I slept in until just before 730am. For some reason I was thinking it was later. Thankfully, I woke feeling good after dreaming/thinking I was hungover. It didn't take me long to get the coffee brewing and my exercises started.
Frankie seemed in no hurry to get out of her pen, so at least for the time being, I left her resting quietly. The sky was overcast and the temperature moderately warm when I finally freed Frankie and took her out. While enjoying coffee, I split time between work and play, with the edge going towards work. There was plenty requiring my attention/intervention.
By 9am I had a firm grasp on work and decided it time to do my run. However, before heading out I did my usual stretch from the family room floor. I ran just three miles knowing that we planned a hike later in the day weather/work permitting. Even though it was quite humid, the run went well.
By the time Mindy was up, I was reengaged in work. It must've been near 10am - about when I expected her to wake. For the next couple of hours I stayed plugged into work. As noon neared things started to loosen. Mindy and I discussed a trip to Yellow Springs. And provided work stayed as it was, it seemed like a go. I checked the radar. There was a relatively thin line of showers moving at us from the Dayton area, but nothing significant lingering behind it. However, the forecast called for a chance of pop up showers through the entire afternoon.
Because she showered last night, Mindy opted to shower after hiking. Me, on the other hand, I needed a shower badly after recently completing my run. Sometime after 12 noon we packed a quick cooler and headed off for our new favorite place to hike, Yellow Springs.
It rained on and off during the entire drive, but never too heavily. The sky, while gray, looked to be brightening to the SW, or the direction I approximated to be near Yellow Springs. This being our third trip out in the last 6 weeks or so, the drive went fast. We pulled into the parking lot of Clifton's Gorge just north of 1pm. The lot contained at least 10 other cars, and that was 10 more than our last trip there with Glenn and the kids.
Mindy & I quickly decided instead of starting off in Clifton's Gorge, and hiking what we've already hiked, we'd drive a bit further out Rt 343 to John Bryan State Park. The park's entrance was only two more miles further up the road. The park's entrance was a winding road similar to that of Alum Creek's campground. We stopped at the camp office to learn where to go to get access to the hiking trails. The young girls working the camp office were kind and gave us a quick briefing on where to go. We grabbed a trail map on our way out the door. We wound our way through a mostly open-campsite park to what I assumed was the far east end parking lot near a stone shelter house with signs pointing to the trails.
Mindy pee'd in one of their open pit toilets before we set out. She came out citing never again. Hmm? They looked ultra modern on the outside. Off we went. We followed what we assumed was the main trail out along the Little Miami river to the right of the plaque marking the trail. The trail quickly shrunk to something much smaller than what we had become accustom to after the last two times out. Not only that, but soon the overcast sky turned into brief showers. Suddenly we were winding along a trail with weeds as tall as us in a steady downpour. We used the thick canopy of trees above as an umbrella, but that only works so well.
Somewhere along the line we assumed we had lost the main trail as we hugged the river's edge. We were on a trail but definitely not one frequented by more than just a scant few. We kept referring to the map but couldn't get our bearings. We (mostly me) asserted that the trail map had to be incorrect. We weren't overly concerned. In the end, all we needed to do was go back the way we came. We eventually spotted what we assumed was a foot bridge crossing the river about 200 yards up ahead. We snarled our way through thick trees and man high weeds until we came upon an old washed out wooden bridge (not the one we spotted along the river) that rested by two trails that were wide enough for vehicles. We followed one of those trails even though they didn't appear to be on our map, and was taking us farther away from the river. We even passed a sign that said, private drive - do not enter. Hmmm? In a State Park? In reality, it was no longer than an 1/8th mile. It lead us to an old restored mill, something like Grismer Mill, just off a main highway.
We turned around and headed back to the trail along the river. We eventually found what we thought was the foot bridge I spotted earlier. It was an old homemade damn now ravaged from torrent waters past. You could walk out about 3/4s of the way, the rest now completely washed away. We hung out there for a while as we watched a couple guys and their dog pass by. I was willing to drudge onward, but Mindy wanted to turn around. I could tell she was ready to head back. She cited hunger as her main drive. Fine. We turned around and made our way back, only this time finding a more well-traveled trail that wound well above the river with a lot of uphill hiking. We passed some interesting stone structures along the way.
