Rafting the Upper Gauley

Rafting the Upper Gauley
The Gauley River- West Virginia
Ace Adventure Resort
October 12, 2013

I've tried over and over to write this blog post but I cannot find the words to describe the experience.  Indescribable really, it all blurs together anyway.  The rapids just kept coming, dropping between jagged boulders and by the time we went over the 14’ waterfall, it really didn’t seem any scarier than anything else we’d done that day.  It is definitely the biggest, baddest water I’ve ever paddled.  Rafting the Upper Gauley is the most thrilling ride I’ve ever been on.  (I may elaborate on this later. :) 

 

A Few Days in Western Ohio

A Few Days in Western Ohio
Toledo, Dayton & Cincinnati, Ohio
September 4-8, 2013

It never fails that if I have some big event going on over the weekend I will surely have a major project to complete for work that week.  And so it was the week before my sister Megan and I were to travel to Dayton and Cincinnati for a Girl’s Weekend.  Luckily, the shift I had for a three-day afterhours project enabled me to enjoy a little of Toledo, Ohio during the day.  I decided to visit a few of Toledo’s free attractions: the Toledo Botanical Garden and the Toledo Museum of Art.  I had a wonderful time at each.  My favorite section of the Botanical Garden was the herb garden with its savory and sweet-smelling plants, interesting water feature and intimate touches like a sundial and ivy-covered arch but each section was gorgeous.  I found couples picnicking, families wandering around the pond, single souls lounging in the shade garden.  I quite enjoyed my afternoon stroll around the property.

The Toledo Museum of Art boasts that it is one of the top museums in the country and I believe it.  As soon as I pulled into the parking lot, I was impressed with the solar panels that provide shade covering for cars, and as it turns out, combined with more solar panels on the roof of the museum, provides enough energy for the museum to be entirely off the power grid!  They allow non-flash photography of their diverse collection and feature a sculpture garden outside and a separate glass museum across the street. This museum is world class, in my opinion.

I arrived home from my business trip to immediately pack up for weekend.  Megan and I were heading to the Dayton area to participate in the Tour de Donut in Arcanum, Ohio.  I’d biked the full 32-mile Tour de Donut with Joanna last year; this year Megan and I completed the 16-mile course.  But, we did not just finish it.  Even though we got there late and started several minutes after everyone else, we rode like the wind and placed very well for a couple of recreational riders with comfort bikes- 13th and 14th out of 120 women in the race, 41st and 42nd overall!  What an exhilarating feeling! 

After the race, Megan and I headed out to the National Museum of the United States Air Force, a free attraction with a whole lot of wow-factor.  I expected to see some planes and hoped to see some helicopters.  I did not think we’d see huge hangers full of thousands of airplanes and other flying devices from time periods ranging from World War I through the Cold War and Space Program.  I could spend days trying to take it all in! 

On Sunday Megan and I headed south to Cincinnati for another much-anticipated event- trapeze class at the Cincinnati Circus Company ($45/person)!  We had a little time to kill before the class so we did a walking tour of Eden Park, striking grounds overlooking the Ohio River.  Then it was time to fly.  Our class ranged from girls about the age of 5 all the way up through a dad who was probably in his early 40s.  We didn’t spend more than a few minutes for quick briefing on safety and some procedures before were lined up to climb the ladder and try our first flight!  Really, climbing the ladder is the scariest part of the whole thing.  Everyone from the main instructor on the ground, to the people up on the platform were encouraging and supportive.  After a simple initial first flight, we were able to try different tricks as we felt comfortable.  Neither Megan nor I got our backflip dismounts but I’m sure we’ll be great at it the next time!  Two of the 9-year-olds were able to achieve transfer catches!  I had a fun time just falling to the net, then forward flipping out of it and onto the ground.  Taking the trapeze class with the Cincinnati Circus Company was the highlight of the entire weekend! 

What a crazy week!  Everything from strolling through tranquil gardens and taking in fine art to competing in a cycling race/donut-eating contest and dangling from trapeze while floating through the air- a crazy week full of amazing experiences!

Update:  In 2014, I spent several months on another project in Toledo and was able to spend even more time exploring the Art Museum, Botanical Garden and many of the area Metroparks. One of my favorite attractions was the Toledo Zoo which had the Penguin Beach Exhibit. Everyone knows I LOVE penguins!

