Sunday/Monday/Tuesday

Sunday morning I woke up and went to McDonald's for coffee and to use the restroom. I charged up my phone for a bit and then headed to Walmart. They're in the same plaza. I bought insoles for my shoes, seam sealer for my tent and a book. I love the show Game of Thrones on HBO but obviously cannot watch while I'm on the trail. So, I bought the first book in the series.

I headed back to the tent and began to pack up. As we began walking Brown was limping bad. We made it to the next plaza over before he lay down and gave me a look. I felt like a horrible person for pushing him so hard and seeing him in pain. I decided we would just take the day off and rest. We were in a parking lot for a Tractor Supply store that was under construction. We walked towards the building and sat under the awning. Being the curious George that I am I tried the door and to my amazement it was unlocked. This was our new hangout for the day. I spent the day reading my new book and people watching. The whole time I was thinking about how careless the site manager had been not to lock the doors and put up no trespassing signs. If I had injured myself inside, he would be liable. So I went up to the roof.

It was a dull day but a necessary day of rest. I checked the weather and saw that thunderstorms were headed my way that evening. With tornadoes in Arkansas, I was unsure how severe the weather would be here. I received an offer from a long time family friend whom lives sixty miles west in Milford to come pick me up. I decided with Brown injured and storms on the way we should take some time off.

My mother used to babysit for Judy and Dee when she was a young girl and have always kept in touch.  They now live in Ohio and have let me stay with them for a couple of days. I've felt very pampered and have probably gained back some weight here.

Judy made me two batches of cookies and would often suggest that it was ice cream time. Basically my very own heaven.

Brown's limp is gone and the gash on his pad is practically closed. So we're going to get back on the trail tomorrow after three days of rest. We have a short day planned tomorrow, hopefully Brown will be a trooper.

It's been two months on the trail now. I'm not gonna lie, it's been challenging lately. I've felt more fatigued recently and this rest has felt good.

I also think that I'm going to take the southern route instead of the northern route as originally planned. This has had me studying and calculating my guidebook, maps and the availability of post offices. This is also exhausting.  It took months to plan my original route. The route splits in Cincinnati,  a city less than a week away. So I haven't much time.

Hopefully I get things worked out so I can get back to enjoying the trail.

Thank you readers. Thank you Judy and Dee for opening your home to me.
Sorry for the lack of pictures. I haven't done much but rest the past few days.

Tuesday/Wednesday/Thursday/Friday/Saturday

Tuesday morning didn't rain as it was expected to. I packed up around nine, made myself a cup of coffee and then hit the road at ten. It would be all road walking today. I had planned sixteen miles.

It was humid in the morning and cloudy. In the afternoon the clouds cleared and it became a sunny day.

My favorite thing today: Leaving the town of Wamsley, about a mile out I came upon a house. The property parallels the road with a creek between the two. Walking past at first you see several dogs and I thought, huh they have a lot of dogs. As the dogs began barking it alerts other dogs on the property of a stranger (me). They come out of there homes, from under the porch and everywhere. More and more as I walk further past the property. This had to be a dog sanctuary, there were at least 100 dogs. All different breeds, most muts. I heard their collective bark for a mile past the house. 

I was headed to Ben's Happy Trails Horse Camp. Except it wasn't where my guide book said it was. I decided to walk eight more miles to Shawnee State Park to camp. Four miles later I pass the Horse Camp. Although my feet were sore from my new shoes not being broken in, I push on. Another four and I reach Turkey Creek Lake in Shawnee SP.

Was super hungry so I made two dinners. I calorie counted and I'm only getting 2500/day. I need to eat more. It feels like it's going to be a windy night.

Wednesday morning I woke up to the obnoxious sound that geese make. These things need to fly back home and let spring get under way. As soon as I got out of the tent I regretted it. It was cold with a serious windchill. It took me extra long to pack up. I kept cursing the sun for not rising fast enough. I walked two miles to the main campground, found a good spot and set up again. Fortunately by this time the sun was up and it was warming.

