Monday, June 15, 2009

Hocking Hills Weekend

This past weekend we took Friday off and headed for Hocking Hills for camping and trail riding. We had two more firsts this weekend. It was Jonathan's first time camping and my first time on an ATV trail ride but the first time that we had done both together.
We stayed in a Kamper cabin at the Hocking Hills KOA campground (ok, so maybe it's semi-camping, next time we will use our tent). The campground was great and the view was amazing. It's tucked away in the hills and woods of Hocking Hills. Although it was very scary trying to get up the hill to the campground with our trailer. The scary hill climb was definitely worth it. The facilities were fun and clean and the people that ran the place were great. Husband and wife team Kurt, Lori and there son Tyler ran the place along with a small staff. Kurt was very helpful and provided us lots of information to get us ready for our trail ride.

On Saturday, we hooked up the trailer and headed to Wayne National Forest for our first trail ride. After talking to several people and being advised that we should not go to the Door Run Trail head since it was our first time out, we decided to go to the New Staightsville trail head. New Straightsville trail head was supposedly the easiest trail in the woods, which sounded great to me. For those that know me, you know that I am a complete wuss when it comes to things like this. Needless to say, I was pretty nervous leading up to this day. I felt noxious right before we left.
We headed out on the trail and I was immediately shocked by what I saw and nearly demanded to turn around and go back. I was obviously unaware of what to expect on these trails. EASIEST TRAIL....... MY FOOT!!!!!! If this trail was easy, I'd hate to see the difficult ones!! The trail was a pretty short trail but seemed to take forever. With all of the steep hills (up and down), the purposely manipulated bumps in the road and the constant fear that you are going to fall over the edge, my hands were numb from hanging on so tight. There were other women riding there own ATV's. If I had my own ATV, I don't think I would have gone on the trail. But with Jonathan driving, there wasn't much time to think about it.
It had also rained quite a bit the week before we got there, which meant there was plenty of mud. The actual mud didn't bother me, it was the mud on the steep hills that made things slippery that scared me. You had to be on the gas just right to make it up these hills to keep from spinning the tires and sliding.
After about a half an hour on the trail, we made it back to the trail head. I had just enough time to gather my wits and calm down, then we headed back to the trail again. I have to say, I was much more relaxed and honestly had a good time, the second time out on the trail. I won't say that I am ready for anything more difficult then what we did, but I think I am interested in finding more places to ride. I think we might have gotten a bit over our heads going to Wayne National Forest as beginners and I think that needs to be noted somewhere on there brochures- NOT FOR BEGINNERS!!
We think we found a good place in eastern Ohio to try next. Hopefully they are more suited for our (my) level.
Check out our pics below of our fun weekend.
AHHHHH this is relaxation!!
The mesmerizing view both nights.
This is the view from our camp sight.

This is the first fire we lit when we got there. The fire was hardly burning yet when Jonathan couldn't wait and tore open the marshmallows. Notice the marshmallow is grey and isn't even burned yet from the fire starter we had to use. He didn't care and ate it anyways.



This is the view that the campground is known for. Absolutely beautiful!


I just caught Jonathan with a mouthful of his morning Cheerios buy the fire. (had to make a morning fire to heat our coffee water)



The view while on the trail. I wish I could have bottled the fresh pine air and brought it home with me.



I couldn't pass this picture up. Yes, we are actually smiling.


Other then the birds and bugs, this is the only sign of life we saw while on the trail. Not quite sure what it is but it nearly didn't make this picture when it jumped out in front of Jonathan on trail.

The post ride picture. The perty little Polaris isn't so perty anymore!! It actually didn't look half as bad as some of the other guys coming out of the woods.









Sunday, June 7, 2009

What is this a picture of ??

Two people that really need a vacation!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!