October 10 to 12 - Medina, New York - Julie!!
Warning: This post contains a number of bug photos. Be prepared!
My path to Medina, New York from Battle Creek, Michigan took me by Chicago (do not recommend) and across the boarder to Canada. I’ll get right to it, the boarder crossing was strange. On the US side there was the person at the booth asking questions, typical, but also a row of border patrol officers standing in front of each booth/car looking somber, serious, and looking sternly right into every car. I don’t remember this from the last time. The Canadian boarder patrol agents were a little nicer with just the typical questions from the person in the booth with no armed guard looking suspiciously at you. Just was a bit odd on the US side.
Canada was much like all the land I’ve seen since leaving Yellowstone: corn, corn, corn, cows, farms. There were some small differences, like farms waving huge Canadian flags. I guess they’re super patriotic in Canada. And a bunch of farms with huge Amish quilt billboard looking things in their yards. I’m not sure what that was all about. Must signify something? However, all in all, the farmlands and farm houses looked exactly the same as they do from coast to coast in the United States. I couldn’t help think about how much we are the same all over the continent, maybe the world, and we just don’t realize it.
The boarder crossing back into the United States from Canada had no Canadian check point. Sort of, “Leave already, we won’t argue with you.” The United States check point was just the typical questions with no armed guards. They didn’t, however, like my leftover Tijuana, Mexico paperwork I had forgotten in my passport. They were suspicious I was traveling from Mexico on this trip. Almost, I guess, since I started out in San Diego, but not exactly.
My trip to Medina, New York was awesome! It was so good to see Julie and Nigel again and so fun to be around a fellow photographer! I took WAY too many photos! Julie’s home was warm and inviting and filled with the happy chatter of dogs which, if you know Julie, is part of her DNA. There were 12 lucky souls with her at the moment. She is very active in helping out a rescue and her big heart was taking care of a bunch at the moment. Of course Nigel (an African Grey parrot) was there too, scaring me with his radio man voice. He talks on and on in a radio man creepy voice which you can’t understand a word. Tons of chatter from Nigel too. I love his northern accent, sweet calls for dogs in Julie’s voice, greetings, and his grumpy cussing. I miss Julie and her menagerie so much.
She is also helping a rescue that is situated on a farm so I’ll share some (not all!) of the animals she cares for. So awesome! She was also kind enough to show me around the Medina area: see the big Medina apple, going downtown to go antiquing, exploring an abandoned factory, breakfast and dinner, and of course the Culvert Bridge of Medina!! It’s in Ripley’s Believe It or Not. Fasten your seatbelts folks for that one!
All in all a wonderful stop and I hope I’ll be back soon with Mike in tow!
Overload of photos below.
Downtown Medina, New York. Now, if I were smart, I’d have taken a photo looking down the street! Perfect little town ready to bust on the scene as a homey, trendy, artsy place to live. Julie, you picked right!
The Medina Big Apple honoring the regions fruit growers. Erected in 2000 and made by Richard Bannister. It’s an, um, interesting roadside attraction, much like the culvert bridge latter in the photos.
Julie and one of the horses she cares for. This horse had cancer but doing well.
Farm kitty in the barn.
This goat has quite a story, Annie. Her mom had twins and after the birth the farmer went home and went to bed. Only it wasn't twins, it was triplets! When the farmer came back in the morning poor kid had its face frozen to the ground. Looks like things worked out okay though. She just looks a little like Shrek.
Update, Annie passed away Monday, October 28, 2019. I was told it was peaceful.
Fiona, the sheep.
Charlie, Julie’s favorite guy. He was a former Amish carriage horse I believe. I meant to include a photo with his old buggy, but forgot. I’ll add it in later. Check back!
Oh my, the yellow jackets!!
The yellow jackets were out of control! Didn’t seem to bother us tho.
Always heard these would not bite. Sure looks like it could bite to me!! I’ll look up the name in a bit and revise.
Me taking advantage of foraging. The farmer left rows and rows of lima beans unpicked along all the tree lines. Presumably because all the black walnuts around them? Maybe they would muck up the equipment? Don’t know, but I picked lots of lima beans. Just finished the last bit today. So good! Cell photo.
Julie doing what she loves, taking care of animals. This is Rosie.
Buzzards in the field
Aster’s I think.
Dried thistle.
More milkweed. Love them!!
Milkweed
Thistle
Queen Anne’s Lace
Queen Ann’s lace with lotsa ants!
Goldenrod with friends.
Ladybug and thistle
Hungry bee in a thistle flower.
OMG, these butterflies were amazing!! They were by the side of the road in hundreds, I guess migrating. The shots with multiple butterflies didn’t come out striking enough, but trust me, amazing. I did take some video too. I’lll have to see if this platform supports videos and I’ll include one. Check back later.
Yellow butterflies. They left the area after these photos were taken, but wow, what a sight!
Well, you’ve waited long enough. Here’s Medina’s famous culvert bridge that’s in Ripley’s Believe or Not. It’s a bridge under the Erie Canal. It’s literally in the middle of farmland, well away from downtown. So strange!
This culvert tunnel is the only place in all of New York where you can drive under the Erie Canal. It’s kind of the reverse of a typical culvert bridge where traffic drives over running water.
Now, I know you are truly amazed, right?! There’s a Ripley’s Believe or Not plaque on the wall of the outside of the bridge which I meant to get a photo of too.
The reason I forgot the Ripley’s Believe or Not plaque photo on the bridge was this plant, lol. Like it? Anyone know the name?
I don’t know if folks in the state of New York realize this, but you really can make things with these apples. Or maybe give them away. So, so many apples!!
Okay, California and Hawaii, get ready to drop your mouth. This house sold at auction for 40K. It’s being turned into a Bed and Breakfast. It’s right in downtown Medina.
And this house sold for 50K at auction, with acreage. Located just outside of Medina’s downtown.
Julie knows me well and let me play in an abandoned building just next to the big red apple.
Bridge in Medina over the Erie Canal.
The big red apple and Medina’s Erie Canal bridge.
And this guy. He needs a home. Anyone want to adopt a senior beagle from Medina, New York? He’s a sweetie!