These last several weeks have been so nice weather-wise. We've also been lucky that our daughter hasn't had to play soccer on Sunday for the last 2 weekends as well, so that has afforded us a chance to go and take a few small hikes here and there - basically places that aren't too far. (The longer trips will be after the soccer season's over - Hocking Hills here I come!) I really enjoy these hikes that we've been taking, we always manage to see a wild critter other than a squirrel - I don't really consider them very wild being I see them in the yard all the time, plus it's another opportunity for me to get the camera out.
Now, I must admit I am like a Japanese tourist whenever I go somewhere new with the camera. I take way too many pictures - digital is a Godsend. I'm always afraid I'm going to miss something or there's always a better picture right after I just took one. Heaven forbid I leave the camera at home because then we end up seeing all sorts of stuff.
Back to the hikes. Clifton Gorge was absolutely beautiful, I loved it. I wasn't expecting it to be as rocky as it was but, no problem. I really want to go back again when the leaves really start changing. Fall's my favorite time of year. All the colors are just inspiring and I could do with a bit of inspiration as I've been having issues with that. I got some fantastic pictures I could use in some artwork, so I was excited about that. And of course we got to see some critters along the way.
Last weekend we went to Taylorsville Dam. I know what you're thinking - how exciting could that be. I mean we drive across it all the time, but I've never actually been in it, except during the Johnson family reunion which isn't even on that side to begin with. So, we pull into the parking lot, got our water and the camera and we start for the trail head. I should've known there would be issues when you have to go down a flight of steps and a fairly steep hill just to get to the trails. Fine, we hiked to the rock overlook, which was pretty neat, Jenna wanted to climb around the slump rock cave etc, but that's not on the trail. Always wanting to climb. We decided to keep following the trail around and I start noticing a pattern down a pretty steep hill - up a pretty steep hill. Now, I don't have issues with hills necessarily, but this was like a demented walking roller-coaster. I was so happy when we got down closer to the river and things stay pretty level. Oh, joy! Oh, happiness! That's were we saw the buck and the doe chasing him. We could hear him walking all around us. She changed her mind and went back in the field. Then we had to change paths. I look over and it's steeped than the other was! Some of the way we had to walk sideways, Jenna slid down a couple of the steeper hills. And they just kept going up! LOL By this time, I'm starting to worry about my hubby's knee (he had surgery on it this past Feb.) I don't think he was quite prepared for all the hills either and he had hiked there before. We come out into a clearing, thinking we're close to the parking lot cause we can smell the charcoal. We were, but we had to climb about 50 stairs I think and keep going up hill to get back to the parking lot. Ugh!
Needless to say, we all went to bed early that night. Jenna fell asleep in the car on the way home and still went to bed earlier than usual. It was a great hike though - but a little warning about all the hills would've been great.
Now, I must admit I am like a Japanese tourist whenever I go somewhere new with the camera. I take way too many pictures - digital is a Godsend. I'm always afraid I'm going to miss something or there's always a better picture right after I just took one. Heaven forbid I leave the camera at home because then we end up seeing all sorts of stuff.
Back to the hikes. Clifton Gorge was absolutely beautiful, I loved it. I wasn't expecting it to be as rocky as it was but, no problem. I really want to go back again when the leaves really start changing. Fall's my favorite time of year. All the colors are just inspiring and I could do with a bit of inspiration as I've been having issues with that. I got some fantastic pictures I could use in some artwork, so I was excited about that. And of course we got to see some critters along the way.
Last weekend we went to Taylorsville Dam. I know what you're thinking - how exciting could that be. I mean we drive across it all the time, but I've never actually been in it, except during the Johnson family reunion which isn't even on that side to begin with. So, we pull into the parking lot, got our water and the camera and we start for the trail head. I should've known there would be issues when you have to go down a flight of steps and a fairly steep hill just to get to the trails. Fine, we hiked to the rock overlook, which was pretty neat, Jenna wanted to climb around the slump rock cave etc, but that's not on the trail. Always wanting to climb. We decided to keep following the trail around and I start noticing a pattern down a pretty steep hill - up a pretty steep hill. Now, I don't have issues with hills necessarily, but this was like a demented walking roller-coaster. I was so happy when we got down closer to the river and things stay pretty level. Oh, joy! Oh, happiness! That's were we saw the buck and the doe chasing him. We could hear him walking all around us. She changed her mind and went back in the field. Then we had to change paths. I look over and it's steeped than the other was! Some of the way we had to walk sideways, Jenna slid down a couple of the steeper hills. And they just kept going up! LOL By this time, I'm starting to worry about my hubby's knee (he had surgery on it this past Feb.) I don't think he was quite prepared for all the hills either and he had hiked there before. We come out into a clearing, thinking we're close to the parking lot cause we can smell the charcoal. We were, but we had to climb about 50 stairs I think and keep going up hill to get back to the parking lot. Ugh!
Needless to say, we all went to bed early that night. Jenna fell asleep in the car on the way home and still went to bed earlier than usual. It was a great hike though - but a little warning about all the hills would've been great.
Someone told me your camera is as important as you purse! You never know where that next picture will be. Glad you decided to write something again! :)
ReplyDeleteNice pics! :)
ReplyDeleteI always liked to hike around the dam, even though it was practically in our backyard. It still felt like you were away from civilization. You guys should come out to Sugarcreek Reserve this fall...it's really pretty.
We seem to be sort of touring the local reserves. LOL I want to go down to Germantown/Twin Creek again as well, I have been there since Jenna was in preschool. I want to got to Carriage Hill, all those places. Jenna has a game at the ungodly time of 9:00 Saturday, which leave a good chunck of day to got check things out.
ReplyDeleteThanks!