I planned to rest today. I gathered firewood, built a small fire and made a cup of coffee. Around 1:00pm I went to the shower house/laundry room.  I put all my clothes in the washer machine and headed into the shower. The hole in the shower head is about the size of a pencil. A little difficult to shower this way. Fortunately you can adjust the pressure; so I made it like a pressure hose and massaged my neck and shoulders. My towel is in the washing machine, so I drip dry/use the hand dryer. I'm sorta dry. I put my clothes in the dryer and walk over to the camp store. I purchased hot dogs, a can of baked beans and marshmallows. After my clothes finish I head back to camp.

I built up the fire, cooked dinner and made four hot cocoas and ate an entire bag of marshmallows. Tried looking up at the stars to see the meteor shower but could not see any.

Thursday morning I had a half day planned so we got moving a little late. Only walked about eight or nine miles. Found a hollow, set my tent up, built a fire pit and rested. I ate my dinner by the fire and then turned in.

Friday morning I awoke to rain hitting the tent. Thunderstorms forecasted for the day. I waited for a break in the rain and packed up. We hiked up a ridge on trail and across the top of it on Sunny Ridge Road. However, when I got there the rain returned and would continue in varying degrees of strength most of the day. I found my first morel mushroom! Pretty exciting. I descended the ridge on an old unmaintained road.  The road reaches a hollow and becomes maintained again. 

As I came down the road a car was passing and pulled over to me. They asked if I was hiking the Buckeye Trail? I told the couple I was on the ADT. They asked where I was gonna sleep that night? I said I was headed to a camp to pitch my tent. They offered to let me use a hunting cabin on their property, just up the road. Since the ground, myself and my tent is wet I accept. There's pictures of deer on the walls in here like posters in a teenagers room. It's got a kitchen and bunk beds.

Hopefully it doesn't rain tomorrow, I've got to get to Bentonville. I'm out of dog food and human food.

Saturday morning I made coffee in a coffee pot. Packed up my things and locked the cabin door behind me. There are no more trails, it's road walking from here to Cincinnati.

It was a nice warm day, I definitely got a little sun burned. We took two breaks today both at churches. Unlocked churches must have been a West Virginia thing because non in Ohio have been. One home I passed today a kind lady gave me an orange soda, chocolate chip cookies, and a whole bag of dog biscuits. This was awesome because we shared a cliff bar for breakfast that morning.

When we finally reached Bentonville, there were no groceries. I wish my ADT guidebook was more recent than 2008.... I located the next town on my phone. Three and a half miles NE, there is a Walmart and a motel out front. I felt bad making Brown walk further, he's got a huge gash in one of his toe pads and limps when he walks on gravel. I carried his pack and we walked along a highway with no shoulder to Walmart. A twenty two mile day.

As I get closer, I can see the signs, there is every fast food option lined up. I'm starving. I get to the motel, they don't allow pets. I grabbed some food at Long John Silvers and tried to figure out a new plan. I set my tent up behind some semi-trucks parked in the Walmart parking lot. Then I went into Walmart to get dog food and ice cream. I'm hoping I'm OK here tonight/tomorrow morning.

Thank you readers. 

Sunday/Monday

Sunday morning I woke up and walked over to Serpent Mound. It was early and Easter so I had the place to myself. Serpent Mound is exactly as it sounds a mound in the shape of a serpent.

I visited the gift shop and museum. Then headed back to camp. The day was glorious and warm with little to no cloud cover. I lied in the sun for most of the day, eating the remainder of the chips and salsa, pretending I was on the beach. Missing Florida a bit. I headed back to Serpent Mound around four to get fill up my water receptacles. I met a woman walking her dogs and we walked for a bit. She told me how the people in the area gather in the field for a giant drum circle on the solstice. Reminded me of DC. Every Sunday at the park by my apartment there was a drum circle. Had me missing DC a bit too.

I filled up my water, charged up my phone and headed back to camp. I made two packages of mac and cheese, binged and built a small fire. I lied down for a little bit. I must of closed my eyes for a second but I woke up and it was 2:30am.

Monday morning I was able to fall back asleep and woke up again at 8:00am. I started packing up, made some coffee and then headed out. I was headed for Peebles to pick up a resupply box. Once there I was so happy to see my new shoes. I then stopped at the grocery store to pickup some dog food. I looked up a shorter route to Mineral Springs.

