Photos A Walk in Nature

[.577NE]

Beautiful country

Thank you, friend.

 

[CelloDan]

The Trilliums have bloomed here in Eastern Ontario. They only last for about 10 days at their prime.
A week ago yesterday we had walked the forest trails and they were starting to fill in the forest floor.

Today some had already began to decline as the forest foliage is filling in very quickly and blocking the sun.
Mosquitoes were out in full force as well !

Pretty convincing "blood red" on my 77 if I may say so

 

[DKIN]

The Trilliums have bloomed here in Eastern Ontario.

Dan, two weekends ago here in North Georgia, blooming Trilliums were along my trail route. They may have been out for a while, and they were probably hit by heavy rains the day before. I didn't run across anything like the thick patches in your pics, but I passed a few hillsides with light coverage. Even that was awesome to see.




Yellow Toadshade Trillium

 

[DKIN]

Here are some more pics (with knife content) from that same hike. If every trail day were that perfect, I wouldn't be able to stand it. I'd have to divest my knife hoard to you guys, skitter over the ridge, and become one with nature (until my RX bars run out).






This Redmeadow Cowbell gets all the trail time lately.


Star Chickweed


Foam Flower


Bear Corn

 

[.577NE]

This thread is one of my favorite BF reads, thank you all for your quality contributions.

 

[Just Tom.]

Sunday I rode 30 miles up the canal on my bike, and spent a really nice quiet evening alone at one of the free hiker-biker campsites along the C&O canal. I had planned to spend today dawdling back downstream, setting up camp early, spending the afternoon fishing, then camping a second night. Forecast heavy overnight rains and flooding forced me to abandon my plans, and instead I had to pedal straight back to Williamsport, where I had left my car.

I may have shown this view before from a previous trip:

Pretty stretch of towpath:

Abandoned mill:

Fine dining:

Moonrise:

I saw mostly just the usual wildlife, except I saw a weasel, which was cool. I took a picture of a blacksnake, but won’t show it here so as not to upset mbkr

 

[mbkr]

I'm fine with black snakes as long as they stay outside. I had one get in the house and I had to catch it before I went to bed that night. It was either that or go to a hotel

 

[Just Tom.]

I'm fine with black snakes as long as they stay outside.

Ok, here you go, then:

(This was the smaller of the two I saw)

Indeed, it was a trip fraught with hazards!

Fortunately I was well armed, and had hearty provisions:

 

[DirtDawg]

Sunday I rode 30 miles up the canal on my bike, and spent a really nice quiet evening alone at one of the free hiker-biker campsites along the C&O canal. I had planned to spend today dawdling back downstream, setting up camp early, spending the afternoon fishing, then camping a second night. Forecast heavy overnight rains and flooding forced me to abandon my plans, and instead I had to pedal straight back to Williamsport, where I had left my car.

I may have shown this view before from a previous trip:

Pretty stretch of towpath:

Abandoned mill:

Fine dining:

Moonrise:

I saw mostly just the usual wildlife, except I saw a weasel, which was cool. I took a picture of a blacksnake, but won’t show it here so as not to upset mbkr

I love a good towpath ride. Oh wait, is there such a thing as a bad towpath ride? You seem to have some quite beautiful country to take in on your excursions Tom.

 

[DirtDawg]

Ok, here you go, then:

(This was the smaller of the two I saw)

Indeed, it was a trip fraught with hazards!

Fortunately I was well armed, and had hearty provisions:

Okapi... the most unusual knife design in my knife roll. What is the country of origin of yours? I understand they have been manufactured in more than one place.

 

[Just Tom.]

Okapi... the most unusual knife design in my knife roll. What is the country of origin of yours? I understand they have been manufactured in more than one place.

Mine was made in South Africa. They still are made there, but the new owners of the brand have switched to stainless steel for the blades.

Okapi was originally a German brand, and the knives were made in Germany. Besides South Africa, they may have been made in other places too, over the years, I’m not sure.

I believe the design is originally French. Google “couteau à palme” and “couteau cracra” for more examples and info.

I bought my first one from a cardboard display in a small sundries shop in 1990 or 1991 in Africa. There was no country of origin stamped on the blade, and I always wondered about it. The briefcase I kept it in was stolen about a decade later. When I finally overcame my fear of online shopping maybe eight years ago, I bought another (and then more…) from an e-Bay seller in South Africa.

There is a US seller that sells the current stainless models for around $25 still.

 

[CelloDan]

Dan, two weekends ago here in North Georgia, blooming Trilliums were along my trail route. They may have been out for a while, and they were probably hit by heavy rains the day before. I didn't run across anything like the thick patches in your pics, but I passed a few hillsides with light coverage. Even that was awesome to see.

