Hers – Brandywine Falls, Cuyahoga Valley National Park

Another weekend, another waterfall! We decided to head to Brandywine Falls for yesterday’s hike. It’s near a ski resort and part of the Cuyahoga Valley National Park. Part of the National Park Service, CVNP is the only national park in Ohio. It essentially stretches from Cleveland to Akron covering nearly 33,000 acres.

Casey and I have explored much of the southern part of the park last summer. Brandywine Falls sits at the northern edge of the park, so I was excited to explore a new area with him. When we got out of the car, Casey seemed a little confused that Brandywine Falls actually meant there was a waterfall. I wasn’t quite sure what else he was expecting, but I assured him there was indeed a massive waterfall.

We walked along an ice-covered boardwalk down to a viewing area. A lower viewing deck was closed due to the weather, but we still got a really good look. We made our way back to the main parking area, checked out a trail map and decided to head out on the Stanford Trail – a 1.7-mile trail that leads to the Towpath. (For those of you not from Northeast Ohio, the towpath is a multi-use trail that runs for 85 miles along the Ohio Erie Canal.)

Within a few yards of starting on the trail, we encountered the highlight of the entire hike. I mean, sure the waterfall was beautiful and nature is great, but does any of that compare to a pudgy pygmy goat?! Of course not.

Henry (I have no idea if that’s his name, but it felt right) was enjoying a little snack in his pen at the Brandywine Falls Inn, and it was love at first sight. Casey was able to coax him over, and I got in a quick pet before he realized we didn’t have any food and walked away. But I wasn’t mad. He was the greatest little goat you ever did see, and I was a happy camper.

I should’ve known my euphoria wouldn’t last. The trail took us into some dense woods and down into a valley. The sun disappeared and my ankles became unpleasantly cold (short yoga pants mixed with ankle socks was not a good decision on my part). And then came the mud. At first it was fun to muck through it. Then it became a bit of a chore to try to walk around it. And finally it became a total pain in the ass. It stuck to the bottom of my shoes causing me to lose any bit of traction. Mind you, this was while we were climbing back up the valley and then back down and up again (as we turned around on the trail to head back the way we came). This was not a flat trail in which I wouldn’t have minded a little mud. This was a pretty hilly course, and I could use any traction and lack of exertion I could get.

So, I did what I typically do when I get frustrated. I sped up. I booked it up the last hill and got to the top with my hamstrings on fire, my lungs burning and Casey panting along beside me. I was rewarded with a concrete trail and snow that let me (kind of) wipe off my shoes. It was a reminder that this is about the time when the things that I used to find endearing about winter start to become a nuisance. February may the the shortest month for most, but for those of us in the Midwest, it’s the longest. Snowfall that once seemed peaceful and quiet is now an unwelcome disruption. Hibernation that once came from shorter days is now adding up to extra pounds. And hiking in the cold that once seemed feasible now seems more like a chore.

But then I try to remember that spring will be here soon, and these hikes give me a sense of accomplishment and an opportunity to explore new areas and see all kinds of things…like goats.

His – Lanterman’s Mill – 01/28/2017

What a day! Winter decided to show up again and attacked us in waves yesterday. Even though the day was a bit brisk at 30 degrees, we decided to take our show on the road and headed an hour east to Youngstown. We visited Lanterman’s Mill, located at 1001 Canfield Road, Youngstown, OH 44511.  It’s always difficult for me to be in that section of Ohio. It brings out that particular brand of football fans that I’ve come to despise… Ohio born Pittsburgh fans. As we travelled the roads it became more and more prevalent. You would see houses with flags, cars with stickers, and people adorning that gaudy logo. I swallowed my pride and carried on so we could share our hiking experiences with Tara’s brother Todd and his girlfriend Stacy.

We drove to their house, jumped in their vehicle, and were off to the park. I was a bit worn out and frustrated after a blowout loss in my basketball league, so hitting the trail was a great way to ease my mind. I will tell you, hands down; this is one of the best parks in Ohio I’ve been to yet. We walked two or three stretches of trails that winded amongst gorges and a river. We gazed upon waterfalls of different shapes and sizes. There were sheer rock walls, thoroughly carved with initials and names, and we found the same markings on a few trees.  I even poked my head in a cave or two. I of course had imaginative stories of homeless people making their dwellings in this pocket of nature. We were constantly challenged by the ever changing terrain; there was seldom a flat section to be found on either the East Gorge or West Gorge Trail.