My walk today was all road no trail. I was ready to lie down when I got to Mineral Springs. A lake with 300 or so campers. Some live here, some are weekend warriors and some just seasonal. This is the first time I've had to pay to camp on my walk. For a primitive campsite (no electricity or water) it was $25, a little high I think. However, I was tired and just wanted to crash.

The weather has been getting warmer. Tomorrow it's supposed to rain though.

Thank you readers.

Monday/Tuesday/Wednesday/Thursday/Friday/Saturday

Monday morning I woke up and since it was not raining I decided to get moving. I had to travel back to the Buckeye Trail thirty minutes away. The rain came around noon and so we stopped in a picnic pavilion just off the trail for a short break. When the rain lightened we continued on. The trail eventually hits roads then goes through someone's backyard before becoming trail again. You reach the top of the ridge and can see Londonderry at the bottom. I descend and pass through a field then an old campground and out onto a busy road with very little shoulder. The post office is a mile and a half from the trail. I pass a gas station and stop in for some stove fuel, a snickers ice cream and a root beer.

I reached the post office, three packages. Summer clothes and food for Brown and myself. I explained to the post lady that I was hiking and excited to send my winter clothes back. She said that I might want to hold off because snow was on the way. She also mentioned a friend of hers that hosts hikers and offered to call her for me. I said yes, please. Anything to get out of the snow. Five minutes later Connie arrived. The post lady said that I was going to get spoiled and I would soon learn she was right. We took off down the road, Connie explained to me that her brother in law and mother in law were in town visiting but I could sleep in the basement. When we arrived she fixed me a plate of cookies and some tea. Then I took a shower and came upstairs to meet Mike, Connie's husband. Shortly after I met the rest of the family and we sat down to dinner, salad, ham, collard greens, corn and potatoes. All delicious with brownies and ice cream for dessert. 

I slept downstairs in the basement and was very happy to not be outside.

Tuesday morning I woke up to snow. Connie had offered to let me keep my pack at her house, hike for the day and then come back to spend the night again and then be dropped off where I left off. Another hot meal and night indoors! I still had to get through today though. After over easy Amish eggs and toast, Mike dropped me off at the base of hang glide hill.

The snow had stopped but left a blanket over the trees and mountains. It was cold. We headed off on the trail, slowly throughout the day the snow melted. This made the trail very muddy and the rain from the day before made the creeks extra high. My day was challenging and my feet wet. Fortunately I didn't have to cary a heavy pack that day. Brown and I did some trail running. Something we used to do in the National Forest back in DC.

I reached the designated pick up spot and called Mike to come get me. Shortly after he and Connie came and we rode back to the house. Connie prepared dinner, spaghetti and meat sauce and we sat down and enjoyed. After hanging around in the living room for awhile with some good conversation, I retired to the basement.

Wednesday morning I woke up and went upstairs. Connie had just walked Brown for me and was about to fix breakfast, eggs, bacon and toast. After breakfast, I packed up my things, loaded them into the truck and we drove to where I stopped the day before. I said goodbye to Connie and Mike and thanked them for their hospitality.

Back on the trail, which soon puts you onto a road. I would be on country roads all day, passing by homes and farms. My destination: Pike Lake. My guidebook said there would be fishing, camping, kayaking, swimming, etc. So I originally planned a day off here to swim and relax by the lake. After a long walking day I arrived to find the lake has been drained. The temperature drop made it too cold for swimming anyhow. I set up in the campground, gathered plenty of wood and began roasting marshmallows. I had the campground to myself, it was nice and quiet, just the sound of the creek behind me.

Thursday morning, my day off, it was chilly. I sent back mostly all of my winter clothes in Londonderry. I rekindled my fire and stood around it for a bit. After stretching I decided to do some squats, push ups and crunches. I haven't worked out since DC. I've lost twenty pounds. My diet has become worse, less produce and more processed foods. I ordered some dehydrated vegetables online, I'm looking forward to that. Anyway, after the workout I took Brown for a walk but he wasn't all there. He was very lethargic and lied down by the dry lake bed. We rested for a bit and then walked back to the tent. He went in and back to sleep.