A Few Words about Rootwire

A Few Words About Rootwire
Logan, Ohio
August 2-4, 2013

Rootwire Music & Arts Festival had the potential to be an amazing gathering with beautiful, peaceful people interested in a feeling of community and togetherness.  Unfortunately, there was an unsavory element that invaded the space and ruined the experience for many festival goers- the police presence that made a mission of petty busts of hippies with small amounts of marijuana and paraphernalia.  I’m all for a safe festival environment- one free of heavy drugs.  But the majority of the violations issued that day were related to a natural-grown, unprocessed plant found to have numerous medicinal properties which is legal in some states.  I understand that, like it or not, marijuana use is currently illegal in Ohio but this is a time in which that tide is turning and I am willing to stand up and say that it is time to reform the marijuana laws in this country.  My experience at Rootwire only made me more focused on what I can do as an individual to make that happen. 

Still, the festival itself pulsated with a sense of creativity and livelihood.  Everywhere I turned I saw an art installation or a group meditating or a couple dancing in a world all their own.  The lineup of bands was pretty awesome!   I connected with everyone in my festie phamily in attendance and made some unique new friends.  I shared a closeness that was tantalizing and exhilarating and raw.  I’ve learned that if I want to live a life full of experiences, they all won’t be good ones.  The bittersweet truth is that some of the best experiences we have in life are intertwined with some of the worst but those make us stronger and bring us closer.

Be There Festival

Be There Festival
Warsaw, Ohio
August 2-4, 2013

Sometimes the vibe is just right!  That’s exactly how I feel about the Be There Festival.  From the moment I picked up my friend and we started our journey through picturesque Amish Country landscapes toward the small family farm where Be There was held, everything had a rose-tinted quality.  Rolling fields dotted with hand-bailed mounds of hay, stately barns adorned with weathervanes, Amish children riding bikes- we pointed out and squealed over scene after scene.

When we arrived we were warmly greeted and I could just feel it- the vibe.  As my friend and I were setting up camp, he motioned to our neighbor and said ‘I think I know that guy.’  Within 5 minutes of arriving we’d met the first of the people we superbly enjoyed our wild weekend with.

There’s this big hill on one side of the property and as we eyed it up we became determined to climb it.  Just a few minutes later we were conversing about philosophy at the peak of the steep incline looking out over the farm and the festival below.  Yeah, I get that by now I sound pretty nostalgic about all this but I’ll just say it- what an enchanted place the top of that hill was!

The night went on and we enjoyed the lineup of bands and just wandering around the property.  By now more friends had arrived and although this was one of the smaller fests I went to this year, it was just so welcoming.  The intimate atmosphere encouraged everyone to engage.  Even though it was steadily raining, we all remained at the stage or one of the community fires enjoying the good company.

All my siblings arrived the next day to enjoy our favorite band, The Stagecoach Robbery, play an afternoon set.  I walked back to camp and asked all my new friends to come up and check out this awesome band.  They obliged and found themselves jamming out to Stagecoach's funky grooves minutes later. 

We gathered a large group and climbed the big hill again that night.  We felt like we were higher than the tops of the fireworks they set off below.  That hill has a contemplative quality and we sat and talked about everything.  Through the darkness we witnessed shooting star after shooting star draw across the sky. 

I was blown away by a late night set of the band Arpetrio, an electronic band out of Knoxville, Tennessee.  They were my new-band discovery of the weekend!  I spent hours around the fire with my sister and brother and probably about 75 other people just enjoying each other’s company.  Throughout the evening everyone I spoke with said the same thing I was thinking- that they experienced a special closeness with their fellow festival-goer at this gathering.  The best festivals are those in which lasting friendships are developed and nurtured.  That’s what makes the vibe just right!

A Few Words About GratefulFest

A Few Words about GratefulFest
Nelson Ledges Quarry Park- Garrettsville, Ohio
July 5-7, 2013

Remember when I went to The Gathering at Chaffee last year and took a total of 3 pictures, two of which are fairly random?  Well, the same thing happened at Grateful Fest this year.  I was having such a beautiful time at the festival with a wonderful network of pham and friend that I neglected to take any pics at all, save a few with my phone of George Clinton & the Parliament Funkadelic.  BUT, I had an enchanted weekend that was more than I could have ever imagined.  I swam in the quarry, danced in the rain, watched, felt and was nearly maimed by fireworks, got caught up by and lost in every moment. 

Top 3 BEST Fests of My Entire Life

·         Jerry Fest- Spread Eagle Campground, Port Clinton, Ohio in the late 90s or maybe 2000:  A fest with ALL my siblings.  We set up our camp backstage and had one of the most bonding experiences ever.  Hands down one of the very BEST times I have ever had with my siblings!

