Good morning, everyone!!!
The sun was shining the morning we hooked up to head out. Camper was packed, truck was gassed up, and we were ready to set out on an adventure. We were headed to a place we’d never been before. Hocking Hills, Ohio. We moved down the road, camper in tow, spirits high for the time ahead.
It wasn’t long before we met up with the rain. Not just a little sprinkle, a nice wash everything clean kind of rain. We traveled on, not allowing the weather to dampen our spirits. The more we drove, the harder the rain came down. I was determined to enjoy this vacation no matter what.
We set up the camper between showers. Put our patio camping mat down outside the door as not to drag mud inside the camper. We had stopped for dinner before we arrived at our campsite, seeing as the hour would be later than we had hoped. So, we held up inside that first night, watching a little tv and just enjoying the evening just the two of us.
My parents had arrived a few hours before us, but they also were enjoying some down time in their camper, out of the rain. They weren’t as fortunate as us, they had set up in the rain, so they were ready to enjoy a quiet moment or two as well in the privacy of their own camper.
The next morning, I awoke, put on the coffee, set up my chair on the patio camping mat, the sky was overcast, but no rain at the current moment. The rest of our camping party had not arrived yet, so we visited with my parents some, drank our coffee, and enjoyed the quiet overcast morning.
Cell signal was none for us. No phones, no internet, no link to the outside world other than a few tv stations that really had much of nothing on them. Secretly, I was thrilled about this. I needed to disconnect from the rest of the world for a little while.
Our small camping party finally arrived a little before nine. We helped them get set up and made the decision that day would be a ‘stay in camp’ day. The rains came on and off the entire day. We set up a screen house and put a picnic table inside. The sun stayed behind the clouds. Yet, again we did not allow this to dampen our time, we were on vacation.
The next morning as we all gathered in the community area of our camping sites, we discussed what we would do that day. We decided since it was forecast to rain all day, we would head into town and hit up the antique store, the glass store, and the Dutch Buffet. On the way back, we visited Ash Cave. It was spectacular.
The weather remained overcast, but the rains stayed away where we were. When we arrived back at camp, it had rained a good deal, but it still didn’t dampen our spirits because we were on vacation. We took one of the short hikes down to see The Devil’s Bathtub. Oh, the beauty of this place was breathtaking. We walked through and around the puddles of rain water. Took the steps down into the valley to view this vision closer. At one point I almost stepped on a Northern Water Snake all curled up for his night of rest.
Day 3:
Our youngest son arrived the night before. We had all decided rain or shine we were walking the trail down to see Old Man’s Cave. We walked the trails on and off as a group of twelve. We found hiking sticks to help us make our way a little easier, seeing as our youngest son was the youngest person in our group.
We walked down steps, up and down hills, we took in the amazing beauty of this place. Caverns and caves. Sandstone and rock. Tunnels and waterfalls. Hours and hours of walking the trails. Life is amazing when you don’t allow the rains to get under your skin. It rained on and off during our walk, but it didn’t bother us. We enjoyed the spectacular views this place has to offer.
Once back to camp, my sister, a dear friend, and I decided to take another walk. We walked down to Rose Lake. Oh, what a wild walk that turned out to be. But the beauty of the lake was well worth the insanity of the walk. We were gone so long my hubby and father came looking for us, which by this point in time we were thankful for the ride back to camp.
The next morning, hubby, my parents, uncle, and I took the youngest son to see Ash Cave. The rains during the night only made the waterfall even more stunning. This was one sight we wanted the son to see before he headed back to the real world.
We hit up another antique area, later in the day. As well as a few Amish grocery stores. My favorite place to shop. We then took another hike to see the Natural Bridge. It was literally breathtaking, lol, we may have been huffing and puffing when we came back to the cars, but I will be forever grateful we took the hike.
Today, I awoke to sunshine. Not sure if there is rain in the forecast or not. No contact with the civilized world. But it doesn’t matter to me one way or the other. We’re on vacation. We could allow the rain to get us down or we can go with the punches and just enjoy the day. Whatever may come.
Whispering Cave
Whispering Cave was probably one of the tougher hikes we’ve done this trip. However, I’m glad we did it. It was spectacular. Some of the paths were narrow and all the paths were windy, but it was worth the trip.
I started this vacation telling myself tranquility and peace. It was my mantra so to speak. I would feel myself beginning to get stressed and I would tell myself over and over ‘tranquility and peace.’ It worked. My soul has been peaceful this entire trip. Now if I can just maintain this calmness in the real world.