My ankles have been a bit tender from rolling them in my basketball league. As we walked, what was our greatest aid for footing on the muddy trail also became combative to me – a very entangled and exposed root system in the forest. It definitely slowed Tara and my usual pace. You had to be sure of where you were placing your next step. Even though I tweaked my ankle a couple dozen times on the walk, it was worth it.

 

We walked for at least a couple of hours, covering around 4 or 4.5 miles. There were a few others out there, including a chocolate colored dog, which didn’t appear to have an owner. I instantly tried to adopt him, even though he was a hundred feet above us on a different trail. I coaxed him partially down the hill only to have my adoption attempts foiled when his owner started yelling for him.

One thing that’s becoming a growing trend for our hikes is my hunger. Todd, Tara’s brother, had promised pizza at the end of our expedition.  About halfway through the idea of consuming that pizza consumed my thoughts. Luckily, Tara and I had planned ahead and packed some snacks. The only thing missing on our walk was more wildlife.  It was good to have some additional company on this hike. Todd and Stacy filled silences with laughter and observations. It’s always good to see them. As we made our way back to the car, we were pleasantly surprised by the sight of my chocolate colored dog friend. He greeted us with big tail wags and a few sniffs. His owner was still lagging behind the energetic pup.

After our journey ended, I was rewarded with a Greek style pizza from the Sunrise Inn. We destroyed some appetizers because the pizza takes around a half hour to make, but the deep dish was well worth all the traveling. On the way home we found pocket after pocket of snow, but made it back in reasonable timing. It was a long day and a fun day. I can’t wait to check the park out in the summer time!

Overall ratings for Lanterman’s Mill: 4 out of 5 – Gorgeous views, challenging terrain, and great company. One of my favorite hikes to date. If you have an opportunity to visit this park, GO!

Accessibility: 2 out of 5 – This was a haul from Cleveland. We spent around an hour and a half in the car, but worth every minute.

Terrain: 4.5 out of 5 – Twists, turns, roots, rocks, elevation changes, and a mix of mud! Really fun!

Cleanliness: 4 out of 5 – Clean water and clean trails.

Trail designation: 3.5 out of 5 – Not a ton of signage but the trails were blazed well enough that you know where you were going.

Bathroom availability: 0 out of 5 – Todd will attest – they are closed for the winter!

His – Rocky River Reservation – 01/21/2017

John Muir once wrote, “In every walk with nature one receives far more than he seeks.” That’s how I’ve been feeling about our walks together lately. Since starting this endeavor, I really look forward to being in the woods every week. I find solace in the simple activity of putting one foot in front of the other. I enjoy being amongst the wildlife and others who enjoy being outside as well. It’s a weird sort of community. It’s rare to be in the wilderness and run across someone disgruntled and unwilling to share a smile and a “good morning.”

We went to Rocky River Reservation, a park we’ve already visited in the past, but decided to hit a new section that I had never been to: The Forth Hill Loop Trail. With the break in winter we have had this weekend, it had people out in droves. There wasn’t parking to found, dozens of cars filled the lots, people of all sorts were out enjoying the anomaly of almost 60-degree weather and sunshine in the middle of January. Tara had warned me before going to this particular section that we’d be walking up stairs (pictured below). She forgot to leave out that it would be hundreds of feet in elevation change and there was no Rocky theme song playing to help motivate you as you ascended them.

After huffing and puffing like a chain-smoker for 5 minutes and clasping onto the railing as if I were going to fall off the face of the Earth, I was able to take in a spectacular view. The river was raging due to the snow thaw and rain we’ve received in the past several days. After gathering my dignity and the feeling back in my legs, we struck out on one of the muddiest paths I’ve been on in quite some time. It reminded me of the Tough Mudder I did with a few friends a few years back. It was the kind of muck that you’d want to tape your shoes on to your legs so you wouldn’t lose them. Since I was wearing my new blue running shoes that Tara got me for Christmas, I tried to be mindful and pick my way through the soggy trail.

