Saturday night was the monthly Public Night at Stephens Observatory. Featured object was the Moon and we had more than 135 visitors show up! At one point I had about 30 people inside the dome. It was a fine evening of viewing and visitors had good questions, were orderly, patient, and in a good mood. Although our published closing time was 10:00, the last folks left at 10:30. Of course this meant another very late night for me and sleeping in Sunday morning for the two of us.
It was a lazy Sunday morning and, after much consideration and delay, we set off for a trip to Zoar, Ohio, to try out the Zoar Valley Trail. Parking just outside historic Zoar we began walking north with the idea that we would turn around at Bolivar, about three miles away. Of course we had our cameras in hand so it became a photo hike and we covered one mile in likely a bit more than an hour. We never made it to Bolivar but did enjoy a beautiful afternoon on the tree-lined gravel trail which is the former towpath of the Ohio-Erie Canal. We were within sight (most of the time) of the Tuscarawas River though wished we could have been closer. Returning to the parking lot we moved the car and ourselves to the old town of Zoar. By then things were closing down but we did enjoy a quiet stroll around town and a brief talk with the keeper of the general store. We expect to return next in the Christmas holiday season and, some day, to the Zoar Valley Trail for a more extended hike.
Love the photo of the bridge! The trail sounds wonderful.Congratulations on another successful Public Night at the observatory!