·        The first fest I went to at Bear Creek with my brother in the mid-90s: We sat on the hill laughing hysterically and cheered The Nomads into playing ‘one more song’ at least three times!

·         Grateful Fest 2013 

Weekend in Hocking Hills- FoamFest and Other Festivities

Weekend in Hocking Hills- Foam Fest and Other Festivities
Hocking Hills Region, Ohio
June 28-30, 2013

Who wouldn’t want to run a 5k mud run with giant inflatable obstacles filled with foam? My sisters Joanna and Megan and I were excited for our latest 5k based on this ridiculous premise to just get a little muddy, maybe bloody and definitely crazy for the morning.  We rented a cabin, grabbed some friends and planned a whole weekend around it.

We all met up at Megan & Neil’s on Friday afternoon.  Jo and I took her Jeep and Meg, Neil, Red and Holly rode down separately.  Joanna and I decided to take scenic byways the whole way down and actually used a road atlas with the route highlighted by green dots rather than GPS our way.  We had a great time.  We passed through charming little towns, stopped at cute shops and even saw a waterfall on our way.  It was worth every minute to get off the highway and follow back roads to our destination.

When everyone arrived we settled into the Hemlock Log Cabin, our usual place when we visit Hocking Hills and then headed out to explore a little.  We hiked all around Old Man’s Cave area, following Grandma Gatewood’s Trail, past the Devil’s Bathtub to the Upper Falls and the Gorge Overlook Trail crossing the A-frame Bridge and headed down to Old Man’s Cave.  Although it was a rainy day, it was still comfortable and beautiful, especially when beams of sunlight would peek through the clouds and trees.  After spending some time in that area, the group split up- most of the gang went to Cedar Falls and Ash Cave while Joanna and I went back to finish up dinner.  After dinner we spent time in the hot tub and sitting around the fire.

Holly decided to come to Foam Fest with us and watch, acting as our own personal professional photographer while Neil and Red headed down to Hocking College to play some disc golf.  The Foam Fest 5k took place in Kaeppner’s Woods, the same location of our very first Warrior Dash so Jo and I had some concept of what was in store- a course with a lot of hills!  We all took water guns and I had a lot of fun shooting random participants I deemed worthy- like someone with an inflatable doll as part of their costume or the photo bomber right behind us. 

As we lined up we heard the MC warning us ‘Do NOT inhale the foam!’  Okay- easier said than done.  We lined up, got ready and were off running through a big pile of foam covering the starting line. We got to the first inflatable obstacle, a bouncie house filled with foam- I ended up rolling backwards out of a pit of froth and fizz.  We continued around the course climbing over walls, up cargo nets, through mud pits, across inner tubes floating in water occasionally encountering an inflatable like a giant slip-n-slide filled with foam.  One of the most anticipated inflatable obstacles was the 50-foot SuperSlide.  Alas, by the time we got to there it had sustained damage and we could not ride it.  Huge bummer- the SuperSlide is why I paid to do this race!  Still, we had a fun time and watching us convinced Holly that she would like to do a mud run sometime soon!

After lunch, Jo, Meg, Neil and I headed to Hocking Hills Canopy Tours while Red and Holly went hiking and hung around the cabin.  As we pulled into the park, it started to lightning and all the tours were put on hold for a while but things got under way again as soon as the weather passed.  I had already done the traditional tour and opted to just do the SuperZip while they did the full tour.  I just have to say that the Super Zip rocks!  After you don the harness, you have the option of climbing the tower by way of many flights of steps or by hanging rope bridges.  I chose the bridges and I am glad I did- it was really a spectacular experience making my way though the canopy, stopping to look down and around, climbing higher and higher into the trees and up the tower.  At the top they ask if you’d prefer to ride in a sitting position or flying like Superman.  I almost always pick Superman!  When they release you, you fly approximately a quarter mile at speeds up to 50mph through the woods and over a river- it really is a breathtaking experience and one that I wanted to do over and over.  Luckily they said I could pay $10 for each ride after the 3/$55 deal I had paid for and that’s just what I did.  When I met back up with the group we all rode the SuperZip together- while they enjoyed the traditional tour they said the SuperZip was the highlight of the trip!