Life is a vicious cycle of ups and downs. I’m aware of this. Disconnecting from the world, however, gives us a better view of the world we live in. I think that is why I like getting back to nature so much. Leaving the problems of the world behind. Putting things into perspective. Breathing in the beauty of the world around me and knowing deep in my soul there is powers much greater than I.
The rain each day taught me that we have a choice of how we look at each day. We can say, ‘Oh it’s raining, my day is ruined,’ or, ‘I have plans today rain or shine, it doesn’t matter.’
It’s like that every day, whether or not it is raining physically, or if the rain just comes in a pattern of unfortunate events. Either way you feel like your getting wet. Sometimes you feel like your drowning depending on the heaviness of the rain. But no matter what we have choices on how we look at the world around us.
I’m guilty of allowing life’s mishaps to bring me down. To let it get under my skin and push my moods over the edge. I must remind myself all too often I’m the one in control of my emotions and my actions.
There was this tree outside our camper which was knotted up and what appears to be a million faces are visible in the trunk of that tree. At first, I just thought it was cool. Then the more I see this tree each morning I realize, maybe, just maybe, it is the ugly pieces of what those before me have brought into this particular site and left behind when they leave. I am sure when I leave here there will be another image form in that tree. The pieces of myself I will leave behind in this beautiful place.
Tecumseh
Yesterday we spent the afternoon walking around Logan. Taking in the historic town and hitting up some of the shops. We all love thrift store shopping and they happen to have a large one there. I found a wonderful 1892 song book which was my little treasure find for the week. Well, next to the plaster craft dog dishes I found to make for Shadow and Bear.
Then last evening after supper we headed out to an outdoor theater where Tecumseh was playing. I would highly recommend if you have never been to an outdoor theater put it on your bucket list. If you have the opportunity to go and watch Tecumseh if you are in the Hocking Hills, Ohio area, definitely check it out. You won’t be sorry.
As you can see I've written most of this while on vacation. Getting up each morning to write a little before beginning our day. Hubby and I headed home on Friday, seeing as I had to work all weekend.
It was fantastic getting away. Leaving the rest of the world behind for a little while. I've renewed my energy and gotten back some of my patience levels. I still have to remind myself I have a choice on how I look at the day, but right now it is easier to remind myself I chose how to look at what life throws at me.
Well, I guess I better get this day started.
Everyone have a lovely day!!!
Blessings to all!!!
The sun was shining the morning we hooked up to head out. Camper was packed, truck was gassed up, and we were ready to set out on an adventure. We were headed to a place we’d never been before. Hocking Hills, Ohio. We moved down the road, camper in tow, spirits high for the time ahead.
It wasn’t long before we met up with the rain. Not just a little sprinkle, a nice wash everything clean kind of rain. We traveled on, not allowing the weather to dampen our spirits. The more we drove, the harder the rain came down. I was determined to enjoy this vacation no matter what.
We set up the camper between showers. Put our patio camping mat down outside the door as not to drag mud inside the camper. We had stopped for dinner before we arrived at our campsite, seeing as the hour would be later than we had hoped. So, we held up inside that first night, watching a little tv and just enjoying the evening just the two of us.
My parents had arrived a few hours before us, but they also were enjoying some down time in their camper, out of the rain. They weren’t as fortunate as us, they had set up in the rain, so they were ready to enjoy a quiet moment or two as well in the privacy of their own camper.
The next morning, I awoke, put on the coffee, set up my chair on the patio camping mat, the sky was overcast, but no rain at the current moment. The rest of our camping party had not arrived yet, so we visited with my parents some, drank our coffee, and enjoyed the quiet overcast morning.
Cell signal was none for us. No phones, no internet, no link to the outside world other than a few tv stations that really had much of nothing on them. Secretly, I was thrilled about this. I needed to disconnect from the rest of the world for a little while.
Our small camping party finally arrived a little before nine. We helped them get set up and made the decision that day would be a ‘stay in camp’ day. The rains came on and off the entire day. We set up a screen house and put a picnic table inside. The sun stayed behind the clouds. Yet, again we did not allow this to dampen our time, we were on vacation.
The next morning as we all gathered in the community area of our camping sites, we discussed what we would do that day. We decided since it was forecast to rain all day, we would head into town and hit up the antique store, the glass store, and the Dutch Buffet. On the way back, we visited Ash Cave. It was spectacular.
The weather remained overcast, but the rains stayed away where we were. When we arrived back at camp, it had rained a good deal, but it still didn’t dampen our spirits because we were on vacation. We took one of the short hikes down to see The Devil’s Bathtub. Oh, the beauty of this place was breathtaking. We walked through and around the puddles of rain water. Took the steps down into the valley to view this vision closer. At one point I almost stepped on a Northern Water Snake all curled up for his night of rest.