While we were gone a bunch of campers had parked down at the campground. One right next to me. I was annoyed at first but when I met the couple, I was happy they were my new neighbors. Vick and his wife, Gloria. Vick was a jovial, happy about life kinda guy, maybe in his sixties maybe and Gloria a sweet, kind woman. They had been together for forty seven years. She gave me all of her old National Geographic magazines from in the camper to look at. Brown came back to life and was happy to meet the new neighbors. They've come here every year at this time for decades because turkey hunting season starts on Monday.

I went up to the camp store and bought a can of corn and Vienna sausages. I mixed them with my stove top stuffing with gravy, raisins and almonds. Sadly I ran out of marshmallows the night before. After dinner, Vick and Gloria invited me over to their fire and we had some good fire side chats before bed.

Friday morning wasn't as cold as the night before but was still chilly. I woke up, rekindled my fire and made a cup of coffee. Vick came out of his camper and invited me over for breakfast. Gloria made eggs, sausage and biscuits with homemade blackberry jelly. Vick was worried about me walking during hunting season so he gave me his orange sweater!

After I packed up my things I said goodbye to Vick and Gloria and thanked them for their kindness. Forecast of seventy, cloudy. We stopped two miles outside of camp and I took my jacket off. So many hills, when does this country flatten out? All day up and down, sometimes there's a switchback so you aren't going straight up. However, it means you're putting in extra miles going back and forth.

At one point the trail emerged from the forest onto a gravel road with a few trailer homes. The first home had cocks in individual cages, probably for fighting. When I past his dog came running from the porch and lunged at Brown. Brown being the boss he is told that dog what's up and it retreated when it's master called for it. The next house I pass, the guys on the porch ask me if I've been mushroom hunting. Morels pop up in these forests this time of year. I told him I couldn't find any. Shortly down the road, I'm again asked if I've found any morels.

Anyway, through the woods again I go. I didn't make it to Cave Lake until 7:30. My guidebook said it was only supposed to be thirteen and a half miles. Either it lied or I was struggling up hills. My guidebook says this is a YMCA campground. Probably not for many years. One side of the lake is for campers; it seems that you can leave them here year round. The other side of the lake is the campground, completely unmaintained. It has potential. Many people in Ohio have campers though. The lake is very pretty, I arrived as the sun was setting and it was a beautiful sunset. There are showers here and a laundry room. Staying with Connie and Mike put me a day ahead of schedule. So I might take tomorrow off to shower and do laundry. It feels weird because I just had a day off.

Saturday morning I woke up early and headed to the shower. The water so hot I didn't want to get out. I have a tiny towel so I put the bright orange fleece hunting sweater on to dry off. I headed back to the tent, packed it up and began hiking. I decided not to take a day off here. I was headed to Serpent Mound an earthworks mound built by the Indians.

Much of the same, forests, hills, switchbacks, creek crossings, gravel roads, farms, etc. We took our lunch break at Fort Hill. An earthworks structure on top of a mountain/hill. After our break we got back on the trail. I passed a house prior to the town of Sinking Spring and a woman came out to talk to me. She gave me a pop and a chocolate Easter bunny. I then walked through Sinking Spring, stopped at the Family Dollar. I bought chips and salsa. I've been craving this for awhile.

I walked for what seemed like forever. Then reached BTA property adjacent Serpent Mound. There is a newly built shelter here, not on my guidebook. I was happy and set up inside. Ate half of the chips and salsa, then went to bed. I'm going to take tomorrow off and hang out at Serpent Mound.

Thank you readers. Sorry for the delay, there was no cell phone reception at the lakes.

Friday/Saturday/Sunday

The rain started around 4:30am. I woke up around eight and around ten decided to go back to bed. When I woke up around noon, the rain had stopped. We headed to the main campground to charge my phone a bit and brush my teeth.

I was heading back to Old Man's Cave to finish the trail where I had left off the day before. I followed the trail for the most part. After awhile I found an old trail blocked off, obviously I explore. Then I followed what I thought was a trail, either way it took me to some beautiful caves and waterfalls. One of them rather hidden, I stripped down and took a shower. Would have felt better in the summer but refreshing none the less.

