Hikin' & Hoppin' in Cuyahoga

The hotel bed was very comfortable, the pillows, however, not so much. They were really small and I’m used to king-sized pillows. I got up around 715am, the noise generator still pulsing out ocean sounds. Nice! I slipped quickly into the bathroom then into my running clothes without disturbing Mindy. There was a door separating the bedroom from the rest of the suite. That was nice also.

Grabbed my door key then let Mindy know that I was heading out for a run. Beyond outdoors, I had no idea where I’d be running. I stopped in the lobby for a quick cup of coffee then popped in the small gym for a brief stretch. Right out of bed, I was still a little stiff. It was gorgeous outside: sunny, clear and in the low 60s.

Opted to run south only because it looked a little safer, more upscale that direction. Ran about a half mile before I happened upon an Akron city limit sign. The run quickly digresses into an older residential area, so being unfamiliar with the territory, I turned around and ran back the other way. Followed that for about a mile until I came upon the curve that lead us into the area the night before. To get my three miles in, I ran back passed the Akron sign again then back to the hotel. Was gone for approximately 30 minutes.

This time I poured two cups of coffee in the lobby. Complimentary breakfast was part of the deal. That was going on just through the door by the coffee. I planned to return with Mindy for breakfast before heading out. Back in the room Mindy was sound asleep. The bedroom was completely dark with the split suite door closed and the curtains drawn. After delivering her coffee I headed into the other room where I used my Kindle to locate nearby metro parks.

I watched some TV, a program called Survivorman, a realiy show about several folks surviving in the wilderness far removed from the rest of society.. Mindy was up around 830am. She showered first. Thinking it was near 9am when we headed for the hotels’ free buffet breakfast. Decent offerings. I had a scrambled egg with ham and cheese and a mini Danish. I didn’t eat that much since we planned to eat lunch at Hoppin’ Frog Tasting room after hiking.

We relied on navigation to guide us to Sand Run Metro Park. And just like getting to Blossom Music center from 271, lots of turns and never on one road for more than a mile or two. We drove through the park before turning around and finding a place ot park and then hike. About halfway through the park there’s what’s referred to as a ford – where a running stream crosses the roadway by design. Only a couple inches deep at the time, but imagine it gets pretty rapid and high during downpours. Neato!

We opted for one of a handful of 1 to 2 miles trails. And the one we took headed initially uphill. We had to stop two or three times to catch our breath. Took a while to adapt to the terrain as well as the psychological benefits of being one with nature- letting go of what ails ya! After cresting, we eventually found our way to an open meadow where we used the decent facilities. Supposing we were about halfway around the looping trail.

Standing out were the flora we don’t see in CMH. Very prolific was this plant that resembles rhubarb. Seems to thrive in shade. Also, on our way to the park and then after we noticed many homes sporting enormous rhododendrons – some as tall 10’ and bursting with color. I told Mindy that they must have naturally occurring acidic soil in the area. You simply don’t see ‘em like that at home.

Our hike was about 90 minutes long, though I didn’t time it that closely. I do know that it was noon when we got back to the car. I asked Mindy if she was up for another trail or lunch. She chose lunch. Sounded good to me. I was very much looking forward to visiting the Hoppin’ Frog tasting room.

And just like our trek from the hotel to the park, the route to Hoppin Frog, while only 9 miles, entailed many turns and many different roads. Took about 25-30 minutes, and routed us through a beautiful neighborhood in Akron passing by the Stan Hywet gardens mansion – a history mansion once owned the original founder of Goodyear Tires and the 6th largest private mansion in the US.. We mistakenly guessed it a golf course as we drove by.

The Hoppin’ Frog Tasting room is located right off rt 224 or what eventually merges into I-76 and it sits in a newer commercial warehouse complex. Looks like they’ve taken over many of the units, too. Initially we thought the navigation steered us wrong, just like when we visited Brew Kettle a couple years prior when it guided us to the brewery, not the brewpub. But no, the Tasting Room was right there by their World HQs.

