Lovely Ashley Reservoir

[asakiyume]

What I love about the Ashley Reservoir in Holyoke is that it has paths that run slender and reedlike right across the water--you can run or walk or bike along them and have water on both sides of you and the sky above you, and you will feel indescribable. Under the water are columns and drifts of water plants that the fish swim around and past, not even bothered (apparently) by how mazelike the plant-columns are, and on the water's surface are lily pads and often geese or ducks, and beside or sometimes in the water are turtles, and rising out of the water are reeds, and in the air are swallows and red-winged blackbirds

I wish I could have taken pictures earlier, when the geese had goslings and the irises were blooming. But it's very beautiful now, too.

paths through the water



on a path







water lilies



aquatic leafy columns



cattails (I think)



some fish





some geese

Comments

[zyzyly]

That looks like an absolutely lovely spot to walk!

[amaebi]

...or fly.

[asakiyume]

It is--I can't get enough of it!

[sovay]

I wish I could have taken pictures earlier, when the geese had goslings and the irises were blooming. But it's very beautiful now, too.

Thank you for all of this water.

[asakiyume]

My pleasure--if you're ever out this way, I'll take you there!

[boxofdelights]

Lovely.

[asakiyume]

^_^

[cmcmck]

Looks like a nice day for that sort of thing!

[asakiyume]

It was bright and beautiful!

[okrablossom]

So blue!

[asakiyume]

very very!

[queenoftheskies]

What a truly wonderful place!

[asakiyume]

I wish I could bring everyone there. You can't be there without smiling.

[missroserose]

That looks absolutely magical, and I hope someday to visit it.

[asakiyume]

I hope so too!

[pameladean]

How glorious!

Raphael and I were just at William O'Brien State Park, which is on the St. Croix River but also contains a lake called Lake Alice. We were admiring exactly the same kind of columnar water plants. I don't know what they are.

P.

[asakiyume]

I was imagining a picture book, or at least a very large picture, featuring those aquatic columns--I was thinking how impressive they'd be to swim among if one were really tiny, like a little minnow or something. Whichever of us learns their name first should share it with the other!

[shewhomust]

I always enjoy boardwalks through the wetlands, but this takes that pleasure to a whole other level.

[asakiyume]

Yes--one time I went there after a rainstorm, and there was a place where the water was rushing over the path, so everything really was completely mixed together--sky, water, air, bits of land--it was marvelous.

[osprey_archer]

Oooooh. So gorgeous.

[asakiyume]

♫ And we can go there when you're here ♫

[lilysea]

That looks so beautiful!

and it also looks SO ACCESSIBLE for power-wheelchairs and mobility scooters! :D :D :D

[asakiyume]

YES, it absolutely is! It's flat and wide. I haven't seen anyone in a wheelchair, but I have seen moms pushing strollers.

[lilysea]

Is the surface solid bitumen/tarmac, or is it loose gravel?

[asakiyume]

It's the hard compacted gravel that I've seen on certain bike trails. In other words, not tarmac, but not just loose gravel either? A person wouldn't need to worry about tires getting caught in the gravel.