As we walked, we found a weird mound. Tara said to me, “Oh, that looks fun!” I’m not sure she had even finished the sentence before I took off down the steep hillside to scale the secondary mound. It’s one thing I’ve noticed about us… our hiking styles are very reflective of our personalities. She’s a bit more mindful and planned, I’m a little like a bull in a china shop.

As we continued on, we came across a large herd of deer. Five or six does grazing their way down the hillside, seemingly oblivious to the human population around them. We stopped for a while, snapped a few pictures and finished the loop.

The path was pretty consistently muddy, but the terrain was ever changing. We went through swampy areas, densely wooded areas, saw some open meadows, and landed back in the asphalt jungle that grants access to the small piece of nature.

All in all, we did around 2.5 or 3 miles, and it was worth every step.

Overall ratings for the Rocky River Reservation: 4 out of 5: I really enjoyed this section of Rocky River. The sun was shining, the weather was warm, and the only downside about this trail loop, other than a sweet, sweet burn in your legs and ass muscles is the lack of trail markings.

Accessibility: 4 out of 5 – You can get to this park via I-80 or I-480, super easy to find!

Terrain: 4.5 out of 5 – those damn stairs got me good. Muddy trails, plenty of elevation changes, and the little twists and turns made this a very fun and challenging hike.

Cleanliness: 4 out of 5 – For all the people out, I thought it would have been worse, but the trail was very well kept.

Trail designation: 1 out of 5 – There were very little markings on this particular section. At points Tara and I were left guessing as to whether we were going the right way. I don’t mind getting a little lost from time to time, but if you’re in a time crunch – be aware that you might not find your way out in a timely manner. The trails were very well beaten, but the number of offshoots could keep you out there for hours.

Bathroom availability: 4 out of 5 – Smack dab in the middle of the park, at the beginning of the trail, there was a Nature Reserve center.

Hers – Rocky River Reservation

This weekend we’ve been blessed with something almost unheard of in Cleveland. Something so spectacular that everyone is talking about it. Something miraculous. That something is called sunshine. Warm weather and sun tend not to exist here for about four months, so when they randomly appear, you better take full advantage.

The weather phenomenon clearly put everyone in the same mindset. Casey and I – and half of Cleveland – decided to head out to Rocky River Reservation for a morning hike. Parking was painful, but we were lucky enough to snag a decent spot. Most everyone else was left to just park it on the side of the road.

I’ve frequented Rocky River quite often – it’s where I train for half marathons because it has a fantastic paved multi-use trail that spans 13.6 miles across the entire park. This morning, however, we checked out a different part of the reservation and headed to the Fort Hill Stairs. There is something demented about the thrill I get from climbing stairs. It’s always a challenge. No matter how in shape I think I am or how much I work out, stairs always humble me…and I love them. (I know. I told you – demented!)

The crowds of people at the bottom of the stairs thinned out the higher we climbed. After catching our breath for a minute, we were able to take in the sights from the top. Is there anything more satisfying than an amazing view as a reward for climbing? I think not, and I think this photo is proof.

At the top we decided to take to the trails. These were unpaved trails, which were incredibly muddy thanks to the snow melt and endless rainy days we’ve had (seriously – we like never see the sun). Part of me imagined diving into the mud, rolling around in it and throwing it at Casey. Sometimes I hate my self-controlled, because that would’ve made for a fun blog post and even more fun photos. Sorry to disappoint, but I merely squished along.

I would love to tell you about the trails we walked along, their names, distances and some of their history, but they were hardly marked. We decided to just go with it and figure it out as we went. Essentially everything loops back to the main Nature Center, so it’s a pretty safe bet to just throw the map out the window.

Most of the trails wound their way through some dense forest, and we even got to check out a gang (gaggle, throng, pack, herd?) of deer down in a valley for a bit. Then we meandered around a creek and back to the Nature Center. Along one of the trails, we found this amazing treasure that someone randomly placed.