This area is truly beautiful, I could totally just set up in one of the caves here. I headed back to the trail and followed it around to a huge waterfall. At this point the sun had begun to set, we had been hiking for some time. The trail led us back to Rose Lake, through the main campground and out to the primitive campground. It was late and everything still wet from earlier so I skipped the fire, made dinner and turned in.

It was a great two days of just exploring Hocking Hills State Park. An awesome and beautiful area.

Saturday morning I woke up and began packing my things. I headed up to the main campground to charge my phone and get water. I eventually got moving around noon. I walked down the trail, far more crowded today and made my way past Cedar Falls and into Ash Cave. Just before the cave is a huge fire tower, hella scary up there.

The trail descends into Ash Cave, a massive outcropping with a beautiful cascading waterfall. I left the Ash Cave area and the trail follows a road for a while. I took a rest at Chestnut Grove Church and ate lunch. While resting I spotted a dicarded American Flag. I wrote on it and added it to my pack.

Not long after the road turns to trail, thanks to the BTA it was free of leaves and easy to navigate. This area of the trail is called Pretty Run, forty acres purchased by the Buckeye Trail Association. There's a cabin and campground on the property. As I passed the cabin a few guys from the BTA were outside. They recognized me from the picture posted to the BTA Facebook page from when I stopped at Harrop House. They gave me a cold gatorade and pointed me in the direction of the campground. It was a hot day and that gatorade was so cold and refreshing. Thanks guys.

I made it to the campground, set up my tent and built a fire. Fixed up some dinner and not long after I was sound asleep.

Sunday morning I left the campground around eleven. We saw our first snake on the trail leaving Pretty Run. All black, he just watched us pass. After Pretty Run you come to a section of trail that a very long time ago used to be forest roads. They are not maintained and go no where in particular. They have fallen into such disrepair that the only people using them are people on atvs, four wheel drive lifted trucks/jeeps (I saw a bunch go by the day before) and trail hikers. The creek once adjacent the road has over taken the road and the road itself now a low creek with steep banks on either side. In the areas where the road has not been taken over by creek is so muddy with tire tracks. Up a couple giant hills of this was not fun.

Finally through that I emerge out onto an Amish farm. Side note: the temperature is eighty degrees, I only have a shirt and my short/mid thigh jogging shorts on. Being Sunday, the whole family is hanging out on the property, children playing in the creek. Past a few homes and I enter a trail through Tar Hollow Forest. This trail was a beast, I had a very uphill day. I make it to the fire tower in the State Park, where my guide book says there is camping. Unfortunately, I'm all out of water. I pull up a map and follow the red blazes to Pine Lake. There is a campground there with water. Thirty minutes later I reach the campground and the water is still turned off. I collected seven liters of lake water and purified it. Gathered firewood, set up my tent, ate dinner and toasted marshmallows.

It's going to rain tomorrow, so I'm going to try and find a more direct route to Londonderry to pick up my mail.

Thank you readers.

Thursday

Thursday morning I woke up on the couch surrounded by three dogs. After a cup of coffee we loaded my things into the car. I was happy because the forecast called for a high of 72 clear skys and some wind.

We drove to Rock House, an awesome cliff/cave. I can imagine Indians living here at one time, it was really neat. Afterwards We drove to Hocking Hills SP Old Man Cave area so I could rejoin the Buckeye Trail. In this area the trail is also called Grandma Gatewood trail. She was the first woman at age 67 to hike the Appalachian Trail in one season, she did it again and again, then crossed the country with blue paint, blazing the trail.

I said goodbye to Sean and Amy, stashed my pack in the forest and hiked around the park. Old Man's Cave is named after a man, a recluse who lived in the cave in the 1800s. I would too, this gourge is beautiful. The rock formations are visually stunning and the water rushing through, clear and cool. Brown and I even did some trail running, something we used to do back in DC. We reached Rose Lake and by this time I was starving so I headed back to the primitive campground where my pack was. I set up my tent, changed into shorts and shorts sleeves; it was getting hot. I set up my solar charger and ate lunch. Shortly after I noticed I only had a half liter of water left. I decided to go for a run to the main campground to fill up. On the way we saw a trail that takes you along the edge of the Lake. We ran the length of the lake into the main campground. I didn't realize how much I had missed running. I filled up five liters of water and decided we would walk back.