Much to our surprise, the trail brought us out back close to the camp office. Once again, glancing at the trail map we were perplexed. How'd we end up there? We wound our way through the park campgrounds and eventually back to the lot where we parked our Honda. We stopped a few times to check out some huge old trees and a pond loaded with wildlife. Finally back at the Honda we couldn't bear to drive away without first walking back over to the trail head to try and sort out the map. We eventually guessed that we must've been heading west when we thought we were heading east. That would explain why the trails didn't jive.
We left John Bryan state park and headed into Yellow Springs set on finding lunch, and most likely at the tavern. We parked along the main road through town and just a stone's throw from the tavern. Mindy quickly darted off to the pub to pee while I called out for my camera. I wanted a shot of this Socrates poster. I caught up with Mindy in the tavern a few minutes later.
We asked to be seated on the north patio. I ordered a Red Eye IPA. Mindy drank only water. As an appetizer we ordered some of their deep fried green beans. For her entree, Mindy ordered their French dip and a salad. I ordered their Reuben. The food was excellent. The Reuben was absolutely terrific. The Red Eye IPA, just OK. We mulled over that trail map a few times while eating. I declared there an easy way to determine where we actually were with 100% certainty - Google Earth maps once back at home. Mindy paid for lunch.
After leaving the tavern we walked next door to look at the purple bowl Mindy talked about buying. We didn't make the purchase. We decided to walk part of the town's business district we hadn't yet seen. While walking along the shops I spotted what looked like money. It was. I found $6 lying on the sidewalk all folded up. We eventually made our way back to the Honda after winding our way through the downtown neighborhood.
Time to head home. It started raining just as we got into car. The drive home went by quickly. Meanwhile, the sky bounced between sun and rain. As we neared home it looked like they got hit with heavier rain than we experienced. Lots of big puddles. It was just after 5pm when we arrived home.
Frankie was very excited to see us. We walked her out back right away. I was eager to kick up my feet, do some reading, and possibly even take a nap. While I did that, Mindy wandered down to visit the neighbors. I read for about an hour, but couldn't fall asleep, although I might've dosed for a few minutes here and there. I stopped reading around 7pm to get ready to watch NFL Saturday Football - the Browns and Rams. I ended up drinking a couple Jack & Cokes during the game. Mindy watched passively from the kitchen table and her laptop. I shared a bowl of popcorn with Frankie. Mindy headed to bed before me.
I slept in until just before 730am. For some reason I was thinking it was later. Thankfully, I woke feeling good after dreaming/thinking I was hungover. It didn't take me long to get the coffee brewing and my exercises started.
Frankie seemed in no hurry to get out of her pen, so at least for the time being, I left her resting quietly. The sky was overcast and the temperature moderately warm when I finally freed Frankie and took her out. While enjoying coffee, I split time between work and play, with the edge going towards work. There was plenty requiring my attention/intervention.
By 9am I had a firm grasp on work and decided it time to do my run. However, before heading out I did my usual stretch from the family room floor. I ran just three miles knowing that we planned a hike later in the day weather/work permitting. Even though it was quite humid, the run went well.
By the time Mindy was up, I was reengaged in work. It must've been near 10am - about when I expected her to wake. For the next couple of hours I stayed plugged into work. As noon neared things started to loosen. Mindy and I discussed a trip to Yellow Springs. And provided work stayed as it was, it seemed like a go. I checked the radar. There was a relatively thin line of showers moving at us from the Dayton area, but nothing significant lingering behind it. However, the forecast called for a chance of pop up showers through the entire afternoon.
Because she showered last night, Mindy opted to shower after hiking. Me, on the other hand, I needed a shower badly after recently completing my run. Sometime after 12 noon we packed a quick cooler and headed off for our new favorite place to hike, Yellow Springs.
It rained on and off during the entire drive, but never too heavily. The sky, while gray, looked to be brightening to the SW, or the direction I approximated to be near Yellow Springs. This being our third trip out in the last 6 weeks or so, the drive went fast. We pulled into the parking lot of Clifton's Gorge just north of 1pm. The lot contained at least 10 other cars, and that was 10 more than our last trip there with Glenn and the kids.
Mindy & I quickly decided instead of starting off in Clifton's Gorge, and hiking what we've already hiked, we'd drive a bit further out Rt 343 to John Bryan State Park. The park's entrance was only two more miles further up the road. The park's entrance was a winding road similar to that of Alum Creek's campground. We stopped at the camp office to learn where to go to get access to the hiking trails. The young girls working the camp office were kind and gave us a quick briefing on where to go. We grabbed a trail map on our way out the door. We wound our way through a mostly open-campsite park to what I assumed was the far east end parking lot near a stone shelter house with signs pointing to the trails.