It perfectly sums up what I love about being in nature. See, this morning I was torn between going downtown for the Women’s March or heading out on our hike. (Chill out. This isn’t going to get political.) I chose nature. There’s something about going into the woods, away from civilization and getting back to the very basics of putting one foot in front of the other. It’s simple. It’s calming. Nature doesn’t judge you. It doesn’t care how much you weigh or what color your skin is or who you voted for. Everyone is on an equal playing field on the trail.

His – Bradley Woods Reservation – 01/15/2017

It’s my belief that hiking with someone and being in love are very similar. It’s a unique feeling. You have moments where you need to work together, times in which you will take the lead or follow, and instances where you are blazing your own path. Ultimately, you need that other person beside you to accomplish more, to push one another, and most importantly – have fun! It takes work, persistence, and an open mind to explore with a significant other; both in the wilderness and in a relationship. Tara and I managed to do all of these things yesterday.

Bradley Woods Reservation is located at 4101 Fulton Pkwy, Cleveland, OH 44145. With a high of 34 degrees, we were a bit bundled up. Bradley Woods is definitely a stand alone in the Metro Parks system. It was thoroughly enjoyable, but eerie at the same time. The trees were dense – even though most of the trees were bare. The trails seemed like tunnels at points in our walk. We passed pillars, demolished buildings, rusted remains of a car (pictured below) and abandoned – half completed – shelters. My imagination, as usual, ran wild with speculations of homeless beer drinkers and escaped inmates on the loose. Tara quickly grounded me and suggested that kids were most likely being kids.

The thing that surprised me the most was lack of wildlife in these woods. Dense timber or not – there were very few sounds to be heard. That was until we were met by the raciest of love triangles… 3 geese who were quarreling as they descended to the frozen pond.  As we walked three individual trails, there were different highlights to each. The Quarry Loop trail was ever changing terrain. We would be in the woods one minute, a meadow the next, and then walking through the remains of a sandstone quarry – it was rugged and TRICKY (inside joke here).  The Bunns Lake loop was a simple crushed gravel path around a lake (who’d have thunk it?) that made a series of interesting noises when you tossed objects onto it. (Originally, the first stone cast was to test the thickness of the ice, as Tara was sarcastically egging me on to walk out on it.) Finally, the Pin Oak Loop was rather unimaginative, almost an out and back rectangle. On this trail we did find humor in a very precarious tree (pictured below).

This trip was memorable for me, as Tara and I discussed a ton of different topics. Some more intimate, some silly, but most importantly we talked about LUNCH. I was eating everything in sight yesterday and boy oh boy do I get excited when Tara cooks for me. She down plays it, but she can chef up some tasty and nutritious meals. (Side note: You’d be a bit hungry as well if you played an hour straight of basketball immediately followed by a 2.5 mile trek.)

After running across a ton of friendly walkers we headed on a different adventure… the jungle of traffic lights in North Olmsted, followed by Walmart.  Neither of us are a fan of this store, and this trip totally redeemed that thought. We stood in line, only to be told they were closing one of the three lanes that were open for the 75 patrons. We chose a different line and watched an exotic dancer pay for her $64.00 worth of merchandise in ones. This was capped off by painfully watching the cashier clumsily count the stack of shame and glitter.

The conclusion I drew from our adventure: I’d risk the wild over Walmart any day, especially if it means getting a little further down the path of our relationship.

Overall ratings for the Bradley Woods Reservation: 4 out of 5 – Friendly people, different types of trails that were clearly marked, and a little room to lose yourself made this an enjoyable time. It’s originality in the Metro Parks system made it memorable.

Accessibility: 4 out of 5 – You can get to this park via I-80 or I-480, super easy to find!

Terrain: 3.5 out of 5 – Lots of twists and turns on the Quarry Loop trail. Both the Bunns Lake Loop and the Pin Oak Loop were unimaginative. Definitely take the Quarry Loop trail if given the option.

Cleanliness: 2 out of 5 – This was the one thing I noticed about the park – lots and lots of cheap beer cans spread throughout the Quarry Loop trail. A bit discouraging that people discard their trash like that.

