After spending my Sunday morning, reading all the various headlines, weeding through the rhetoric and engaging in several spirited conversations, it was time to get out of the house.
Especially with the kids!
We backed up, and headed to the Marsh Creek Dam trailhead, and started our Sunday Family nature walk.
The three of us were eager to see what the water level was, since hurricane Sandy had passed over our area earlier in the week.
As we headed down the hill, in the distance, one could see the rapid flow of water as it traveled down the spillway, and by the time we reached the USGS station, it was easy to hear the water thundering over the dam.
From the observation area, we were amazed at the power in front of us.
Looking downstream at bridge
Looking upstream from bridge
Looking down the spillway
Marsh Creek spillway dam
We walked along the trail, enjoying the first cold weather of the season as we headed for the metal bridge.
After spending much of the day, waiting for Hurricane Sandy, I finally got so stir-crazy, that I grabbed my camera and headed put for a quick drive around the neighborhood to see what ‘life’ looked like, and here is what I saw…
Struble Trail at the end of Dowlin Forge Road (028)
Struble Trail at the end of Dowlin Forge Road (020)
Norwood Road Creek (063)
Struble Trail at the end of Dowlin Forge Road (017)
Downingtown Dam (048)
Kerr Park (060)
Kerr Park (056)
Struble Trail at the end of Dowlin Forge Road (012)
Newly formed Creek (002)
Downingtown Dam (034)
Struble Trail at the end of Dowlin Forge Road (014)
Bridge over Dowlin Forge Road on Uwchlan Trail (007)
Norwood Road Creek (065)
Norwood Road Creek (069)
Struble Trail at the end of Dowlin Forge Road (009)
Because of some scheduling conflicts, I was able to spend the afternoon doing some photography along Creek Road in southern Glenmoore, Chester County PA.
Initially, I went to the right (south) as I did in the summer, but this time my intent was to go further down creek, beyond the picnic bench that I had seen during the summer.
This time, the bench was still there, and I quickly walked past, and to unknown territory.
As I walked along the trail, the water began to descend to my left, as the path continued horizontal.
There was a thick brush line that separated the dissent to the creek, which was going to be all that harder.
I must find a path down.
It was good to see, that this trail had been used heavily before, but in a fairly limited fashion recently. There were several fallen trees, and the low to mid weeds and brush, were an easy brush back as I walked along.
I also noted, that from the trail at least, things seemed still very green on certain trees in the area. There were patches of colors but tended to be in the brush group of foliage.
Brandywine Creek HDR 09 – Glenmoore
Across the creek, I could see more interesting colors, but as I reached the water’s edge, I could see signs that said quote “Do Not Trespass”.
As I surveyed the creek in front of me and how things were flowing, I started back up-stream, taking the occasional single image as just a keepsake of my adventure, and eventually I was walking pass the picnic table, and to the trail head from which I started.
I decided to head further North up the trail, and see what I could find.
The trail eventually opens up into a small little field where there are several other picnic tables and a fire pit or two.
In this area the creek slows down just enough that I saw some good reflections and I was beginning to see some color.
I continued walking north along the creek’s edge, stopping several times and capturing five exposure HDR images.
Brandywine Creek HDR 06 – Glenmoore
Several times I found myself knee-deep in water, and I was reminded that the colder months are coming, and I need to seriously investigate some fishing waders.
Finally I got to the northernmost point along the trail, and was faced with more “No Trespassing” signs, at which point, I looked at my watch, and started heading back.
It has been a very mediocre year for leaf colors in my opinion. A lot of rain and warm temperatures have definitely not helped. The lowest temperature lately has been 45°F.
I do have a feeling that were going to get a lot of snow this year…
I was lucky enough to have a free day to go out and do some shooting.
The later Summer, early Autumn weather has been relatively warm, and no cold snaps to set the leaves into colors yet, but I was still going to go out.
If anything, just to do some scouting.
So off I went…
I love having a GPS!
After about an hour of just driving around, enjoying the beautiful scenery of the Morgantown, Churchtown and Honey Brook areas, I headed toward Hibernia Park to find the spot I had surveyed earlier in the Summer on another GPS drive.
