanent feature.
Symbolic fist.
Around the corner sat this guy rowing up from the sidewalk.
As you can tell, I am not much into the history or research of my travels, but I do love observing, whether in a city or along a trail. It brings me joy and reason for being. Hope there are other seekers out there reading. Keep seeking. Keep appreciating all the details that go into the environments we live in. I feel so lucky to be able to explore and share my findings with you.
A nature reserve area I wanted to check out was in Knoxville, Tennessee. Since I have never been to that city before I thought it would be fun to see what it was like. I used my handy dandy ‘All Trails’ app to locate a suitable hiking route.
This is the first time that app failed me. I have to admit.
The map looked promising upon arrival.
We were trying to follow the 2.6 mile loop, but ended up following the river’s edge until the bottom turn point which added some time into our journey.
The loop started off with a beautifully paved pathway along the river with clearly marked tree indicators.
Loved how the trees arched over the walkway.
Me wearing the silly headband Nancy gave me for our city walk. I do get a few looks when wearing it. But it works to keep people away during Covid 🙂
The first glance at the Tennessee River.
The Tennessee River is the largest tributary of the Ohio River. This view shows a peek at an old railroad bridge.
Memorial benches were positioned along the way to rest and take in the river views.
These berries reminded me of my childhood. We must have had a bush like this in our yard because I clearly remember squishing them and throwing them at each other. I threw some at my sister who was trailing behind me, just for old times sake.
Trails were clearly marked at this part of the hike. As you can see the walk is not quite as easy as the beginning.
It started to look a bit less traveled as we went along. We were excited to have a mountain bike pass us occasionally.
This tree seems alive somehow to me with a face. Like a character from a fairytale story.
Remember to look up. Always gives you a different point of view.
First time I’ve seen this minty colored moss.
But this bark I have admired on previous trails.
There was some industry along the river. Reminded me of Cincinnati. But in this section there were no boats or traffic in the water.
Another wild berry bush adding some color along the way.
There were warning signs of hunting season indicating which trails you could take and which you could not during September through March. I try never to go back the way I came, especially when the map indicates a loop. In true fearless (ie: ignorant) manner, we trekked through the unknown, listening to shotguns sounding off in the distance. Tiffani googled and assured me they were only practicing since it was bow hunting season.
One of many warnings we ignored. Don’t tell the rangers.
As you can see at this point, the trail was quite difficult to follow. Thanks to google maps we were able to see that we were in the right area. We came across a fallen tree blocking our path, so with shorts and sandals I continued to plow through the poison ivy and find my way to the other side. At this point, there was no turning back.
Here you can see how ridiculous the trail became. I was laughing saying it would be a good story if we made it out alive. There were thorns scratching up my legs and I decided it was just nature biting me back for being there disturbing their peaceful growth. You can see Tiffani in the background being more careful.
I tried to appreciate the wild flowers to distract my mind by us being in the middle of a hunting field.
The path was completely lost at one point, but between the two of us and our phones, we made it back to the parking lot. Guess I should feel lucky I am not without a phone or modern day technology. I would have to take a few classes on how to read a compass to successfully get out before nightfall.
While in Tennessee I wanted to check out hiking trails and viewpoints. When I googled a few locations near my sister’s cabin, this winery showed up. Win-win! Viewpoints and a wine tasting!
We coincidentally met the owner when walking up the back steps. His dogs were out playing in the yard and he was chatting with a local who was enjoying some cabernet. When we got inside, the place was cozy, friendly and filled with what seemed to be friends sharing stories.
If you are ever close to this area, it is definitely worth checking out.
We learned that the rose bushes were placed in front of the vines to show whether there was an infestation issue. The roses are affected first and then they know to address the grape vines.
At the bottom of this road is the entrance to the winery. I can’t get over the skies here, I mean check out those clouds!
The colors of the grass and skies with the faded mountains in the distance, I could stare at for hours.
The clouds seemed touchable.
The views from the porches stretched for miles. They had rocking chairs on the front porch.
I am not much of a wine drinker. But it was a great excuse to enjoy the beauty of the outdoors today. The owner collected windchimes and was selling a few made out of wine bottles.
