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."