Fall colors have peaked in Northeastern Ohio and the light of late day often brings out their best. Cleveland Metroparks’ Hinckley Reservation.
Sadly, as it turns out this is the last new photograph we will see from my trusty old Canon PowerShot G11. I sold the little all-in-one along with another older digital camera in order to upgrade to one more sophisticated compact.
The Garden Bug
Out and about yesterday we made a stop at The Greensmith Garden Center in Hinckley, Ohio. Greeting visitors to their place is a very unusual flower planter — a Volkswagen Beetle, its boot filled with earth and posies! It might be fun to drive such a vehicle around but the same use has been put to the car’s engine compartment (in the rear) — dirt and daisies. Well, not really daisies but the alliteration was too choice!
The Hinckley Lake Boathouse - Its Final Weekend
Today I was, at last, able to return to the Hinckley Lake Boathouse to read letters posted explaining closure of the charming little business that operated there. I’d not been able to find anything through searches of local news media to even tell me that the Boathouse was closing much less explain it. Posted on the building was a personal letter from owners Gary and Sharon Hack. They noted the closure wasn’t their idea and that their small business wasn’t the only licensed operation in the Cleveland Metroparks System to be shuttered. Apparently the owners were told “thanks, but we don’t need you anymore.” Here’s the text of their letter dated October 8:
Stapled to the outside wall of the Hinckley Lake Boathouse is a farewell letter.
To our MANY Friends and Guests, here at The Boathouse…
It has been 24 hours since the Metroparks notified us that concessionaires, like us, will no longer be needed, and the park will take over operation of this facility.
I use the word “facility”, as whatever it becomes, to all of us, it will not be the gathering place it has been, for many years.
There are not words to describe how much your friendship and very presence has meant to Sharon and me. Small, personal places like this has been, are becoming a thing of the past, being replaced by “bottom line” corporations, or in this case, government.
…But you know all of this, and lamenting the passing parade is not my point. I guess I am rambling, because I, (We) don’t want to say goodbye….
From all of us at The Boathouse, or {sic} most sincere Thanks, AND BEST WISHES.
Very Sincerely,
Gary and Sharon Hack
It seems Cleveland Metroparks will take over operation of any concessions that are to continue within the parks. That means that, instead of simply licensing outside businesses and collecting fees, the System will now need to increase their own staffing at all levels (management of retail operations, management of facilities, staffing of facilities) if they are to continue offering valuable retail services to the public. They will also need to develop or hire expertise in all of the areas involved if quality of service is to be maintained. It will be interesting to see how well Cleveland Metroparks does in their new venture including what facilities and services they will continue to offer and what they drop. In all of that, we’re sorry to see the small business people summarily ejected and we thank them for making our visits to the parks, over the years, just a little bit nicer.
The light of the setting sun sets colorful trees aglow along State Road in the Hinckley Reservation of the Cleveland Metropark System.
Returning from the Fairlawn shopping district, near Akron, I did a little cross-country exploration. She had collected a trail map for a little park we'd passed many times in past and it looked interesting. We'd not previously stopped so I wanted to discover what was there. With fair ease, I found the entrance to Allardale Park, we left the car and took a little walk on the one-mile trail. She hadn't planned on hiking, nor had I, but I'd brought my camera along just in case of, well, opportunities.
The day was warm, windy, and clouds ranged from thin to thick and dark. It was a very changeable situation.
The Allardale Park area was once farmland with some hills and valleys unsuited to cultivation. The late owners had planted thousands of trees over the years and gave their beloved land to the Medina County Park System for the enjoyment of all. Thank you Stan and Esther Allard, it is beautiful! The park system later added 200+ acres through purchase of adjacent lands. The mostly-earthen trail is rolling to hilly and is mostly through old woods. We saw and heard hawks in the canopy, saw damselflies and butterflies, and enjoyed the beauty of the woodlands.
In a meadow area many taller plants densely grew. Queen Anne's lace grew so tall I barely had to bend to photograph the undersides of some flower heads.
Leaving the park we headed home and passed through the little town of Hinckley. I drove past a local police car that was preparing to enter traffic — yup, legal speed and no other moving violations. The patrol car was in traffic behind me and suddenly those red and blue lights sprang to life! Eeek! What did I do? Pulled over and stopped, the officer came to the window and addressed me by name. Politely he said, "your driver's license has expired." What?! Oh, no, I'd forgot! After checking my now worthless license, the officer said, "take care of it" and let us go. Thank you!
Good thing I'd already scheduled Monday off for other reasons and that a license bureau is within walking distance!
Oh, and the tinnitus is still at low level. No improvement over yesterday but not as bad as before.
PhotonStopper 