Fall is upon us and as my world here in Southeast Ohio begins to think thoughts of seasonal sleep I cannot help but indulge in thoughts of death and rebirth. Tragedy comes to all our lives at some point, but still if we’re lucky life goes on. A couple of weeks ago we had our Pick And Putt (motorcycles, not golf) weekend and here are some fotos.
The last hand operated lock system in the state of Ohio
Foto by Jorma Kaukonen
It’s been a while since I rode this route, but it never gets old.
Old technology that still works
Foto by Jorma Kaukonen
The stuff of Tom Sawyer
Foto by Jorma Kaukonen
A shade tree by a river bank… It reminds me of being a kid and hiking the towpath by the Potomac River with my Mom when I was a kid!
This is how you cycle the locks... by hand
Foto by Jorma Kaukonen
The lock keeper was a big man. You have to be to move these gears. His name was actually Jeremiah Johnson. You can’t make this stuff up.
Ready for the boats to enter
Foto by Jorma Kaukonen
This is sort of an out of time experience you can share in season down here where we live. America is a beautiful country and there are a lot of beautiful places… but this is as good as any!
Last weekend was the Pomeroy Sternwheel Riverfest and I got on my bike and rode down to see what the shouting was all about.
Not as large as some years, but cool nonetheless!
Foto by Jorma Kaukonen
There was no town budget for this event this year so the Fraternal Order or Eagles sponsored it and yes… they had a Hula Hoop contest. Later that night we had the amazing A.J.Croce play a concert at the Fur Peace Station and it was more than amazing.
Sun setting over the trees
Foto by Jorma Kaukonen
It was another sold out show and no one left disappointed!
A.J. at the 1903 Chickering.
Foto by Jorma Kaukonen
A.J. is one of the finest pianists I have ever heard, and I’ve heard lots, but it’s more than than. His spirit and sensibilities are pure and powerful!
One of the things I truly enjoy about being home after family, is walking with our dog, Maverick and being wrapped in the seasonal change first thing in the morning.
The fall sky just after first light
Foto by Jorma Kaukonen
It’s been warm so these last few mornings have been gentle rather than crisp. That will come!
Trees die gently as new growth springs
Foto by Jorma Kaukonen
I know this land well, but there is always something new to see in each glance.
The remains of the old barn
Foto by Jorma Kaukonen
When we first moved here 26 years ago, this barn was more than dilapidated but it was still standing. Now it approaches the ages.
Come take a walk with me on my road...
Foto by Jorma Kaukonen
You just can’t beat morning country air!
Magnificent!
Foto by Jorma Kaukonen
Indeed, life is more than existence… and life prevails. More shall be revealed!
Technology that still works!
The ax in the stump reminds me of the cover of your Christmas cd. Same one?
http://www.stateparks.com/muskingum_river_parkway.html
for those of you who are “not from around here”, this link tells a bit about the Muskingum River and it’s lock system. Check out the links also to Blue Rock and the other parks. m
Can’t see that she is the 800 pound gorilla in the room. Not the intellectual section of this blog. You are too self important. Obviously you give yourself too much credit.
Indeed good timing for the days of awe. Happy New Year and have an easy fast.
Oh, and I’m not prone to envy, but those pictures of your woods you keep posting make me a little green, if you know what I mean. Can’t get enough of that!
@carey georgas
That is the essence of coexistence, as Jorma describes in his blog-post, it continues on.
(I see a shift here, within this comments section. Intelligent comments, posted by those
who refuse to be intimidated by the trolls. It’s a big improvement.)
“…and life prevails”. That’s a powerful thing to remember, especially in times of loss. It is also comforting to know that life will always go on, whether we’re lucky or not. I can always count on Mr. K giving me something to think about.
Some of my favorite reads are books by Eric Slone,a eminent meteorologist turned erstwhile historian.
My father collected his books when we lived in CT.His research and insights into how ,when ,where,and why things were done the way they were done is a good primer into how to live in the weather and how we cope with our environment as humans.He chronicles ,barns,tools ,wooden bridges -all things AMRERICANA.
Not that this is significant in today’s scheme of things,but if I hadn’t read his stuff,I never would know that the CHARCOAL industry was as large as it was and all that implied.
All cool stuff,Jorma’s travels remind me of the same types of discoveries.
Thanks
Beautiful post Captain.
I was wondering if AJ Croce was related to Jim Croce. Ah, ‘Photographs and memories…”
A little trip down that ol’ worn country road of nostalgia. Dan Penn produced A.J.’s last album. Penn, back in 1967, produced the Box Top’s song “The Letter.” I know a few of you might have gotten a warm fuzzy at the mention of that classic. It’s the type of song that when you chance upon while changing stations on the radio, that you immediately stop for – and bask in it’s melancholic glow.
The song was ranked #3 on the Billboard Charts in 1967, behind Ode To Billy Joe and To Sir With Love. (holy crap – another group that caught my fancy put out an album that year that contained Embryonic Journey, White Rabbit, Today and Somebody to Love.)
We grew up in a great time, didn’t we?
Well, she wrote me a letter
Said she couldn’t live without me no more
Listen mister, can’t you see I got to get back
To my baby once-a more
Anyway, yeah
Jorma, All the best to you and your family for a good year ahead.
Watch your top knot.
Think the other Jeremiah Johnson was buried in L.A. In 1919. He had a reputation as a liver eater, marking the dead Crow so they would know it was him that did the killing. Reported to have the ability to break a back with one kick. Least that is the way my foggy memory recalls a few books that I read about him. I’m too lazy to look it up but the current Jeremiah seems to fit some of the bill with that job.
Peace
Love All Ways
@rich l
“Sun setting over the trees”.
Among Jorma’s best photos.
Jorma,
your photos and description of a place and time not seen by many others, is a bit of history.
I saw the movie Jeremiah Johnson at age 17 at the Toms River Drive IN with a young lady by the name of Heidi.
Life is more than existence – there is much more that shall be revealed.
“Guess my feet no where they want me to go…walking down a country road” James Taylor
Beautiful post. That sunset over the tress looks like the Northern Lights.