Back at the campsite I began building a fire. I bought vegan hot dogs and the ingredients for smores at Walmart. I was excited to cook over the fire instead of on my camp stove. I should have got napkins though because beards and melted marshmallows don't mix. Spent the evening feeding my belly and the fire. The wind picked up a bit, it makes the trees talk which is kinda creepy in the dark.

Thank you readers.

"Oh, the blizzard's never seen the desert sands. I will set the tempo low in my commands. Come follow down the highway once trailed by my golden calf. Oh, the blizzard's never seen the desert sands."

Monday/Tuesday/Wednesday

I woke up Monday morning to light rain drops. I hopped up quick and began taking the tent down so I wouldn't be caught in a down pour. We move through the forest headed to Shawnee where I was hoping there was a grocery store since there wasn't one in Murray City. I still needed dog food. Through the forest, a clearing, I passed techumsa (sp) lake and headed into Shawnee.

Sadly, no grocery store there either. However, in town is the Harrop House, an office for the Buckeye Trail. I headed in to say hello.  I was greeted by Andrew, who invited me in and told me to relax, I was happy to. I inquired about the closest place to buy dog food and he told me it was off the trail and out of the way. Not exactly what I wanted to hear. Andrew then offered to go and get dog food for me. Awesome!  I was so happy. While there he also grabbed us lunch and got me an ice cream cone. Trail angel!  After updating my blog and reviewing maps, there was a break in the rain so I decided to head out.

An hour later it downpoured. Like an afternoon thunderstorm in Florida. It reminded me of home. Except I was miles deep into the forest. When it rains, you just have to roll with it. I kept on moving. I reached a campground, while still early in the day, there was a break in the heaviness of the rain, so I decided to set the tent up and stay. This is a campground for horses, the only shelter were several horse stalls. I couldn't bring myself to camp in one so I set up outside the stall. I took my clothes off and hanged them to dry in the tent. With the water evaporating into condensation sticking to the inside of the tent and rain beating down on the outside of the tent, it's impossible to get dry. Imagine showering and the only thing you have to dry off with is a wet towel. I stayed in the tent wasting cell phone battery.

Tuesday morning I waited until ten to get up in hopes the tent would dry off.  No such luck. I packed up my wet tent and hanged everything to dry on the horse stall. Finally we got moving, headed for Lake Logan State Park. A twenty three mile goal through the forest. Almost there I decided to hop off the trail and head into Logan, Ohio for supplies. I was out of breakfasts and snack packs. By the time I got to town, I was beat and decided to go to bed and hit up Walmart in the morning.

Wednesday morning I woke up and headed to Walmart. While shopping a man asked me if I had fallen into a pile of shit? Because I smelt awful.  I kindly said no, I've been hiking for a month. He replied with, you couldn't have taken a shower before you came here today. I said no and continued shopping. I wanted to remind him that while a shower is a simple standard of living in his world, to many it's a luxury. He had a child with him and I didn't want to school an adult at Walmart. I got my groceries and headed to a nearby visitor center to load up my pack.

A few days prior I was contacted by Sean, a local man who is also a hiker. He offered a place to stay, shower and do my laundry. I took him up on that offer. According to the man at Walmart, I needed to. Sean and Amy picked me up at the visitor center next to Lake Logan State Park and gave me a ride back to their place. We had subs for lunch, tacos for dinner and I was able to get that shower I badly needed. We explored his property a bit, there's a really cool cave behind his house, he's got chickens and three adorable pups. Amy had just rescued some baby squirrels, they hadn't even opened their eyes yet!

Anyways I'm crashing on their couch tonight then headed to Hocking Hills State Park in the morning.

Thank you Andrew, Sean and Amy for the kindness you showed me the past few days. Thank you readers for being you.

"This is where you’re passionate of seasons and their strength and this is where you breathe and walk and know they will end. Light is turning slowly to the hand upon your chest
so lay it on the plains where there is time, there is love, there is rest"

Thursday/Friday/Saturday/Sunday


It rained Wednesday evening into Thursday morning.

I woke up Thursday ready for a planned day off at Burr Oak State Park. I had planned two days off here for lakeside fun in the sun. Nope. Thunderstorms forecasted for the next two days.