Interesting, fresh and new but somewhat unassuming. Of course all the tap heads were frog heads, none any different from the next. I joked that I wanted the one from the frog head – there were about 15 options.  Already about ten guests scattered around the bar and nearby tables. Our server was Stephanie. She was on the ball, giving us and overview of the beers as well as their decadent menu offerings. Yum!

I was tempted to try their new triple IPA but opted not for the sake of saving my palette. Instead, I went with their Gangster IPA, which has been out for about a year now but one I haven’t been able to find and try locally. Mindy opted for the BORIS – a Russian imperial stout. The Gangster IPA was an ideal choice and very much like Bodhi – a citrusy, unfiltered hefty IPA – 7.5%. Delicious! What I really appreciated was the fact that all of their pints come served in the 20oz (swollen) pint glasses so to ensure you get a real pint. Sadly, you don’t see that anywhere else. The concept wasn’t lost on me. In fact, it’s something I’ve called out many other brewpubs for – using 16oz glasses but filled with 12-14 oz of beer.

Food-wise, we opted to start with their meat and cheese plate, which is a hot appetizer in Ohio these days. Theirs, however, might be the best one yet. Three kinds of cheese and meats along with homemade mustard and mini toast. Yum! It was all really good. I went in planning to have two beers but after just one real pint I had a buzz and knew better than to order another, especially knowing that a 2+ hour drive home awaited.

They were featuring Greek entrees this given week, and Mindy selected #1, which came with four lamb kabobs which were spectacular. Before we left, we purchased three rockets to-go: a Gangster IPA, Heathen black IPA, and a BORIS. Mindy picked up the check.

Directions home were pretty straight forward – take 224 to 76W to 71S. About 20 miles from Hoppin’ Frog to 71S and then another 110 miles south to home. Gorgeous day – low 80s with low humidity. Mindy dosed off briefly a time or two on the long run south on 71. She asked that I stop at the next rest area so she could pee. Unfortunately, that ended up being about 50 miles later.  All in all, the drive went pretty fast. She celled Jimaken at some point confirming arrangements to get the kids. Jimaken and Jacob were on their way home from a Cincy soccer tournament. Bella, on the other hand, was with Molly at Jimaken’s condo. Jim would be dropping Jacob at home after stopping first for lunch. We in turn, would stop by the condo to pick-up Bella.

Arrived at the condo around 415pm. I waited in the car while Mindy headed inside to get the peanut. By design, Bella brought Jacob’s suitcase out too. I loaded his in the trunk then reached for hers. However, rather than being a cooperator, Bella opted to pull it away sharing that she didn’t want hers in the trunk. Uh, that’s where it’s going. She resisted again, me finally needing to take it. Geesh, kid!

It only got worse. Not five minutes in the car she was talking back to Mindy and putting her feet up on the neck rest of Mindy’s seat. When told she could get a whack for that she matter of factly challenged us. Rather than a whack, I suggested that she earned herself a grounding just that quick. Mindy cited Jacob’s untimely back talk at a similar age. While true, I didn’t want to give any excuses for that kind of behavior. Mindy agreed.

Arrived home near 445pm. We’d barely gotten in the house when Jimaken and Jacob pulled up. Bella was already up in her room and had handed Mindy her screens. Mindy and I sat on the deck for a few taking in the sunshine. I wasn’t out there long, however. I was admittedly tired and cranky. Jacob worked out a deal for Mindy to take he and a host of friends, including a couple girls to the movies. The boys would then be spending the night. One of the boys, Joel, his mom agreed to bring them all home.

Just before she left, Paul Postle, the backflow water meter checker dude stopped by as promised to inspect our backflow meter. Left receipt on the front door. Very fast and efficient.

While Mindy was away shuttling the kids to the mall, I unpacked my overnight bag and cooler, and then unloaded the dishwasher. Also while she was away, I headed out to find/fix the three pop-up spray heads to the irrigation system along the east property line. Last I believe there were only two that wouldn’t pop up. I put on just a pair of running shorts and then my landscaping tennis shoes. In other words, I was prepared to get soaked since the work has to be done with the system running.