I was mystified by the rolled balls of hay. Later Tiffani googled to end my curiosity. I thought they were for decoration 🙂 What can I say, I’m a city girl.
This winery hosts many weddings which take place under this magnificent tree.
The fountain, just like a babbling brook, set a melodic background murmur to relax to.
I am discovering that being a tourist in my own country is equally rewarding as seeing new things abroad. It has been a great blessing to have learned this very important lesson while living in Thailand. I thank God I have this skill to get me through while dealing with the restrictions of Covid.
My sister purchased a home in Tennessee and I had not been able to visit until this weekend. And what a gorgeous weekend I chose to road trip! The weather was perfectly fall, shorts in the daytime and jeans with a jacket at night. The foliage along the drive was starting to transition into the warm shades of autumn making the scenery even better to help pass the time.
The gate opened up into a community of acres and homes along Norris Lake.
Their cabin sits on a lot of land allowing me to be as noisy as I wanted with nothing but wildlife to holler back at me. Believe me, I was chatting with the deer at night and whatever else lingered in the mountains.
Every morning we sat on the back porch soaking in the sunshine and sipping on coffee.
I haven’t seen my sister for almost a year, so it was a happy reunion with lots of catching up!
Tiffani mastered the charcoal grill and cooked awesome healthy dinners each night.
I loved her cowboy boots which she slid on whenever going outdoors. She has previously found a rattlesnake under her porch and I think now wears these boots to avoid any creatures waiting in the grass.
The roads in and out from her place are narrow and tree lined. I snapped this photo from the front windshield in attempts to capture it. Was truly peaceful. Some roads were so curvy even Tiffani was getting carsick a bit while driving.
This photo, also taken from the passenger seat, captured just one of the many cattle farms. At night we could hear the cows moo-ing. It’s not quite as cute sounding as that Old McDonald’s Farm song.
I made Tiff stop by the railroad tracks so I could roll down my window and take this photo. The skies were so blue! And I loved the RR crossing red in contrast. Scenery down here is majestic. Was a perfect retreat!
We headed down to the marina to check out one of the season’s last live band performances.
The sun was starting to go down and so was the temperature.
Peg game in the restaurant is entertaining. I am used to playing this with golf tees. But bullets and shotgun shells seem appropriate for Tennessee eh?
We went to Bubba Brews and for an outdoor picnic table venue, I was impressed with their tacos and menu variety. I was continually bouncing my legs trying to get some warm energy going.
It felt a little like Texas here. People danced in couples or line dance format. All ages were enjoying the country song favorites. I was slightly uncomfortable as the majority did not wear masks, but was feeling safe since we were far from most of the crowd and outdoors. Even the servers were not wearing masks. Was just a stark contrast to Ohio.
The following night we mastered a bonfire complete with color pellets to add to the visual. Being a city girl, I am not often around bonfires and I really enjoyed watching the flames and coals breathe.
Walking through my neighborhood with my friend Nancy, I wasn’t paying a bit of attention to the direction we were heading. She was in the lead and we were just chatting and catching up on each other’s weeks. Next thing I knew, I was in a different section of Eden Park and discovered such beauty and appreciation for the landscape here.
The first thing that caught my eye was this tall skinny building, so we veered up that road to take a look. I later googled to see what exactly it was.
It is an old water tower built in 1894, called the Eden Park Sandpipe.
We spotted a view of the river peeking through the flowers as we continued our walk.
Then we came across a sitting area where people were out and enjoying the evening weather. We could smell the marijuana, listen to music blaring from the car stereos and watch lovers leaning into each other as the sun set.
The botanicals along the viewpoint were beautifully maintained and diverse.
These leaves reminded me of Thailand. They were so soft to touch. I am hopeful others stop to admire their texture.
I love these daisies. They look fake, like they are made out of velvet. Their colors are perfectly fall.
As we went down a flight of steps we reached Krohns Conservatory which has a garden of its own outside.
Check out the multi color effect of these small flowers.
