Rocky River Rocks

Fun to do this in a kayak. Under the bridge in Scidmore Park.

Peeler Street Bridge

A cooling change of season for this bridge picture, part of a series of bridge pictures I'm doing in honor of the Womens' Club sponsored Three Rivers Historic Bridge Walk on Monday, Sept. 5, see http://trbridges.wordpress.com (or previous posts) for more info.

This is the Peeler Street Bridge as seen from the park. The bridge features a very large mural showing the history of Three Rivers - and some interesting graffiti. The bridge spans both the railroad track and the Rocky River.

Walkin' the dog

A cold but bright and sunny day, the evening sun reflecting off downtown buildings which are reflected in the river.

Beautiful ice

4 degrees this morning (-15C). Along the rivers a frozen mist settled on the trees.

Monochrome Race

Seen in monochrome is the race from the Rocky River as it exits the old powerhouse. The race then goes under Michigan Avenue, through Scidmore Park, and joins the St. Joseph River just above the point where the main part of the Rocky flows into the St. Joseph. In the distance is a barn in the park.

The old powerhouse provided electricity for downtown Three Rivers in decades past; the building now fuels the area with expresso, dispensed at LA's Coffee, which shares space in the former powerhouse building with a travel agent.

Leaving the cafe yesterday morning with my coffee in hand, the scene just looked like a perfect monochrome. To see more of the world in monochrome, just click over to The Monochrome Weekend, presented by Aileni.

A walk in the sun

I'll be inside today, toiling for Taxaide, but yesterday I took a wonderful walk in the deep powdery fresh snow and sparkling sunshine. My dogs loved it, burrowing under the snow for voles (they didn't catch any) and bounding through the drifts. I loved being outside in the sun!

This is the Memory Isle Bridge. I'm not sure why it is called Memory Isle or what it commemorates, but the island in the Rocky River was created when a dam collapsed a very long time ago. The bridge is the only way on to the island. The picture I wish I had gotten was a long line of Canada geese sitting in the river, fifty or more, lined up facing me. Swimming regally past them was a swan, like a general reviewing the troops. Camera misfire!

The Lighthouse

The first was a theme day so today I am starting the year with Three Rivers' lighthouse, which has been preventing kayak and canoe pileups on the river since... er, no, it really is just ornamental. (It does actually have a light, though.) Placed at the spot where the Rocky River joins the broad St. Joseph River, the lighthouse recalls the days before the railroads when commerce flowed along the rivers. The lighthouse is also the city's de facto symbol, used on city vehicles and by local merchants in their advertising.

On January 1, lots of soft, puffy snow. Today, lots of sunshine, 15 degrees F, -9 degrees C.

Monochrome Monday

Walking bridge over the Rocky River (click for larger; interesting light). Two great things about b/w: The textures that show up - and the shadows.

For more monochrome delights from many locations see Monochrome Weekly.

Fish

Fish swim through the reflections of the trees above in the Rocky River.

Bridges

A footbridge by a gnarled old tree passes over a stream that runs into the Rocky River. Downtown is just visible in the background.

A Little Whitewater

Canoeists negotiate the small dam and whitewater section of the Rocky River in the park behind downtown. They made it through but the next group got hung up on the rocks! This is just past where a race channel was diverted from the Rocky. The race goes under an old power house that now houses a coffee bar. The power it would have provided is no longer used, but boats cannot pass under the building. The race and the river channel go under Michigan Ave and join the St. Joseph River in Scidmore Park.