With the heads spraying, I first walked off 9 feet, which si the rough distance between each of the heads. I then put my ear to the ground listening for that familiar hissing sound, and then sought out any sight of water building up. Sure enough, I the first within a minute or two. The trick is to free the dirt from the head allowing it to pop-up. I sued my square shovel making sure to dig offline so not to hit and damage the head. I was within 6” and soon it popped up. Lather rinse repeat. Did the same thing for two more, all three in a row. Once I had them all up and free, I ran another test just for that zone. All good!

By the time Mindy was back, Bella was in a far better place and came downstairs to give both of us a hug. That was nice. She can be the sweetest kid in the world at times. We clarified her grounding , too, which we agreed would be a full 24 hours. Puttered around the house and yard for the next hour, me feeling a little nappy. Darwin sent both Mindy and me a text inviting us over for a bonfire. I was just telling Mindy that I hadn’t heard from him in a really long time. Even though we were tired from drinking beer smack dab midafternoon, we agreed to head over and spend some time with he and the family.

We opted to drive and insisted that Bella come along. She couldn’t do anything else so she was actually happy to get to join us. She asked if she could scooter over rather than drive. Why not? I packed a cooler with my two rockets of Hoppin’ Frog as well as what was left of our CBC growler – Hoof Hearted’s South of 11th DIPA. Passed Bella along the way. Waited for her at their door. Mindy was already inside somehow even though the front door was locked. I wasn’t paying attention. Perhaps she went through the garage. I decided to walk around back using the gate.

Darwin and brother-in-law Danny were sitting out by the fire. Jordan joined us out there too. He asked about boating/wake boarding this summer. Says he loves it. Sure, why not? Mindy headed inside looking for Connie while I hung out by the fire with the boys. Right away, Darwin swung over a bottle of Woodford Reserve that was icy cold. In fact, the bottle was covered in thick frost apparently having recently been pulled from the freezer. Was going to decline but opted to give a whirl. Yum! Icy cold bourbon!

Eventually the girls joined us around the fire. The mosquitoes were in rear form despite the dry spell. Darwin was prepared and passed around the OFF. As full darkness set in the mosquito attacks subsided. Mindy sent Jacob a text letting him know where we were. He and his pals eventually joined us, eager to hang out with crazy Lane. Haven’t seen much of Lane since our late March ski trip. And just like Jacob a year ago, appears that Lane’s going through a quick growth and adolescent-maturity spurt.

Talked with b-in-law Danny about old-time westsiders. He has the skinny on all of ‘em. Must’ve been about 1030pm when Mindy got a text from neighbor Pat sharing that he was ding-song ditched by Jacob and company. Mindy figured we needed to head home to save Jacob and friends from themselves. Mindy drove. All of the sudden, I had one heck of a buzz. I’ll chalk it up to the bourbon. At home the kids quickly blamed one of Lane’s friends for the ding-dong ditch, who wasn’t present. Hey, I know that tactic. “It’s not mine. I’m holding it for my friend. 

The boys wanted pizza. Next thing I know I was bamboozled into paying for two extra-large Poppa John’s pizzas. Kiss $40 goodbye just like that. Mindy ordered it for them, and by the time it showed up it was after 11pm. She met the delivery guy at the door. He must’ve gotten just back to his car when I overheard her say wait a minute. Apparently something was amiss with the order. … or something amiss with my wife Turned out, she ordered Jossepi’s pizza instead of Poppa John’s. How in the world???
As she told it, she pulled pizza coupons from the pizza coupon drawer and didn’t even look at the logo, just the Sullivant Ave. address. Well, hey, I like Jossepi’s izza far more than Poppa John’s.

We all enjoyed some pizza, whipping out all of one and then 2/3s of the other before Mindy declared it bedtime. Meanwhile, I brought home a pint glass of the Hoppin’ Frog Gangster IPA from Darwin’s and was looking forward to sucking it down just before bed. However, when I went to grab it (had my pint glass buried in a can coozie), it was empty. Bella later admitted that she accidentally spilled it. Mindy and the boys found it hilarious. I wasn’t too thrilled. 

Off to bed before midnight.