October 27, 2008

Hike and Knit

Yesterday some fellow hiking knitters and I got together at Slate Run Metro Park. We are a fairly new group who meet two Sundays each month and take turns choosing where to go. If you are in the area and are interested in joining us, feel free to contact me about it. After hiking, we usually go someplace to knit and sip tasty goods and sometimes eat. It's always a lot of fun and quite relaxing! There are so many great parks around here and I love getting to see more of them.

Slate Run
Martha, Trish, and Molly.

Slate Run
A perfect way to spend a Sunday.

October 20, 2008

Hocking Hills - Oct 2008

I lost my blogging mojo for a while. I thought my trip to the hills would bring it back, but I'm using a lousy monitor after mine died and the pictures just don't look as good as they could. In fact, I can't really tell if they are too dark, so if they are, I blame the monitor. I'm hoping Santa will want to help me out at xmas. That would give me enough time to truly appreciate a new one :)

This trip was long overdue. I go to Hocking Hills when I can to decompress. I was stuck and not getting anything accomplished but now I feel like getting things done!

On my way down, I stopped at Rockbridge State Nature Preserve.

I didn't notice the hiking sticks until I came out of the path.
Rockbridge State Nature Preserve

There is quite a long path to get back to the woods and hills.
Rockbridge State Nature Preserve

This is one of my favorite pictures from the trip. I just stopped to look at the view and then only after I came home did I realize I like it so much because it reminds me of Six Feet Under.
A Family of Trees

A view from under the bridge.
Rockbridge State Nature Preserve

Another view.
Rockbridge State Nature Preserve

I found this guy as I was coming back out of the woods. It looks like a pumpkin spider to me, but apparently they are quite common. It is an orange garden spider.
A Pumpkin Spider?

I hadn't eaten before going thinking that since it wasn't a long trail I would just eat after. I should know better. There were enough hills on the trail that I could have used some fuel. I was tired when I came out of there. There are a couple of new restaurants right off of 33 in Logan, one of which is
Millstone BBQ. I ate there and felt better. The other new one I saw is a Mexican place that I will try next time. Previously, I usually ate at the Dutch Kitchen, so I'm glad to see something new.
Millstone BBQ

Lake Hope
Lake Hope

My idea of roughing it - using tea bags instead of loose leaf tea.
Roughing It

I've wanted to hike the Grandma Gatewood trail for quite a while. Since I didn't think I was ready to hike the whole trail and the return trip to my car I went from Old Man's Cave to Cedar Falls and back.
It was absolutely stunning.

Could this be The Bat Cave? Look just left of the center :)
Old Man's Cave

Grandma Gatewood Trail

Cedar Falls.
Cedar Falls

I'm always fascinated by exposed tree roots.
Grandma Gatewood Trail

Back at Old Man's Cave.
Old Man's Cave

The Sphinx Head.
Sphinx Head

My view at the cabin.
My view at the cabin

Hanging out at the lake.
Lake Hope

My mind is much clearer now than it was before I went. Now I'm ready to tackle the Bayerische Socks, which I discovered are fun after you get going. The first 2 rows are the most challenging, then it all falls into place. Eunny is a genius. In keeping with a fall theme, I'm knitting them in orange.