Hot pink, orange, yellow and purple all in one flower. I wanted to dig it up and take it home 🙂
I was also admiring the shades of pink on these end of season blooms.
I have no idea what breed these are, but they reminded me of my grandmother’s snapdragons she used to grow out in front of her home.
Even the leafy plants were well thought out in the garden.
Across the street is a functioning flowering clock.
Further down the way was a gazebo which I imagine is a great photo opportunity for couples and past prom dates.
As we headed back home, I couldn’t help but appreciate the pathways. Again leading to the unknown.
This brewery is one of many that cover the midwest city landscapes. But is by far, in my opinion, the one with the most charm and best local beers. It is located in St. Bernard which is a village in Cincinnati, Ohio.
St. Bernard village is represented with statues of the dog by the same name.
My friend Jane invited me to join her at Wiedemann’s to listen to a blues band play. It was yet again outstanding weather and I embraced the opportunity to sit outside and enjoy it with friends and drinks.
Below is a little history I found about the heritage of this brand taken from their website. Cincinnati is well known for its German beer making and illegal beer making during the Prohibition years. A couple years ago I took an underground tour of the tunnels found in Cincinnati which still house some of the original historic barrels.
German immigrant George Wiedemann began brewing at the original Wiedemann brewery in Newport, Kentucky, in August of 1870. Today, 150 years later, we remain dedicated to the great brewing tradition of this iconic local brand!
Cincinnati’s Longest-Running Beer Brand Wiedemann’s is Cincinnati’s longest-running beer brand and Northern Kentucky’s most successful consumer brand of all time. Aside from a break during the latter half of Prohibition (it continued brewing until 1927) and a brief interlude from 2007-2012, Wiedemann’s flagship Bohemian Special Brew has been on the market continuously since 1870. Its Royal Amber beer was crowned the best beer in America in a nationwide blind taste test in the 1970s.
Once George Wiedemann struck out on his own in Newport, his beers quickly found favor among the region’s many German descendants, and his brewery grew to be the largest in the Southeastern United States by 1900. The beers were eventually sold across the country and overseas. Founder George Wiedemann was inducted into the Cincinnati Beer Baron Hall of Fame in 2017.
A Reboot in 2012 The Geo. Wiedemann Brewing Co. was revived in 2012 by beer journalist Jon Newberry and his wife Betsy, who developed a fondness for Bohemian beers while living in Prague in the early 1990s. They opened the Wiedemann Brewery & Taproom in 2018 with enthusiastic support from the Wiedemann family.
The new microbrewery complex in St. Bernard includes a tree-lined beer garden, a spacious sundeck, and an old-school taproom/tavern filled with Wiedemann’s memorabilia. The site is adjacent to the former Miami & Erie Canal, the side wall of which still stands just south of the beer garden.
Cheers to More Beers! In addition to 42 taps pouring its many world-class craft beers – all brewed on site — the taproom includes a full-service kitchen and eight big-screen TVs for catching all the Cincinnati Reds’ games.
This family transformed a funeral home into the now bar/restaurant. Such a clever idea! Having a beer in an old funeral home is worth checking out!
Currently, everything here is outdoor seating with social spacing.
You order drinks through this window from the outside looking in.
The hallway to the kitchen and restrooms still had their authentic funeral home appeal.
The bar inside empty but beautiful.
The Wiedemann crest proudly displayed.
Hopefully when the indoors opens back up this dining hall will be filled. Now bars close at 10 pm cutting the opportunity to make money short by about 4 hours.
Inside the women’s room the tile, doors and sinks are authentically vintage.
They transformed the parking lot into a band venue and all the tables are spread apart safely for Covid requirements.
Was great to see Jane again!
The artist that was playing is Ben Levin, who I later learned went to highschool with my daughters. He’s only 20 years old with the ability and soul of a much older artist. His dad was playing the guitar. Apparently he was nominated for some music awards and held top spots on the Blue’s Music charts for record weeks in a row.
A website about the artist. I love that he is always wearing a suit.
In the audience was a very special guest that is a famous musician from Cincinnati, Philip Paul.
King Records where artists such as James Brown were launched.
Tonya Takes Thailand 