Nice !
I have not seen a yellow one before.
Here there is a red one as well although it is not as common.
From what I read the red variety is primarily pollinated by carrion flies and beetles as they are attracted to the plant's smell of rotting flesh.

Here are some more pics (with knife content) from that same hike. If every trail day were that perfect, I wouldn't be able to stand it. I'd have to divest my knife hoard to you guys, skitter over the ridge, and become one with nature (until my RX bars run out).

Beautiful variety of wild flowers !!! ... and you know their names too
I am also into short fixed blades as of recent.
I am really enjoying my White River Caper in magnacut.

Sunday I rode 30 miles up the canal on my bike, and spent a really nice quiet evening alone at one of the free hiker-biker campsites along the C&O canal.

Nice Tom !
The last picture with the moon is just magical ! Beautiful !
Hope you enjoy many more trips this season, hazards an all

I took a picture of a blacksnake, but won’t show it here so as not to upset mbkr

What is Tom talking about it Mike mbkr ? , I don't get it

I did not know some snakes enjoy salad with their slimy slugs lol

My Okapis, gracias Tom

My brain free association exercise on the above pic ... I know

My other Okapi posing a Red Trillium last year

 

[Pt-Luso]

 

[DKIN]

Beautiful variety of wild flowers !!! ... and you know their names too
I am also into short fixed blades as of recent.
I am really enjoying my White River Caper in magnacut.

Thanks, Dan. I just recently started learning about native plants. I won't subject this subforum to much of that, though. Y'all are mighty welcome!

The White River Caper looks like it's right up my alley. Small-ish fixed blades feel the best right now for my limited, light-duty, pack-friendly needs. Good stuff!

 

[justsaymo]

 

[DirtDawg]

I suppose that technically it may have been termed as a "Bike Ride in Nature", but hey, I did get off and walk around for the photos.

Not Mr. Handsome, the Turkey Vulture may be considered by some as the sanitation workers of the airways, but I have yet to witness any of the folks on the back of a garbage truck eat what they pick up, or to poop on their own feet. Ref: The popular bird site I use that is all about birds.

I've seen many of these creatures over the years, but this was the first time I have been able to get anything close to a useable photo. And this image has been heavily cropped.


Being quite cumbersome while riding off-road, I will likely stick with a smaller lens, or go back to placing it in a backpack for future bike excursions. However, on this day I was travelling light while scouting for possible early-season Dragonflies and Damselflies. No such luck with the Dragons or Damsels though.


In my pocket was a Redbone Case Medium Stockman, but on my hip this day...
1995 Buck 112 Ranger with custom Elk antler scales.




I've been pretty much grounded from riding , by my wife, for nearly two years - since my mountain bike mishap that put me in the ER a week later to drain a hematoma on my left calf. Note! I did continue riding the trail out of the woods and the remaining three miles back home. Heck, the skin wasn't even broken or abraded. Taking all that into consideration, it really felt good to get out and ride, even if it wasn't far from home.

Have a grand day everyone, and "Be Safe".

 

[DirtDawg]

Mine was made in South Africa. They still are made there, but the new owners of the brand have switched to stainless steel for the blades.

Okapi was originally a German brand, and the knives were made in Germany. Besides South Africa, they may have been made in other places too, over the years, I’m not sure.

I believe the design is originally French. Google “couteau à palme” and “couteau cracra” for more examples and info.

I bought my first one from a cardboard display in a small sundries shop in 1990 or 1991 in Africa. There was no country of origin stamped on the blade, and I always wondered about it. The briefcase I kept it in was stolen about a decade later. When I finally overcame my fear of online shopping maybe eight years ago, I bought another (and then more…) from an e-Bay seller in South Africa.

There is a US seller that sells the current stainless models for around $25 still.

Nice crowd of Okapis there Tom. I only have one. Made in Germany.

 

[Just Tom.]

Nice crowd of Okapis there Tom. I only have one. Made in Germany.View attachment 2876331

Very nice!

 

[CelloDan]

First solo trip of 2025 aboard Serena
Almost a full moon last night.
It painted the water and trees with a magical silvery highlight…. and it WOKE me up shining bright inside my Serena’s cabin.
Then the sun rose EARLY

Keeping my White River Caper close

 

[RayseM]

WOW - I'm 2 months behind o this thread. Just stopping in for a peak. Wicked longing to go sailing.

Quite time in the woods for me and this little pretty creature ~

The American Woodcock