Trail designation: 4 out of 5 – Marked well enough with colorful trail indicators, but not in an annoying way.

Bathroom availability: 4 out of 5 – Smack dab in the middle of the park, your standard hole in the ground.

Hers – Bradley Woods Reservation

This may disappoint some of you, but there were no angry car rides or trips to the hood this weekend. There was just some good, ol’ fashioned walking in the woods with nice people and stupid jokes. It was like old times!

Bradley Woods was refreshing. Not just for Casey and I to get back to somewhat normal after a week of illness, but also just to be outdoors with other people who are happy to be outside too.

After a week cooped up with the flu, I was anxious to get out. So excited that I started the day with a chilly 3-miles run before Casey and I headed out to the woods. The reservation is located just 25 minutes from downtown Cleveland on the west side of town. It’s a quiet area, and much of the traffic noise disappeared once we made our way through the park to the main parking area. There’s a massive picnic shelter, some bathrooms, picnic tables and open fields.

We checked out the trail map and decided to do the Quarry Loop Trail (2 miles) and the Burns Lake Loop (.6 miles). The trails were some of the best marked in any metropark that I’ve been to. And yet, we both felt that we didn’t do the full Quarry Loop…or maybe we just walk a lot faster than we think! Either way, that trail was unpaved through the woods and led to some really cool, random concrete structures that became our playground for a bit. We later learned these are remnants from a 1920s sandstone quarry.

The loop took us back to the main picnic/parking area, so we decided to hit the Burns Lake Loop. It was paved and less wooded, traversing around the central lake, which was mostly frozen over. Casey took it upon himself to throw any possible object he could get his hands on (sticks, rocks) onto the frozen lake because it made a fun noise. While we were walking, three geese kept flying overhead and honking loudly. So we naturally started narrating their conversation. My interpretation went a little something like this:
Head goose: You mother***ers! I told you we’d be late. I told you we should’ve left early, but no, you two wanted to wait two more weeks and now look?! We’re stuck in the cold with a freaking frozen lake.

Casey’s interpretation was something about a love triangle or a dad with his wife and teenage daughter. Anyways, it was fun to be goofy while walking around the lake and there are plenty of benches to sit and take it all in.

Nature is funny sometimes. Like the Pine Oak Loop trail that we decided to tackle next. It’s less of a loop and more of a rectangle. It took us back through the woods, but literally had us turn 90 degree angles until we made our way back out.

Overall, it was good to get into the woods on some easy trails. The easily marked trails and overall ease of the landscape meant that we could turn our attention to laughing. And I’m glad we got in the laughing when we did, because we followed up our awesome hike with a less-than-stellar trip to wal-mart (my absolute least favorite store in the world where dreams go to die) in which we waited in line for 20 minutes while the chick in front of us paid for her $64 purchase in dollar bills and the cashier counted at about the pace of molasses in the middle of, well, January. We should’ve just stayed in the woods.

Hers – Garfield Park Reservation

In the complete opposite fashion of last week’s entry, I’m going to start this blog by stating some facts. It’s January. We’re in Northeast Ohio. It’s cold. Like really cold. But windchill be damned, we were going hiking today…and hike we did.

We chose Garfield Park Reservation. It’s part of the Cleveland Metroparks system and home to the largest waterfall in Cuyahoga County – Mill Creek Falls. We had never visited before and chose it because of it’s proximity to us (just about 25 minutes away).

Before we headed out for our hike, we put on some layers. And by “some” I mean lots and lots of layers. My breakdown included three pairs of socks, two pairs of leggings, a tank top, two long sleeve shirts, a hoodie, an insulated windbreaker, two pairs of gloves, two hats and a scarf. I was ready for the artic tundra that is Cleveland.

We made the drive (not in silence this time, but rather jamming out to some throwback Neyo and Usher) toward downtown Cleveland. Because here’s the thing about Garfield Park – it’s fairly close to downtown. And how do I put this nicely? I love Cleveland and am so damn proud of everything this city has accomplished in the past few years. But there’s still work to do, and this park is located in an area where there is plenty of work to be done.

