Miles 76 through 80 HURRAY!!!!!

Naturally, for my last walk I had to go out with a bang.  Trouble is, the bang I came out with was not the one I had planned.  This walk was supposed to be adventurous, challenging and beautiful.  Instead I learned that I am quite the noob when it comes to hiking these types of trails, my sister-in-law Erin is more gracious and patient than she realizes, there really are guardian angels watching out for us, there really are heroes, and I really should have worn socks yesterday.

Today's plan was to walk another trail in the Allegheny National Forest referred to as Hemlock Run Trail.  It is part of the North Country Trail system.  In the midst of a very jam-packed day, I was really committed to this hike, and when I should have probably scratched it for something a little less ambitious, I stubbornly hung on to the plan since it was my last day to walk.

My hiking partner, Erin, preferred to walk in the afternoon, so after having already been to Curves and out to lunch with my mom and sister, we met at 1:00 to head out to the Allegheny Forest.  It took quite a while to get to where we needed to go, and we immediately started to get nervous because we had to be at a Baby Shower Dinner at the Olive Garden at 6 p.m.  In the hiking book that I had been looking at, it said the hike would take four hours, so we knew we were pushing it.  We had already driven a long way, however, and my Dad had even accompanied us so we could leave my car waiting at the end of the hike.  We decided that the 4 hours listed in the book presumed hikers that were taking their time, and if we were hoofin' it, we could make it.  So onward we went.

I didn't take any pictures because we were just going so fast.  Anyway, the pictures would have looked a lot like the other hike I took with Heather; it's the same region and the same scenery.

Our hike was going along very nicely, and we were pleased with our pace.  We kept engaged in great conversations.  After a time, the hike came to a dirt road, and here's where everything went haywire.

According to the book I was looking at, the hike was to cross the road and then we were to look for a sign on the right for the trail to resume on the other side of the road.  We never saw a sign.  We walked and walked and after quite a long time realized that something was wrong; we had somehow missed the sign.  As I'm looking at maps now on the Internet (such as the one below), the trail should have resumed really soon after crossing the road, but we didn't have those maps with us.

We looked at the map in the book and guessed where we were in relation to that map.  We thought if we could shift east, we could find the trail again.  We kept striving to shift east.  All this time, we were on dirt roads.  Some of the dirt roads were very well-traveled and some were not.  All of the roads were dotted with oil wells such as the one in this picture.

All this time, I am really struggling to walk normally.  My blister from walking sockless yesterday was really bothering me, despite the fact that I had worn band-aids and double socks today.  I wanted so much to be done walking, and Erin was getting very tired, too.  Of course, we were also getting nervous about getting back in time for the dinner.  Naturally, we were also without cell service.

After an untold amount of time and God only knows how many miles, we were passed by 4 guys on 4-wheelers.  I assumed that that were out for recreation.  We waved and nodded and kept trudging on.  We hadn't yet given up on finding the trail.  We kept walking.  And walking.  

A while later, one of the guys on the wheelers came back.  By this time, we had already decided that if we saw someone, we would ask where we could resume the trail.  Miraculously, neither of us were freaking out yet, we just knew we needed to start doing something different.  We waved the guy down, and he stopped.  We found out that he and the other guys all worked for the oil company that maintains all of those little wells.  As of 3:30, he was off the clock, and he decided he needed to come check on us because when he had seen us earlier, he had a strong suspicion we were lost hikers.  

We showed him our book, and he seemed perplexed.  There were not nearly as many little roads indicated on the map we had (and were basing our efforts on finding the trail on) as there were in actuality.  Some of the little roads were not even 6 months old, he said.  The worst news?  Whereever we were was MILES off from where we should have been.  

This map (especially if you click on it) shows where we were dropped off, where the car was waiting, where we screwed up at, and where we ended up L-O-S-T.

We were totally sunk and deflated.  There was no way we could double back, complete that trail and still make it to the dinner.  With my foot in its condition, there was no way I would have wanted to try anyway.  Thank God, the oil worker offered to take us back to the shed where they kept their wheelers parked.  He said he would then take us in his truck to where my car was parked. 

Now, I know what they say about taking rides from strangers, but this guy was such a God-send, truly.  He was very nice in allowing us a ride on his wheeler, one damsel in distress sitting on each side of the rack on the back of the wheeler.  Riding on the wheeler was glorious.  When we got to the shed, I asked him if I could take his picture, and he agreed.  He also told us his name, but I'll only refer to him here as Mr. Guardian Angel.  He even told us the name of the company that he worked for, so that all set us at ease.

