Bull Thistle

Bull Thistle With a Purple Flower in the Poconos

     Bull Thistle weeds are quite common in northeast Pennsylvania.  After one run-in with this plant it is easy to imagine how it got its common name.  The thistles are strong like the bull and ready to gore any interloper!

Purple Hot Rod Snowcat

This hot rod snow cat has seen better days.

After the Rain the Road and Bridge Closings

Hurricane Irene has come and gone.  Actually, it was just a tropical storm when it hit the Pocono Mountains.  While the winds were not as strong as forecast, the rains were heavy and the ground was saturated, so the winds were still strong enough to bring down trees and power lines all over, and the rain was heavy enough to cause widespread flooding of streams and small rivers.  Scenes such as the one pictured here with signs announcing a bridge or road closed were quite common today.

Hurricane Irene Approaches the Pocono Mountains

Looking southeast across the mountains,  the leading edge of hurricane Irene can be seen moving into the Poconos.

Looking East Across the Francis Walter Dam Reservoir

Click on this picture of the Francis Walter Dam Reservoir to enlarge it and you can see where the road rises up out of the water on the east side of the lake.  You can drive across the road when the water level is low, but that is not likely to happen soon with edge of hurricane Irene tracking toward the Poconos and due to arrive tomorrow night.  This reservoir will likely be filled to the rim by Monday.