The driver of one of the all-terrain vehicles that transported us around the complex gave me directions to the liquor store so after dinner that night, Red, Holly and I made an alcohol run, trying to beat the clock and get there before 9:pm.  We arrived at 8:59 and found out they were open until 10:00- wahooo!  We filled up on Crown and Tequila and headed back to the cabin to relax for the night.  We spent a little time playing pool, sat in the hot tub as a group, went on a late night hike and wrapped up the evening around a blazing fire.   

The next day I went on an early morning walk, taking pictures of the area, chickens on a farm down the road and flowers growing in either shoulder.  Before we left Jo and I did one more skid around the circular driveway, a pastime that’s absurdly unnecessary and fun, then made our way back toward home.  It was a full weekend and every minute of it was a total blast! 

Ohio Day Trip- Tiffin Music & Arts Festival

Ohio Day Trip- Tiffin Music & Arts Festival
Tiffin, Ohio
June 8, 2013

When my friend Steven moved across the state last fall, I lost my go-to guy to do whatever.  Steven was always up to hike, bike, paddle, see a band or partake in some sort of cultural event.  Plus, anytime we do something our plans always go a little off course.  I mean, we once went hiking and ended up singing French furtrapper songs and eating pea soup while paddling a giant canoe.  But anyway, Megan and I decided to visit Steven in his new home of Tiffin, Ohio and thought the perfect time to do so would be the weekend of the Tiffin Music & Art Festival.

Megan and I loaded up our bikes and headed out on Saturday morning.  It was a nice drive out to Tiffin taking State Route 224 West the whole way.  We met up with Steven at his apartment, toured his place, then followed him to the trailhead of the North Coast Inland Bike Path.  We biked about twenty miles along a flat, paved, easy trail through country side and small communities between Norwalk and Bellevue, Ohio. 

We were pretty hungry after our ride so Steven suggested we try a little bakery he frequented, Phat Cakes & Café (46 Clay Street, Tiffin, Ohio), for lunch.  We chose items from a menu that lists paninis, wraps and salads, all of which sounded just delectable.  When I asked about getting two glasses of wine, they suggested I purchase the whole bottle for just a few dollars more so Steven, Megan and I ended up enjoying a bottle of sparking Moscato with our lunch which made it all the more delightful.  Before leaving we all chose some sweet baked treats from the case of gourmet cupcakes and cookies to take home with us.

In the short time I was in Tiffin I noticed how important artistic endeavors and cultural activities are to the people of that community.  Murals were painted on many of the downtown buildings.  Small artscapes and interesting sculptures were placed around the city.  Steven said they have a morning yoga class in the town square.  Tiffin is obviously a thriving college town.

After lunch we headed to the Tiffin Music & Arts Festival, arriving in the early afternoon.  We all walked around viewing the arts and craft booths, talking to the Ohio Music Scene and Norml representatives and checking out a lot of local music.  Along the way we met many of the day and evening’s performers, the organizer of the event and a lot of really interesting and fun people to chat with.  Megan and I decided to lay on a blanket in the grass and take a nap under the shade of a tree in the park for a bit, then got up to enjoy some dinner from one of the local food trucks.  My dinner of mexidog, loaded nachos in a bag and a lime-a-rita was spot on!  We watched bands into the evening.  As night fell, the firedancers started doing their thing.  We were fairly exhausted when we pulled away during the last set of the night.  Spending the day with Steven was a total blast because it was a mix of all the things we love to do together and I can’t wait to visit again.

Fires, Festivities and Final Warnings- Memorial Day Weekend 2013

Fires, Festivities and Final Warnings- Memorial Day Weekend 2013
Mohican Country
May 24-26, 2013

So, I met a group of people on Facebook with similar interests, activities and taste in music- we became fast friends!  When it was mentioned that they’d planned an entire weekend of camping out, drinking heavily and floating down the Mohican River, I was in! 

On Friday, Di and I loaded up the Vue with what looked like just about everything we owned and headed toward Mohican Country, near Loudonville, Ohio.  It was an easy drive and we pulled into the Mohican Reservation Campground in the early evening and set up camp.  Joanna and Troy arrived a little while later and we all settled into our spot, made a fire and ate some hot dogs.

We met up with the gang who had the sweetest campsite ever- right on the river- and the party was on!  I’d made a batch of Peach Pie Liqueur to share with the group.  I brought a bottle of tequila for myself.  Di had several bottles of wine.  There were pudding shots and other party treats.  We all settled back by the river to enjoy libations, a roaring campfire and homegrown music. 