After he parked his wheeler, removed his coverall and locked up the shed, he drove us in his truck to where my car was.  We made light conversation where he told us where he was from and we mentioned where we were from and than we now lived in Texas.  We were flattered that he referred to us as "girls".  

Erin and I got to my car, never so happy to see a vehicle in our lives.  We drove as quickly as we legally could back into Warren where we made a blitz shopping trip into Walmart to buy a baby present for our coming nephew.  I then dropped off Erin at my in-laws' house and then hi-tailed it up to my mom's house to change my clothes.  

We arrived at the Olive Garden on time.

I will have learned so much more about hiking by the next time I do this.

 

Thus ends my 80 mile walking journey in northwestern Pennsylvania.  Thanks for coming with me!

Total steps today: 14,688

Miles 70 through 75, Presque Isle

Today was not only a risky day to be walking due to the weather forecast, it was also a risky day to take a beach trip, an hour's drive!  As a family, we had discussed that we could do this beach trip either today (Wednesday) or tomorrow (Thursday).  Then, as we realized that some people had a conflict for Thursday, we decided to take a chance and just go for the beach trip today.  The trip was to Presque Isle in Erie, PA.  I had not been there in ages.  

Everyone packed for the beach, but my main objective was to walk.  I hoped to walk 6.3 miles and then finish and play at the beach.  So, I spent the morning gathering all that I needed for a beach trip, and then we headed out there at around noon.  My husband's parents were there, my daughter, my brother-in-law Dan and his family, and my brother-in-law Bryan with his family.  

At the beach, we all unloaded, and I decided to start walking immediately.  To my chagrin, I realized that I had forgotten my socks.  Thinking back, I should have either decided to run out and buy some socks OR just scratch the walking.  (I'm so determined on this walking, though!)  Yeah, not wearing socks for this walk did not turn out very well for me.  

Presque Isle is a peninsula that shoots into Lake Erie.  Portions of it are swampland like where I had walked yesterday.  

Bonus!  I discovered Peter Cottontail's Bunny Trail!

After I had finished half of my walk, I began to hear thunder and knew I needed to head back.  By this time, due to my sockless feet, I had developed quite a sore blister on my left heel.  I walked as quickly as I could, though, and even ran at times.  

Here is a picture taken out across Presque Isle over to the bayfront area of Erie.  This particular view would be of the hospital district.  It's not a good picture because the weather is starting to turn.

Fortunately, I managed to get back to my family in time before the heavens opened up and starting a whopper of a thunderstorm.  Two of my family members (my father-in-law and sister-in-law) had gone out looking for me, but we were able to get them on the cellphone to let them know I was back.  

I managed to get my whole walk in!  I didn't get to be a beach bum, but I was happy about the walk.

Total steps today: 14,951

Miles 64 through 69, Audubon & Akeley

Today started out with a trip to my mom's Curves.  It was the first time that she and I had gone together that the owner was there, too.  It's great when a mother and daughter work out together and especially see them having a successful experience with the Curves Complete program.  Not only that, remember my mom is only 4 weeks out from having a total knee replacement.  It was a Kodak moment.  The owner of the club took our picture and put it on the bulletin board and the Facebook page.  Here I am putting the picture here, too!

I'm 20 inches down and 20 pounds down, 

my Mom is about 26 pounds down and about 26 inches down!

After that I met up with The Sisters.  That's how I have to start referring to all of my fantastic sisters-in-law.  (My husband has 5 brothers, 4 of whom are married and all to terrific women.  Three of the sisters-in-law and all in town right now.)  They were at a salon getting pedicures.  By the time I got there, I was too late for a pedicure, but I had a nice visit.  When they were ready to leave, I said I was going to go walking, and my sister-in-law, Erin, said that she would like to join me!  Awesome!  It was nice to have a walking buddy.

For today I had chosen to walk at the Jamestown Audubon Society.  My sister had told me about it, and I knew it had at least 2 miles of trails.  The area over here is referred to as wetlands; very swampy.  Any swampy areas of the trail were traversed by bridge walkways.

When we finished this walk, I wanted to walk more.  I hadn't walked enough, and I knew there was another walk not far away.  My Dad had told me about an old railroad bed near the town of Akeley.  Close-by and a relatively short walk, so it was a good choice.  The terrain here is very similar to that of the Audubon Society.

