Sister Trip- Warrior Dash and Other AdventuresGambier, Utica, Logan and Athens, Ohio
June 4-6, 2011
Someone recently asked me how I got into doing activities like the Warrior Dash. The truth is, I really don’t know. I’ve always enjoyed outdoor recreation but I’d never felt the need to compete in organized events. However, as soon as I heard about a mud run/obstacle course race known as the Warrior Dash I knew I had to give it a try. My sister Joanna was also up for the challenge and we decided to make a weekend out of it. Similar to last year’s Sister Trip with Jo to Indiana, we utilized Hotels.com Reward Nights, restaurant gift cards and visited free attractions to get the most bang for our buck.
We packed up Jo’s Jeep Wrangler, our favorite mode of transportation for active weekend excursions. Jo and I planned a leisurely drive making a few stops along the way. Meg and Neil came along for the day trip in another vehicle. As we drove west on US Route 30, we decided on our first stop, a family favorite- Shisler’s Cheese House. We shopped the small store for snacks and treats like pumpkin cookies, sesame sticks and, of course, cheese.
We’d decided to take a roundabout way to enjoy the scenery and small villages along the rural route which winds through farm land and Amish Country. We were sure we’d find a restaurant along the way and had a feeling when we pulled into the small town of Nashville, Ohio, that there’d be a good place to grab some lunch. The Buckeye Deli was that place. We chose a booth by the front window, ordered some garlic bread and shared a bacon pizza in the local hang-out. Back by the bathrooms pictures hang of men, women and children proudly displaying the bucks they bagged that year. Local sports memorabilia covers the walls. The Buckeye Deli is a comfortable place with a fun personality and pizza that hits the spot.
Our next stop was an attraction that we’d been meaning to visit for quite some time. I first learned of Schnormeier Gardens years ago while researching a biking trip to the area. 
Schnormeier Gardens in Gambier, Ohio is a privately owned residence with 50 acres of spectacular gardens featuring unique sculptures, Oriental structures, waterfalls, stone walls and wooded paths surrounding a Frank Lloyd Wright inspired home. 
The grounds open to the public once a year so that visitors can enjoy the extraordinary estate. It really is an amazing place. There are no distinct pathways- they encourage roaming the property so that each individual experience is unique. A stunning view is found around every corner. Sculptures are hidden in little nooks, waiting to be discovered. The terrain is hilly, stone paths are uneven, some areas may be slippery. Don’t make the same mistake I made- ditch your cute sandals and put on some shoes that won’t cause blisters. You want to be able to meander around freely to make the most of this dramatic setting.
Another family favorite, Velvet Ice Cream in Utica, Ohio, was next on the agenda. We’ve been to the Utica Ice Cream Festival many times but had never eaten in their ice cream parlor. We all indulged in their specialty, ice cream made onsite in an assortment of flavors. Joanna went for a double dip of her favorite Black Raspberry Fudge Cordial and Butter Pecan & Cashew. Megan had Wild Blueberry Pie and Neil tried Caramel Crunch. Although I usually get one of their traditional flavors, Buckeye Classic, I decided to go for a seasonal variety- Peanut Butter Overload. We were all pleased with our choices. After finishing up a delicious mid-afternoon snack we split up, Neil and Megan toward home and Joanna and I heading to the Hocking Hills region.
Hocking Hills is a wonderful place to enjoy outdoor recreation. Miles of hiking trails, repelling areas, ATV courses, zip line tours, canoeing, horseback riding and many other activities make it a marvelous spot for adventurers. Instead of staying in a cabin like we usually do, we booked a room at the Baymont Inn in Athens, Ohio. As always our only requirements are a pool and hot tub- after a long day of physical activity, it is nice to unwind in an aquatic setting. We met a few other Warrior Dash participants while relaxing in the whirlpool that night. They had completed the race on the first day of the competition and filled us in on the course, offered encouragement and made us feel a bit more prepared for what was ahead the next day.
The next morning we rose early and prepared for the Warrior Dash, donning our matching outfits and psyching ourselves up for the challenge ahead. After a breakfast of bagels, cereal and fruit we headed to Kaeppner Woods in Logan, Ohio. Our excitement grew as we pulled into the parking lot with hundreds of other Dash contestants and made our way to the race location. We had the perfect amount of time to sign in, get our packets, t-shirt and warrior helmet, put on our Warrior Dash eye patches, take a few pictures, go to gear check and get to the starting line. Although we were fairly far away, we could still feel the heat of the pyrotechnic flames as the beginning of the race was signaled.
From there Joanna and I had the time of our lives climbing huge hills, sliding down muddy ravines, scaling walls, wading through water and jumping over fire. Although each obstacle presented its own challenge, they were all enjoyable to complete. Joanna and I had decided before the race that we were just going to relax, stick together and enjoy the race at an easy pace instead of going all out for a great time. In the end, I’m glad that we were able to complete the race as a team. Some of my best memories of the day include high-fiving after completing the most difficult obstacles, jumping over the fire together and running over the finish line with our arms up in victory.
Even though we were sprayed down with a fire hose after the race, we were still pretty muddy and just wanted to get back to the hotel room to clean up. We turned down our complimentary turkey legs, left our shoes in the huge piles of discarded footwear to be donated to charity and made our way back to the parking lot and out of town. As we passed other racers on the street we’d wave and cheer to each other. The ride back to the hotel was filled with excited discussion of the adventure we’d just completed. 
After getting cleaned up we set out to have
some lunch enjoy the rest of our afternoon.
The Olde Dutch Restaurant was the right place to refuel after our big
morning. We walked past the lunch buffet
as we were being seated and Jo immediately declared that was what she’d be
having. I decided on the soup and salad
bar. We were both well-fed for a very
reasonable price.
Joanna and I have both been to Hocking Hills
many times but neither of us had ever been to Conkle’s Hollow, one of the most
impressive features of the Hocking Hills region. Towering cliffs with vast overlook points
display views of birds soaring above the lush foliage of a deep gorge and a
recently renovated path to accommodate visitors of all abilities winds through
the rock formations on the valley floor.
Jo and I spent the afternoon exploring the area. We chose to do the rim trail first, climbing
to the cliffs above, circling and hiking down into the gorge, following the
gorge path all the way to the end to take in the striking views of a steam
cascading over the rock formation.
Joanna and I were craving Mexican food for dinner
and went out in search. We drove down a
main commercial street surveying the restaurant options as we went. We drove farther and farther down the road,
passing restaurants on the right and left but none of them were Mexican. Just as we were about to turn around we saw
Casa Lopez- qué suerte! Unfortunately,
we did not learn until after we were seated that this Mexican restaurant does
not serve alcohol- no margaritas for us.
While we enjoyed our dinners, it just wasn’t the same. We wound down our evening by taking one last dip in the hot tub before dropping into bed and almost instantly falling asleep. After breakfast the next morning, we packed up and headed home. I had two bruised knees and a smashed finger. Joanna had lots of bug bites and some minor scrapes. We both left with the goal to compete in the Warrior Dash being held in
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