The rain stopped for a bit, so I decided to make the hike up to the lodge to see if there was a pavilion I could camp under. The trail to the lodge seemed longer than it was due to the up and down, winding terrain. Midway through the rain was back and shortly we became soaked. We kept going though. We made it to the lodge, but since all my gear was wet, the ground was wet, it was still raining and two miles to the next campground,  I decided to get a room to dry off.

I set everything out to dry and headed into the lodge for dinner. Old Nick would be disappointed with new Nick's eating choices. Fried pickles, pulled pork and a baked potato. I miss fruits and vegetables and being able to cook and bake. Anyway, after an abysmal ice cream sundae I retired to my room.

Friday, also a planned day off, I wake up packed up my things. Check out was at ten. The forecast said it would rain all day with a break around one. I headed to the pavilion by the mini-golf course to wait out the rain. At twelve thirty I went into the lodge for lunch. Fried fish sandwich, salad, coleslaw, fries, chocolate cake. By one the rain stopped. I grabbed Brown and we got moving.  We only had two miles to go but I didn't know how long until the rain started again.

The trail follows the lake to boat dock two with primitive camping. As I'm hiking, I can see dark clouds across the lake and know it's coming. I make it to the campground but most of the spots are heavily saturated. I find one that's not too bad and begin setting up the tent. As I'm doing this, wind gusts blow through and lift my tent blowing it through the campground. I chase my tent down, bring it back and try again. Fighting strong winds, I put Brown inside to weigh it down. I located a few heavy rocks and placed them over the stakes so it won't blow away again. Shortly after the wind, came the rain.

Saturday morning the sun came out and lighter wind continued. This dried my tent pretty quick. I'm ahead of schedule so I decide to stay put. Most of the morning I relaxed in the tent and in the afternoon I searched for and collected semi dry firewood. I got a pretty decent fire going and spent the afternoon and evening feeding it.

Sunday morning the sun is up and I'm ready to move. Except the temperature dropped and it's thirty degrees. I eventually pack up and get going. I had a twenty mile goal. I arrived at boat dock one and take thirty minutes to charge my phone. In that time I met two guys hiking around the lake. They said they saw my name in the trail registry. Hopefully they found their way here.

I again make moves. I head through the forest heading towards Tom Jenkins Dam. The view from atop the dam was spectacular. I stopped at the picnic tables and began eating my lunch enjoying the view. Moments later a family pulled up and began setting up for a bbq. The man told me it was for his seven year old daughter's birthday. When I saw the cupcakes I wanted to linger and be an uninvited guest. However, I had a goal to reach before sundown. After the dam the Buckeye Trail leaves Burr Oak State Park and enters Wayne National Forest.

Up, down, around, over creeks, through the forest I go. The trail is still covered in falls leaves but greenery is peeking through. I make my way through the forest until I reach Smoke Rise Ranch. The trail cuts through their property. The entrance was covered by a huge puddle. Brown refused to cross and I had to go back for him. Then we reached an area of trail where horses roam free. One horse came right up to Brown and they were nose to nose add sniffing each other. As we started to walk away three other horses walked over to the trail. We said hello and kept moving.

Shortly after the ranch I came to Murray City. I had hoped to find groceries, but the small grocery store had been closed for some time. I'm out of dog food and breakfasts for me. I won't hit the next town until tomorrow. I sat down on a bench outside of the American Legion building. After noticing people coming in and out, I realized it was a bar. I got Brown a burger and chicken wings for myself. We scarfed them down out front then kept moving. After about four miles we get back to the forest and must cross a creek to get to the trail. The side you must jump across is probably four feet up from the creek and opposite side. Not a difficult jump, slightly more challenging with thirty pounds on your back. I jump across, turn around and Brown again is refusing to jump. I jump back and coax him over. When I jumped back my pants split. Thank goodness it's almost time for shorts.

We reached the area I wanted to camp in and set my tent up just off the trail. It's supposed to start raining around four in the morning. Hopefully we stay dry. However, it's supposed to rain all day tomorrow.

Thank you readers.

OHIO!

