I live in a fairly (s)urbanized area that has pockets of lovely natural settings. Near me is a small, popular lake. No swimming, rare boating, some fishing, but mostly viewing – there’s a wide pedestrian path that circles it and it is regularly trod by many.
I visit the lake more in warmer weather, but then so does everybody else and it can be quite busy with picnickers, walkers, large groups, radios, kids, bikers, joggers, dogs, and so on. Also, mosquitoes and ticks are an issue in the summer, not to mention, frankly, the funky smell that wafts from the water.
I have been to this lake many times and while I have always appreciated it, I was able to see it with fresh eyes by taking pictures one day last week. (I’d taken the occasional photo in the past but only with film, so my photos were rationed and of questionable quality at that.) I went hog-wild and it felt very decadent to take so many shots. A few of them are really quite nice. I felt invigorated and exuberant when I was done. Being outside on a cold day, near water, and really focusing on my surroundings, moved my spirits.
WriterInSoul 
Nice pictures!
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Thanks John!
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It is quite lovely, Colette. I can see why a winter visit invigorates you.
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This one did. Mostly I have winter memories of biting winds coming off the lake, which encourages me to stay home.
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Yes, that, too, Colleen. I live in Syracuse and have venturered on winter walks on our trail adjoining Onondaga Lake.
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It’s Colette. Now that sounds like a real l-mean-business lake.
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Oops. I know it’s Colette. My fingers had a mind of their own, though. Auto pilot. They have poured millions and millions into cleaning Onondaga Lake, federally mandated because Allied Chemicals used it as its sewer for decades before closing its doors. Now they have finished the last phase, which was dredging and covering parts with a foot of unpenetrable material the bottom that could not be dredged, and have proclaimed it amongst the cleanest city-adjoining lakes in the nation. Wildlife has been coming back for more than a decade. It no longer has any smell. I hope they are right. I like Onondaga Lake Park and its trail. It does mean business.
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Thanks. I just looked it up. A million annual visitors! http://onondagacountyparks.com/onondaga-lake-park/ Man, I love the internet (I even looked at the clean-up website). The little park video is great. I’ve never seen bikes with little roofs/covers like that and I am very envious of the TRAM. However, I do note the video is not of wicked winter temps with bundled-uppeople being blown around the trails…
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I admire your propensity for researching, Colette. Therefore, I’m going to give you four easy clicks displaying my love of Onondaga Lake. The first three are from summer walks, the last is from a winter walk. I took pictures. No videos, though.
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The way the leafless trees frame these scenes in winter…lovely. Nice work. ☺
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Thanks so much Van. I was particularly taken wIthaca the play of light, reflection, and color on the partly iced surface of the lake itself.
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