That said, we pulled into a parking lot after driving through the park a bit, and I got a little nervous about a blue car parked in the back corner, engine running and driver just sitting there with no other cars around. So we drove back down to the main entrance and parked by the welcome center/ranger station.

Say what you will about the part of town this park is in and a few of the park visitors, this area is really pretty. Directly across the road from the center is a gorgeous stone bridge (circa the 1930s New Deal Era park projects) overlooking some minor waterfalls and draped overhead with fallen trees layered with fresh snow. It was beautiful…and cold, so we got moving.

There are two trails choices – a paved, multi-use trail or a non-paved scenic one. Guess which we chose? My boots were made for going off road, so we ditched the concrete. The path was in really good shape and follows along the stream for a bit. Along the way there were two steep stone staircases that led up a hill to connect to the multi-use trail. We skipped the steps and continued along the path until we came to a bridge that let us cross the stream and climb up the hill on the opposite side. Atop the hill was a recreation area with some picnic tables and basketball courts. It also was the edge of the park, which then led into a residential area. We looped around went back down the other side of the hill.

When we got back to where we started, we decided it’d be best for our frozen extremities to drive to the waterfall (about 3 miles down the multi-use trail). What should’ve been a four-minute drive to the falls turned into a tour around the hood, and while I was ready to call it a day, Casey was determined to find the waterfall. If you never knew to look for it, you’d definitely miss it. It’s down a side road that angles into a random parking lot and the directional signage to get there isn’t the best. We got out of the car – laughing at ourselves and our random adventures – and headed down to the falls. It was mostly frozen (shocker!), but really scenic. There’s a set of stairs that takes you down about two flights, and that’s the closest you can get to the falls.

We stood long enough to snap a couple photos and watch a critter catch a fish and take it back to his home. Then it was time to head home and thaw out.

I think the aspect that stuck out the most to me today was just how much wildlife we saw in the middle of the city. We were greeted at the park by four deer. We walked the path following in the tracks of some rabbits, and then watched a woodpecker overhead find his spot. At the falls, we saw the little critter (we’re still trying to figure out what he was (otter, lynx, muskrat?) scurry up the rocks. It was proof of the power of nature. We as humans can construct buildings and build roads, but nature is always present. And thank goodness for that because it sure is pretty. And I think one of the best things about the outdoors is that it doesn’t matter what part of town you live in or where you’re from, it’s always there, ready for you to appreciate it.

His – Bedford Reservation

If you open a thesaurus and look up “hike” you’ll find the synonyms: walk, trek, tramp, tromp, trudge, slog, and march. It sounds tedious and laborious. I don’t know that I fully agree. Hiking can be an outlet, an escape, an adventure. For me, it’s mostly for the opportunity to clear my head. This year’s adventure started somewhere new for the both of us; The Bedford Reservation – located at 14505 Button Rd, Walton Hills, OH 44146.

When we got up this morning, I needed to clear my head in more ways than one. I admittedly had a little too much fun at my friend’s New Years Eve party. However, when you make a promise you have to keep it, hungover or not. I always like to take in the scenery as we drive to different trails. Being a 30 something now, I’m beginning to acquire a taste in houses and property. Tara and I often like to gaze at different types of homes and comment on their curb appeal. As we passed through Independence, Valley View, and Walton Hills we saw some great houses. The area is very heavily wooded and there seems to be a strong affinity for horseback riding.

It was around a high of 40 degrees today, so there was a little nip in the air. I reluctantly brought 3 layers to bundle up in and certainly am glad I did. As we got going the ground was still frozen over from where the sun hadn’t quite reached yet. The cold seemed to radiate from the ground, cutting through every stitch of clothing I had on. The trail was a mixture of gravel, dirt, and slippery patches of ice and snow. Tara had gotten me a new pair of neon blue running shoes (Salomon Sonic Pro’s – pictured below) and I couldn’t have been happier to break them in.