Monday/Tuesday/Wednesday

Monday morning I left the beautiful and historic Blennerhasset Hotel and walked over the Parkersburg-Belpre Bridge into Ohio.

I made a pit stop at Krueger, my first time ever in a Krueger. I bought food for the mutt pup and went back outside to portion it out and saddle him down. I stopped in at McDonald's, I got a chicken sandwich and Brown got at double hamburger. Then we make moves through Ohio. Just when you're excited to be out of the Mountain State, the elevation on the trail rises.

We were headed to Veto Lake for lunch. A wilderness area for hunting and fishing. While sitting down at the pavilion eating my tuna packet and orange, the woman whom lives across the street came over to me. She asked me if I was a Discovery Trail hiker? I said I was. She asked if I wanted to camp in her yard? She invited me in for coffee and over a cup on her front porch overlooking the lake we chatted. She told me many hikers have camped in their yard and it I was welcome to. However, I still had many miles to go before I sleep. I thanked her for her hospitality and was on my way.

I reached the relative area in which I wanted to camp. There was nothing suitable, either corn fields or barbed wire fences. I found a small natural gas compression area and scoped it out. Probably not the safest but I camp behind the building anyway.

Tuesday I woke up in the morning to the employee blowing gas off. I began packing up quickly, I had to get out of there. When I was taking my tent down he came over to me. I told him about the walk and apologized for trespassing.  He said he didn't care but I did have to go.  Before I left he stopped me and reached into his lunch box, pulled out twelve Boost power bars and told me to take them. I thanked him and ate two right away.

The day started cloudy but soon the sun was bright in the sky. High of 72. The hottest day we've had on the trail so far. Mostly long farm roads over hills. We took our first break on the side of the road. Brown was hot and wanted a rest,  thirty minutes. I wanted to find a place with more shade for our lunch break. We cross an old covered bridge and the landscape changed. We were walking along a gravel road with a creek alongside us. After a few miles, I lead Brown down to the water and we rested on the bank beneath some leafless trees. I filled my water bottles and took some selfies. An hour later, on we went.

Just outside the town of Chesterhill, I saw my first ever horse and buggy! Three young Amish boys, I waved, they waved back. I got to Chesterhill too late to pick up my mail, it's OK though, I'm a day ahead of schedule. I went into the store in town and bought an ice cream cone, root beer, water and a can of fruit cocktail. I was sitting across the street from the store eating my ice cream, when I met Larry. He exited the store carrying a 12 pack of Pepsi and offered me one. I accepted and we started talking about my walk. I told him, I was looking for a place to camp for the night, so I could get my mail in the morning. He offered his yard. I followed him back and he showed me where I could pitch my tent. I thanked him and got to work building my portahome.

Wednesday morning I woke up to pouring rain. I listened for awhile then went back to sleep. I woke up again when Larry asked me from his porch if I was awake. I said yes. He told me to come in for some coffee. We watched some TV and chatted over coffee. Then he started cooking us breakfast. Eggs, bacon and toast. While the food was cooking he showed me his Bronze Star that he earned in Beirut in 1983. He had just stepped out of the barracks when the bomb went off, he ran back in to try to save the wounded marines. After breakfast I went over to the post office and grabbed my package. While I was sorting my food, Larry offered me a ride to the highway. It would save me 12 miles of walking. I accepted.

I then hopped on the Buckeye Trail, walked through Wayne National Forest and into Burr Oak State Park. Being off the road and back amongst the trees makes me happy. I reached boat dock three which has a camping loop. I set up my tent and try to find dry fire wood. While struggling to get a fire going a man in a pick up rolls up. He saw Brown and wanted to say hi. I told him about my walk and he was happy to hear it. He wants to ride his bicycle across the country one day. He asked me if I needed anything, I told him I was OK and he left. A little while later he came back after having dinner with his wife at the lodge. He said he wanted to give me some money, he gave me all the cash he had on him $16. I thanked him and asked where the closest gas station was because I needed fuel for my camp stove. He offered me a ride there! Good conversation ensued and he bought the fuel for my stove, then we headed back. He was really nice and I was grateful for his help.

Tuesday food craving: frozen Capri Sun, strawberry lemonade, watermelon and a Greek salad with quinoa.

Thank you readers.