At the end of the walk we were near some gigantic pine trees.  I had Erin take my picture with the trees so you can see how big they are!

I'm nearing the end of my walking adventure!  Only 2 more days of walking left!

Total steps today: 11,611

Miles 62 through 63, Driving Day

On this day, I can only count 2 miles.  Even that is cheating a little.  Because today was a day with another driving trip, I did not take a specific walk.  I will count 2 miles, though, because I did something that everyone should do that wants to add small degrees of activity into their busy day when they otherwise think they don't have time.  I hiked into 4 different stores and specifically parked far away from the door in order to add just a few extra steps into a day where I knew getting a walk in probably wouldn't happen.

Today I had to drive my husband into Cleveland to meet his friend.  I could have walked in the morning, but I didn't realize until it was too late that I would have had time.  Not beating myself up about it!  

We drove to Cleveland and realized we were hungry, so we hiked into Subway!

Then, we remembered that we had been planning to buy my parents a universal remote and had thus far forgotten to, so we hiked into Home Depot!

After that, I dropped my husband off with his friend and then began driving back to my parents' house.  I decided to drive through my college town (Edinboro University of PA, Go Scots!) because I had been wanting to get a decal for my car and a T-shirt for my kids. .  I first came to a Walmart that I thought might have such products, so I hiked into Walmart!  

This Fighting Scots mural is painted on the wall in the entrance to the Walmart.

They didn't have what I was looking for, so I decided to just take a chance and see if the university bookstore was open.  I was just hoping it was in the same building that it used be.  It was, but there have been so many improvements on that building, it was nearly impossible to recognize.  It used to be in the lower level of the building, and I took a chance hoping it still was.....and it was!  So, I hiked into the university bookstore! (And prayed the campus police wouldn't ticket my car for parking without a permit.)

Mission accomplished!  I got a decal for my car and T-shirts for myself and my 2 kids.

In retrospect, I should have stayed at the campus and did my walk there, but I was kinda anxious to be done driving for the day; it was another hour's drive to my parents' house.  Busy day, no specific walk, but a good day nonetheless. 

Total steps today: 5,618

Miles 58 through 61, Miller Hill to 957

Now, you would think that after what I did yesterday that I would be a little more unwilling to walk today, but it has really helped that I am determined to get in 80 miles before Friday!  I did indeed get up and head out to walk this morning.  Today, it was back to nearby roads.

I asked my husband to take me to Foster Cemetery, a nearby cemetery where I have several relatives on my mom's side resting.  He clocked it via one particular route, and it was only 3 miles which really surprised me!  I had him drop me off, and then asked him to go home by a different route to see how far that one was, and that route was 3.6....much better.  Local folks, the shorter route was using "Lover's Lane", and then longer route was taking the main Lander intersection.  So I told him I would go home taking the longer route.  I have no problem rounding that up to 4 miles, people, because there have been several times that I have rounded down a few tenths of a mile, so it's all good.

This past January, my grandpa passed away having lived a very good, long and wonderful life.  I had the great fortune of being able to come home for a week when he passed away, but it was crazy cold when they had his burial, and so I did not go to that portion of the service.  This today, then, was the first time I had had the opportunity to go.

You might think otherwise due to the fact that 3 of my posts have had pictures of cemeteries in them, but I am really not adept at visiting cemeteries.  I mean, I had to ask my Dad the other day where to find his parents' markers, and I had to ask my mom this morning where to find these.  Visiting cemeteries is really not something I normally do.  That's another benefit this walking has had for me; it has given me the opportunity to appreciate very different things while here visiting including taking the time to visit the resting places of my grandparents.

My grandfather, a very noble man

Far left, my grandparents, William and Theresa

In the middle, their son, my Uncle Jack, who passed away in 1991

On the far right, my Uncle Billy, who passed away in 1980

I visited for a little while and then began to make my way to my parents' house.  The next 3 miles would take me past the exact 3 miles where I had spent most of my life until I turned 18.  Truly.

Miller Hill descending into Lander

First up is the Lander Volunteer Fire Department.  I spent many, many hours at this place!  Gosh, where do I start!  From when I was very young, my parents were active there.  At different time, they were both volunteer firefighters.  My sister and I were even Junior Volunteer Firefighters.  I recall one time we responded to a call, and she and I helped to save either a litter of kittens or puppies.  I think it was kittens.  Also, nearly every Thursday, we worked at the Fire Hall for Bingo Night.  We would help to sell the bingo cards, helped to keep the evening running, help to run the ladies' cards when they had to visit the little girls' room, and when we were older, we even were bingo callers!  This place also saw countless family gatherings and get-togethers including my own wedding reception.  