After parking in the small little lot, I equipped myself, crossed the bridge and down the trail to find a way to creek edge.
What had caught my eye about this section before, was the bigger rocks and swifter water flow.
I was hoping for more color in the canopy over the water, but it was not going to be…
Looking up the Brandywine – Hibernia Park
Even without the real reds and oranges of Fall, this part of the Brandywine presented many nice sections of water action, and found myself setting up and capturing several section during my creek walk.
As I crawled across a fallen tree, I noticed out of the corner of my eye, a single small white mushroom, growing in the hollowed out root ball of one of the trees.
Tree Stump with White Mushroom – Hibernia Park
Setting up my tripod for this shot, was very difficult because of the angle I needed to see into the stump, and having a stable platform to do the multiple shoots needed for HDR, but I think it was worth it.
We lost it Saturday night around 10:32pm during “Dr. Who”… I mean Hurricane Irene.
I was monitoring my various networks, watching for things related to the storm that was all around us.
The TV was nothing but an Emergency Broadcast transmissions for tornado warnings all over the area.
The first alert was described as strong storm, with possible circular rotation for areas to the south, starting in New Castle and heading towards Kennett Square.
About 5 minutes later, there was another warning that included the King of Prussia area.
We are right in the middle, and needless to say, I was a little nervous.
At 10:31pm, I posted to Facebook that our lights were browning…
Then the Power was gone…
I turned on the radio and listened as I paced the house, moving from the front to the back, and occasionally into the garage to look out into the night from one of the opened doors.
Sometime around 3:30am, I finally laid down and continued to listen to the radio before I falling asleep.
I was woken up by my wife, as she prepared snacks for the kids, who were upstairs watching a movie on the iPad.
They were happy.
Walking around the house, I surveyed out all the windows to see what the outside looked like, and how many branches would I be picking up later.
I also watched for cars to gauge how the roads were, and as I saw more, I wanted to go out to see for myself, and so did Madison.
We got down to Kerr Park around 11:30, and saw several other people already exploring what Irene had left.
Kerr Park 003 – Small Bridge
After parking, both Madison and I walked across the water-logged grass, and headed toward the Brandywine creek, which was well over it’s banks.
Kerr Park 013 – Flooding
The small little stream and bridge in the middle of the park were covered with several inches of water.
Kerr Park – Fallen Tree
One could also see that one of the older trees and fallen over during the heavy winds from the night before.
Madison on top of fallen tree root ball
After walking around some more, we headed back to the car, and off to the Dam along Struble Trail.
Kerr Park 096 – Trees and Flooding
When we got to the small little parking area, there was another family already investigating the dam and all the water that was flowing over it.
Struble Trail Dam 01 – Downingtown
We finished taking our pictures, walked back to the car, and on to home.
Once there, Logan was now ready to see the outside world also, so we jumped into the car, and headed to the Dowlin Forge Road entrance to the Struble Trail.
I was actually a little surprised to see as many folks walking the trail, but considering that the power was still out, what better way to spend a Sunday afternoon!
As Logan and headed West, we found our little trail that leads down to the edge of the Brandywine, but were confronted with a large puddle from earlier flooding. Logan jumped on my back for a piggy-back ride across and we continued on.
It was loud and many of the ‘normal’ creek-bed features, were covered in several inches of deep water.
I wanted to find the “Creek Claw“, but with all the water, I knew that it was not going to be, but I was able to find the “Hobbit House” tree.
Struble Trail – Hobbit House Tree
As I took several different angles, I reminded Logan that when the water was lower, he was able to stand inside.
He looked at me with disbelief, and then went back to lightsabering the tree branches.
We continued down the dirt trail, and back up to the main paved trail.
On the way back to the car, we only saw one tree laying across the trail, which was a surprise.
Fallen tree across Struble Trail
From the parking lot, we drove along Creek Road (Rt. 282) back into Downingtown, and on to Kerr Park for a quick stop, and no camera.
As we walked around, I pointed out where the water had been earlier and told him I would show him the pictures later, once we had power again.