Okay, so this group knows how to party and party we did!  So much so that campground security visited the site several times to tell us to pipe it down, stop playing the didgeridoo and hand drums, quit being so unruly.  Most of those times it was good natured with them saying ‘We want you all to have fun- we just can’t have you screaming ’99 Bottles of Beer on the Wall’ at 2:30 am- it is waaayyy past quiet time!’  We did however party ourselves into a final warning and they did seem pretty serious about it. 

It should not go without saying that it was damn cold that weekend- like lows in the 30s cold!  Damn, it was cold!  It was superhard to sleep in a tent what with all the coldness!  But, persevere we did.  We’re tough. 

We chilled for a great amount of Saturday, then decided to rent a raft and paddle an easy 9 miles down the Mohican, which runs through very scenic Ohio countryside.  A lot of other people were out on the river even though it was on the chilly side.  We floated past other campgrounds and waved at the people sitting along the banks of the river.  At one point, we ran into some of the gang kayaking along.  But, the highlight of this paddling adventure was when we ran aground in a shallow part of the river; Jo and I got out to wade our way off the sandbar.  Troy and Di stayed in the raft which quickly floated away from Joanna leaving her stranded in the middle of the river and plowing me right down.  That’s right- I was run over by a river raft!  

Later that afternoon we were busted yet again by campground security- this time for venturing into ‘Authorized Personnel Only’ territory in an attempt to find a secluded spot to chill for a bit.  Same story:  they wanted us to have fun but we could not be climbing, sitting on or otherwise anywhere near the giant pile of wood they have hidden behind the fence.  That’s cool!  We just headed back to the river spot and chilled with everyone back there for the rest of the night.  This evening we kept our shenanigans down to a dull roar and were only approached once, maybe twice by campground security. 

On Sunday morning we awoke, broke down camp and packed up- we were headed for a Loobypham fave- the Utica Old Fashioned Ice Cream Festival in Utica, Ohio.   We usually drive right through Mohican Country on our way to the annual event so our location was very convenient and we enjoyed a quick country drive and were soon at the festival. 

Not one to miss a shopportunity, I quickly made my way to the vender tent I’d seen before even pulling into the parking lot- the tent selling hippie dresses!  LOVE me some hippie dresses!  We made our way around the rest of the festival, checking out classic cars, watching a helicopter arrive, cheering for the toddler tractor-pulling, enjoying huge scoops of ice cream and looking at every tie-dyed hippied out piece of clothing I could get my hands on.  I walked out of there with not one but two hippie dresses.  Di and I enjoyed a leisurely drive back home to rest and recover from our crazy Memorial Day weekend.

Tribal Connection Arts & Music Festival

Tribal Connection Arts & Music Festival
Zane Shawnee Caverns- Bellefontaine, Ohio
May 17-19, 2013

Last year’s Tribal Connection Arts & Music Festival was the kickoff to an amazing summer and I was excited to spend the entire weekend at this year’s event with my phamily and friends.  Just about every single person that I know that enjoys local music festivals was there to enjoy a fantastic lineup of bands of varying genres and installations from local artists.

By Friday evening a large group congregated in Camp Spot #63, the very last spot in the entire Southwind Campground at Zane Shawnee Caverns in Bellefontaine, Ohio.  I was in festie mode for the entire weekend, which basically consists of me forgetting about my phone, having no concept of time, dancing around a lot and drinking.  So that’s my excuse for having no idea about the band that I most enjoyed on Friday night- all I can say is that they did a rocking Rage Against the Machine cover that whipped the crowd into a frenzy.

The entire group decided to descend into the caverns for a little Saturday mid-afternoon adventure ($11 per person).  I am typically a little iffy about tunnels, caves and other confined spaces but I really enjoyed exploring the caverns as the guide gave us tidbits of information about rock formations, bottomless pits and missing divers. 

 

Saturday night was one great band after another including Tropidelic, Jones for Revival and Jimkata.  I was thrilled to run into John, the guitar player from my favorite band the Stagecoach Robbery and find out he was playing a set with Broccoli Samurai, which rocked.  Sassafraz, a band from Athens, Ohio, blew me away.  I was transfixed by the fire dancers.  I chilled for a spell in the Dream Machine.  It was a crazy fun night of dancing and wandering around. 

Tribal weekend was indeed one of connections.  I spent time with my core phamily group, some good people, met people I’d only known through Facebook and made some new friends along the way.  Enchanted moments were shared.  A chill vibe of peace reverberated through the event and attendees.  Tribal again was an excellent kickoff to what is bound to be a fantastic summer!