A little further down Miller Hill, I came upon the former Lander Elementary School where I had attended school from Kindergarten until 6th grade.  It is no longer a school; it now is a (pending edit until I find out!)  At this school, I grew up with the very same kids with very few ever coming or going from the time I was 5.  That's so remarkable considering where I work now where we have an incredible turnover of students even on a monthly basis!

The former Lander Elementary School.

The school's playground.  Thankfully, still functional as a playground!

In "downtown Lander" is Lander United Methodist Church.  This is the church I grew up in.  I actually walked past here on my first day of walking and was kicking myself for not taking a picture of it.  Fortunately, I am walking by it again and so can include a picture.  

You've already seen the rest of this route, but I took some pictures anyway!

Just pretty.

Eisenhower High School, all tore up.

I have looked briefly online and can't find a plan which describes what the end result of this project will look like, but I will keep looking.

Finally I have nearly returned to my parents' house.  I took a picture from the view they have directly across the road from their house.  

Then, as I was walking, I was appreciating all the different wildflowers that were growing alongside the road.  I don't see any of these flowers in Texas (except for last one, tiger lillies).

And, now, I'm back at my parents' house, which you have already seen!

Miles 47 through 57, Rimrock Trail, Kinzua Reservoir

Today was an amazing walk.  After my conversation yesterday with my brother-and-sister-in-law, Billy and Heather, who are avid hikers, we were able to plan a hike in the region of the Kinzua Reservoir.  The hike that we planned was a 5.8 mile loop referred to in the map below as the Morrison Trail Loop. Heather went with me, and we met to leave at 1 pm so that we could drive to the Kinzua Dam.  The trailhead was just a bit beyond the Kinzua Dam.  I was really thrilled to be hiking rather than walking along a road.

 

A blogger's post about this area.

(Click)

Link:   USDA.GOV entry about this area (and this is where the map above came from).

Somehow, though, we missed the point where we should have turned on that Morrison Trail to finish out that loop.  We ended up going beyond that point which put us on a much longer loop.  Yep, we ended up on the Rimrock Trail Loop.  Frankly, I'm glad.  The Morrison Trail would not have taken us right up to the reservoir, and that was just a grand sight to see as always, so I'm glad we got to go there.  We figure, as we translate the map, that we hiked 11 miles!  The whole hike took us a little over 5 hours.  We did get really tired, and we weren't prepared for such a long walk!  For example, we didn't have but 2 bottles of water each, and the only thing we had to eat as a bag of pretzels that Heather had brought.

 See, we wanted to do the Morrison Trail Loop, but we ended up doing both.

That' me.  Pushing a boulder one-handed while eating an apple?  Superman can do that, but not me.

Beautiful, dense forest.

My sister-in-law, Heather Marie.

A pretty pool of water.

There it is again, I always have to have my scene of a wooded stream.

I took this picture from the Morrison Campground which is right on the Reservoir.  People can hike to it or boat to it; you can't drive to it.  I've camped at one of these campgrounds before, but to come with my family is now on my bucket list.  It is so beautiful here.

One of the campsites.

Now HOW did this tree come to grow like this?  I would really like to know.

We ran across very few people on this hike.  We set up a timer on the camera on my phone to take this picture.

Seeing nothing but this around you as far as the eye can see can make you feel really small and just a little lost!

Naturally growing blueberries!  Yes, thanks, I'll have some!

Now, in this video, Heather and I had come across a mother deer who was standing very close to us.  She knew we were there but didn't take off.  She has a baby, too, but the baby had run off.  After I took this video, Heather and I went and sat quietly on a log for a while so we could give the baby a chance to come back, and he did.  It was really cute to see him come back to follow his mother.  We gave them a chance to wander off, and then we resumed our hike.

We persevered, though, knowing that we weren't lost (as were still following trail markers) and knowing that we would come out somewhere eventually!  As I mentioned in a previous post where God provided me with an opportunity to walk double, I just feel that we were meant to take this lovely, long walk together and come out feeling very victorious with our 11 miles!  We had fabulous conversations, getting to know each other as sisters and friends.

Total steps today: 26,811 <------That's a personal record since I started doing this.