Mindy pee'd in one of their open pit toilets before we set out. She came out citing never again. Hmm? They looked ultra modern on the outside. Off we went. We followed what we assumed was the main trail out along the Little Miami river to the right of the plaque marking the trail. The trail quickly shrunk to something much smaller than what we had become accustom to after the last two times out. Not only that, but soon the overcast sky turned into brief showers. Suddenly we were winding along a trail with weeds as tall as us in a steady downpour. We used the thick canopy of trees above as an umbrella, but that only works so well.
Somewhere along the line we assumed we had lost the main trail as we hugged the river's edge. We were on a trail but definitely not one frequented by more than just a scant few. We kept referring to the map but couldn't get our bearings. We (mostly me) asserted that the trail map had to be incorrect. We weren't overly concerned. In the end, all we needed to do was go back the way we came. We eventually spotted what we assumed was a foot bridge crossing the river about 200 yards up ahead. We snarled our way through thick trees and man high weeds until we came upon an old washed out wooden bridge (not the one we spotted along the river) that rested by two trails that were wide enough for vehicles. We followed one of those trails even though they didn't appear to be on our map, and was taking us farther away from the river. We even passed a sign that said, private drive - do not enter. Hmmm? In a State Park? In reality, it was no longer than an 1/8th mile. It lead us to an old restored mill, something like Grismer Mill, just off a main highway.
We turned around and headed back to the trail along the river. We eventually found what we thought was the foot bridge I spotted earlier. It was an old homemade damn now ravaged from torrent waters past. You could walk out about 3/4s of the way, the rest now completely washed away. We hung out there for a while as we watched a couple guys and their dog pass by. I was willing to drudge onward, but Mindy wanted to turn around. I could tell she was ready to head back. She cited hunger as her main drive. Fine. We turned around and made our way back, only this time finding a more well-traveled trail that wound well above the river with a lot of uphill hiking. We passed some interesting stone structures along the way.
Much to our surprise, the trail brought us out back close to the camp office. Once again, glancing at the trail map we were perplexed. How'd we end up there? We wound our way through the park campgrounds and eventually back to the lot where we parked our Honda. We stopped a few times to check out some huge old trees and a pond loaded with wildlife. Finally back at the Honda we couldn't bear to drive away without first walking back over to the trail head to try and sort out the map. We eventually guessed that we must've been heading west when we thought we were heading east. That would explain why the trails didn't jive.
We left John Bryan state park and headed into Yellow Springs set on finding lunch, and most likely at the tavern. We parked along the main road through town and just a stone's throw from the tavern. Mindy quickly darted off to the pub to pee while I called out for my camera. I wanted a shot of this Socrates poster. I caught up with Mindy in the tavern a few minutes later.
We asked to be seated on the north patio. I ordered a Red Eye IPA. Mindy drank only water. As an appetizer we ordered some of their deep fried green beans. For her entree, Mindy ordered their French dip and a salad. I ordered their Reuben. The food was excellent. The Reuben was absolutely terrific. The Red Eye IPA, just OK. We mulled over that trail map a few times while eating. I declared there an easy way to determine where we actually were with 100% certainty - Google Earth maps once back at home. Mindy paid for lunch.
After leaving the tavern we walked next door to look at the purple bowl Mindy talked about buying. We didn't make the purchase. We decided to walk part of the town's business district we hadn't yet seen. While walking along the shops I spotted what looked like money. It was. I found $6 lying on the sidewalk all folded up. We eventually made our way back to the Honda after winding our way through the downtown neighborhood.
Time to head home. It started raining just as we got into car. The drive home went by quickly. Meanwhile, the sky bounced between sun and rain. As we neared home it looked like they got hit with heavier rain than we experienced. Lots of big puddles. It was just after 5pm when we arrived home.
Frankie was very excited to see us. We walked her out back right away. I was eager to kick up my feet, do some reading, and possibly even take a nap. While I did that, Mindy wandered down to visit the neighbors. I read for about an hour, but couldn't fall asleep, although I might've dosed for a few minutes here and there. I stopped reading around 7pm to get ready to watch NFL Saturday Football - the Browns and Rams. I ended up drinking a couple Jack & Cokes during the game. Mindy watched passively from the kitchen table and her laptop. I shared a bowl of popcorn with Frankie. Mindy headed to bed before me.
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