I was really happy to see the terrain was a little difficult on this trail. I enjoy being in any park, but there’s something magical about getting off the paved pathways that are starting to become commonplace on the trails we visit. Along side of the short 0.8 mile Hemlock Loop Trail was Tinker’s creek. This creek held some really scenic views. There were sheer cliffs, a few waterfalls, and a bunch of fallen trees. I really enjoyed the landscape there. I also took notice of how peaceful it was. There were very few hikers out this morning, but it was more than that. There weren’t the sounds of speeding vehicles or bustling neighborhoods, it was just the flow of the creek, crashing over rocks and timber, and crunching of our footsteps as we walked hand in hand.

Now I wanted to do something unique and fun for our blog, something that could be visible in every entry. I decided that I would do a headstand and have Tara take a picture. Well… here are the results:

Coming into 2017 HOT!!! So, long story short – I’ll be brainstorming on something else to do in every post.

Even though my day was a little upside down, I’d definitely want to go back here to explore more of the reservation. It’s views and tranquility are enough to draw me right back in.

Overall ratings for the Bedford Reservation: 4 out of 5 – The park is very unique compared to all of the other Cleveland Metroparks. It’s probably my second favorite so far.

Accessibility: 3 out of 5 – A little off the beaten path to get to the reservation, but worth all of the 35mph speed limits.

Terrain: 4 out of 5 – There were enough ups and downs to get my blood flowing and get me a little winded at times.

Cleanliness: 5 out of 5 – The creek was cool and clean. There were plenty of well kept picnic areas as well.

Trail designation: 3.5 out of 5 – The path was pretty well beaten, there were not a lot of markers or any mileage indicators on this particular loop.

Bathroom availability: 4 out of 5 – They had your standard run of the mill modernized outhouse. Concrete floors, cinderblock walls.

Hers – Bedford Reservation

I’m not sure if I’ve ever needed to take a walk more than this morning. While I want this blog to focus on the hikes, parks and scenery, I’d be doing a disservice to you and to myself if I didn’t include the emotions that go along with each walk. I promise not to get too emotional in here – this is after all a blog about hiking and not about relationships, but sometimes they go hand in hand.

My new year didn’t go exactly as planned, and I woke up tired and angry. Casey and I weren’t at our best and we were slow to get moving. In my mind the last thing I wanted to do was worry about this blog, but in my heart I knew it would be exactly what I needed. The 25-minute drive down to Bedford Reservation was mostly in silence, but I could feel myself start to calm down as we left the suburbs for rural communities.

We pulled into the park and my emotions instantly took over. I knew on this walk, I’d have to face the issues currently between Casey and I. It was sunny and in the upper 30s – a rare blessing in January in Northeast Ohio – and I simply wanted to be in a better mood to enjoy it instead of in tears.

After collecting myself for a few minutes, we made our way out to the trail map and picked the .80 mile Hemlock Loop to tackle as we were on a bit of a time crunch.  The trail was unpaved but traveled on enough that it was extremely easy to follow. It was a very easy walk with not much incline and the absolute best part was that it travelled along the Tinker Creek.

I’m not quite sure who named the Tinker Creek, but I think they need a lesson in bodies of water. When I hear creek, I envision a little stream of water barely noticeable. This was much more like a river with a number of small waterfalls and even a few rapids. It was really a fantastic river to walk along.

The sun was out in full force and quite a bit of snow was melted, but the trail remained slippery in some spots. As we kept along the path, I could feel myself slowly starting to thaw as well. It brought to mind a song “Take a Walk” by Passion Pit. It’s essentially about a guy that keeps being dealt some bad hands and his answer is to it all is to simply take a walk. Had I not gotten out this morning, I would’ve continued the same feelings I woke up with. I’m a firm believer in the healing powers of movement and fresh air. I started to loosen up, look up and appreciate what was around me.

We made our way quickly back to the main entrance and walked a bit more around the “creek” and picnic areas (there are plenty). I checked out the bathroom because I have a bladder the size of a peanut (basic hole in the ground with a seat on top, but clean and actually smelled good). Then we had to head back unfortunately all too soon. I know I could’ve spent much longer here and our plan is to return to some other, longer trails.

While I realize that this post may not be providing the best overview of the Bedford Reservation, I do hope it helps make a connection between the outdoors and our general well-being.