Travels don’t always need to take place in far-off exotic locations. Sometimes they can be right around the corner. last week, due to work and weather, I was able to make a short hike along Big Dry Creek, which happens to be just down the street from our house. I had a three-hour conference call in the morning and another three-hour call in the afternoon. In between, I donned a warm coat and hat and wandered off into the snowy day.

Not far from our house, a two-lane road follows the creek. A local photographer owns a portrait studio that overlooks the creek. His studio is housed in this old-looking barn. Quite a nice setup for producing photographs.

Not far from the Classic Camera barn, the Big Dry Creek Trail drops under the railroad tracks. Looking west, the tunnel appears to lead to nowhere of infinity, depending upon your outlook.

I looped around onto the road and found a drive-thru coffee shop. Walk-thru in my case. I bought a hot cup of Joe and headed home. In the meadow near our home, I spotted this hawk, scanning the creek and nearby fields for a meal.

Just down from the path that leads back to our street, I stopped for one more photograph. The freshly falling snow on the creek made for a good indication of how cold I was getting. Time to go home, grab my phone, and take my last call for the day by the fireplace.