With minimal travel we had a weekend hiking close to home that gave a few photo ops of downtown Columbus, as well as nearby Licking County.
The trip to Licking County included a hike in Blackhand Gorge Park. Named for a (now long gone) Native American petroglyph the hike goes through a small ravine along a creek. The sandstone cliffs have a variety of vegetation growing on them.
The rest of the afternoon was spent wandering the backroads of the county.
We came across this fantastic abandoned schoolhouse. As I approached for a closer look the bird came flying out adding to the excitement.
Todays drone tour starts out in Newark, with the world’s largest basket (building). Previously the headquarters for the Longenberger Basket Company, it is now vacant.
A view of eastern Licking County on a frosty early October morning.
Black Hand Gorge is a scenic area of Licking County.
Additional views of the Black Hand Gorge Natural Area
Views of Dillon Dam and reservoir.
Muskingum County hills.
With more confident drone flying a return to Zanesville allowed me to get a better view of the famed Y Bridge from 250′ up.
The primary destination on this day was the Muskingum River Valley. This view is in Zanesville.
There are a series of dams and locks along the river as it makes it’s way south. This one is located between the towns of Philo and Duncan Falls, and is known as Dam Number 9.
The right side gives a view of the bridges between the towns – the new one was recently opened.
The valley extends for more than 100 miles through southeastern Ohio.
Lock and Dam Number 8 is known as Rokeby Lock.
The tour this day ended at the town of McConnellsville, and the 1913 truss bridge.
Burr Oak State Park Lake.
The final stop for today is in Nelsonville, and an overview of the Hocking Valley Scenic Railroad terminal.
Today’s tour is Licking County. The unusual name comes from the proliferation of ‘Salt Licks’ that were in the area when it was settled by Europeans. Salt Likes are a natural occurrence that wildlife used to gain critical minerals.
While many of the barn photos on earlier postings were dilapidated, but today’s is in excellent condition.
The small town of Granville is home to Denison University. It is a liberal arts college that attract students from out of state.
Swasey Chapel sits high on a hill above town.
Next door is Swasey Observatory. Apparently Swasey gave you both the virtual view of the heavens as well as the physical.
The Doane Administration building.
Newark is home to a number of large earthworks. The Hopewell Native Americans were prolific mound builders.
The photo below shows the Octagon Mound. In the early 1900s this area was sold to a group who built a golf course around the mounds.
The Ohio Historical Society owns the land now, and is in the process of evicting the golf course to return it to it’s original state.
The nearby Great Circle Earthworks is one of the largest in the world.
Interestingly it is restricted airspace so the drone wouldn’t go into the circle for a photo.
Newark is known as ‘Mound City’.
The area around the courthouse square has a number of historic buildings.