Day 3:
Our youngest son arrived the night before. We had all decided rain or shine we were walking the trail down to see Old Man’s Cave. We walked the trails on and off as a group of twelve. We found hiking sticks to help us make our way a little easier, seeing as our youngest son was the youngest person in our group.
We walked down steps, up and down hills, we took in the amazing beauty of this place. Caverns and caves. Sandstone and rock. Tunnels and waterfalls. Hours and hours of walking the trails. Life is amazing when you don’t allow the rains to get under your skin. It rained on and off during our walk, but it didn’t bother us. We enjoyed the spectacular views this place has to offer.
Once back to camp, my sister, a dear friend, and I decided to take another walk. We walked down to Rose Lake. Oh, what a wild walk that turned out to be. But the beauty of the lake was well worth the insanity of the walk. We were gone so long my hubby and father came looking for us, which by this point in time we were thankful for the ride back to camp.
The next morning, hubby, my parents, uncle, and I took the youngest son to see Ash Cave. The rains during the night only made the waterfall even more stunning. This was one sight we wanted the son to see before he headed back to the real world.
We hit up another antique area, later in the day. As well as a few Amish grocery stores. My favorite place to shop. We then took another hike to see the Natural Bridge. It was literally breathtaking, lol, we may have been huffing and puffing when we came back to the cars, but I will be forever grateful we took the hike.
Today, I awoke to sunshine. Not sure if there is rain in the forecast or not. No contact with the civilized world. But it doesn’t matter to me one way or the other. We’re on vacation. We could allow the rain to get us down or we can go with the punches and just enjoy the day. Whatever may come.
Whispering Cave
Whispering Cave was probably one of the tougher hikes we’ve done this trip. However, I’m glad we did it. It was spectacular. Some of the paths were narrow and all the paths were windy, but it was worth the trip.
I started this vacation telling myself tranquility and peace. It was my mantra so to speak. I would feel myself beginning to get stressed and I would tell myself over and over ‘tranquility and peace.’ It worked. My soul has been peaceful this entire trip. Now if I can just maintain this calmness in the real world.
Life is a vicious cycle of ups and downs. I’m aware of this. Disconnecting from the world, however, gives us a better view of the world we live in. I think that is why I like getting back to nature so much. Leaving the problems of the world behind. Putting things into perspective. Breathing in the beauty of the world around me and knowing deep in my soul there is powers much greater than I.
The rain each day taught me that we have a choice of how we look at each day. We can say, ‘Oh it’s raining, my day is ruined,’ or, ‘I have plans today rain or shine, it doesn’t matter.’
It’s like that every day, whether or not it is raining physically, or if the rain just comes in a pattern of unfortunate events. Either way you feel like your getting wet. Sometimes you feel like your drowning depending on the heaviness of the rain. But no matter what we have choices on how we look at the world around us.
I’m guilty of allowing life’s mishaps to bring me down. To let it get under my skin and push my moods over the edge. I must remind myself all too often I’m the one in control of my emotions and my actions.
There was this tree outside our camper which was knotted up and what appears to be a million faces are visible in the trunk of that tree. At first, I just thought it was cool. Then the more I see this tree each morning I realize, maybe, just maybe, it is the ugly pieces of what those before me have brought into this particular site and left behind when they leave. I am sure when I leave here there will be another image form in that tree. The pieces of myself I will leave behind in this beautiful place.
Tecumseh
Yesterday we spent the afternoon walking around Logan. Taking in the historic town and hitting up some of the shops. We all love thrift store shopping and they happen to have a large one there. I found a wonderful 1892 song book which was my little treasure find for the week. Well, next to the plaster craft dog dishes I found to make for Shadow and Bear.
Then last evening after supper we headed out to an outdoor theater where Tecumseh was playing. I would highly recommend if you have never been to an outdoor theater put it on your bucket list. If you have the opportunity to go and watch Tecumseh if you are in the Hocking Hills, Ohio area, definitely check it out. You won’t be sorry.
As you can see I've written most of this while on vacation. Getting up each morning to write a little before beginning our day. Hubby and I headed home on Friday, seeing as I had to work all weekend.
It was fantastic getting away. Leaving the rest of the world behind for a little while. I've renewed my energy and gotten back some of my patience levels. I still have to remind myself I have a choice on how I look at the day, but right now it is easier to remind myself I chose how to look at what life throws at me.
Well, I guess I better get this day started.
Everyone have a lovely day!!!
Blessings to all!!!