As this blog comes to an end, I can't help but have some regrets. I wish I could have visited more places, taken more pictures, explored more the places that I went - basically, I wish I would have done more. But feeling bad about it won't do any good, so let's just make the best of it. Because I didn't get to all the places that I wanted to go (not to mention the scores of places that I'm not even aware of), here's a list of some of those places, in case you're interested.
Wayne National Forest: I did go camping here, but the forest has so many other recreation opportunities to offer. There's hiking, ATV trails, biking trails, horseback riding, fishing, even hunting (if you're into that, which I totally am not). Tinker's Cave, a large rockshelter near New Straitsville, has a delicious legend surrounding it. Read more about the great things that the forest has to offer.
Stroud's Run: the go-to outdoor spot for many OU students. The beautiful Dow Lake surrounded by tree-covered hills provides the perfect backdrop for picnics, swimming, camping, boating, or just laying out in the sunshine. The best part: it's just a few minutes from campus.
Southeastern Ohio boasts a number of great outdoor recreation spots that aren't in Athens County - Lake Hope, the Moonville Tunnel area, Hocking Hills State Park (including Old Man's Cave), Clear Creek Metro Park, Forked Run State Park, and so on - so don't think that what I have covered is all there is to see. Get out there and explore what this part of the state has to offer!
6/5/07
Hidden gem
One place I wanted to visit before leaving Athens was Sells Park, and now that I have I really wish I would have gone there sooner. It's a really beautiful, peaceful spot just a few blocks from the ever-expanding East State Street area. I'll let the sign provide most of the background details:
The paths have a definite vertical component to them, and you can also mountain bike on them.
This little pond is just a short walk up the parking lot at the end of Avon Place, off East State across from the Athens Community Center.
The paths have a definite vertical component to them, and you can also mountain bike on them.
The park extends along the hills on the north side of East State. Like the sign says, you can take this path all the way to Stroud's Run.
The park's location - tucked behind a residential section of Athens right off the main road - make it convenient for students or anyone else looking to get into nature without traveling too far. The few moments that I got to spend there were not enough; I wish I could have made a few more trips there - if I had only known...
5/24/07
foiled again
Well, scheduling conflicts strike again. The last few weeks of the quarter are always busy, and getting ready to graduate and move cross-country has intensified that. So plans for heading to Sells Park this week had to be postponed. The sweltering weather hasn't exactly been encouraging to outdoor activity either. I'm not a sun-worhsipper by any means, and the idea of spending an extended period of time outside in scorching temps does not appeal to me in the slightest. So maybe the weather will chill out a bit (literally, ha) and my schedule will open up enough to allow for at least one more Athens outdoor adventure.
5/14/07
camping!
Our sojourn into the wilderness was a success. After some discussion about where to go, my boyfriend and I decided to go to Burr Oak Cove in the Wayne National Forest. So we headed up Rt. 13 to where Athens County meets Morgan County, just north of Glouster. Burr Oak is also the name of the state park adjacent to the Wayne forest. Both campgrounds are near Burr Oak Lake, which was created by the Tom Jenkins Dam. The forest service has a page for the campground, but it's not the greatest. So visit it I'd you'd like, but I'll be trying my best to give you all the details you'll need if you're going to take a trip there.
The campground is primitive - for you non-campers, that means no hook-ups to water or electricity at the sites. Every site has a gravel parking spot, a dirt patch for putting a tent on, a fire pit and a picnic table. Pit toilets are spaced out along the road; the same goes for water spicets. We apparently were there just before water becomes available for the season (May 15-Sept. 20), so be aware of those dates if having access to water is important to you.
I'll admit right now that my camping experience would have been much different if I hadn't gone with my boyfriend. As I've alluded to before, he's a bit of an outdoorsman - a recreation management major and Eagle Scout, if those labels are any indication. So his equipment and expertise definitely helped make our night work. If no one in your group is an experienced camper, your trip might be a little different.
We picked site 12, which was the farthest from the entrance but also right on a clearing, so it didn't feel too secluded. Some firewood was available close by, which was also a bonus. It was also the closest to the main road, which ensured that we heard traffic until late in the evening. But it wasn't too distracting; you could hear plenty of wildlife as well. We arrived at about 7 p.m., so getting ourselves situated before dark was priority No. 1. After the tent was up and the fire started, it was time for dinner - hot dogs (and veggie dogs) cooked on sticks over the fire, baked beans and carrot sticks - yum. It also became clear about this time that we had not prepared very well for our trip. We packed just bare essentials, and unfortunately our choice of essentials did not include any sort of hand-cleaning or paper product. I can't remember the last time my hands felt so dirty. Fortunately we found a roll of shop towels in the truck, which made life much easier. Next we wanted to check out the reservoir, but because it was already getting dark, we drove over there. The lake is beautiful - very pristine and unspoiled by development. There's a big dock and a beach, and people were fishing from the banks.
We sat by the fire by awhile later - until we heard some rustling in the woods, that is. Thinking it was a raccoon, we sat in the truck for what felt like forever, hoping that it would wander over and then leave for good. No dice. Eventually we gave up and climbed into the tent. Later on, when I had to use the restroom, we peeked out to find a small cat sitting by the truck. So there was our little buddy. It didn't hang around for very long.
Other than that, the overnight was rather uneventful. The bright sunshine woke us up in the morning, but without a clock in sight, we managed to sleep until almost 10 (hey, all that nonsense with the rustling was tiring). Because we both had to get back for class and other obligations, all we had time to do was pack up and get on the road. If we had been able to stay longer, I would have liked to hike the Lakeside Trail that curves through the words to the lake.
Overall, it was a good experience. The campground was just what we were looking for, and the Burr Oak area is gorgeous. It's only about a 20-minute drive from downtown Athens, so it is a great escape for students or anyone looking to spend some time in the outdoors. Just remember to clean up your site!
The campground is primitive - for you non-campers, that means no hook-ups to water or electricity at the sites. Every site has a gravel parking spot, a dirt patch for putting a tent on, a fire pit and a picnic table. Pit toilets are spaced out along the road; the same goes for water spicets. We apparently were there just before water becomes available for the season (May 15-Sept. 20), so be aware of those dates if having access to water is important to you.
I'll admit right now that my camping experience would have been much different if I hadn't gone with my boyfriend. As I've alluded to before, he's a bit of an outdoorsman - a recreation management major and Eagle Scout, if those labels are any indication. So his equipment and expertise definitely helped make our night work. If no one in your group is an experienced camper, your trip might be a little different.
We picked site 12, which was the farthest from the entrance but also right on a clearing, so it didn't feel too secluded. Some firewood was available close by, which was also a bonus. It was also the closest to the main road, which ensured that we heard traffic until late in the evening. But it wasn't too distracting; you could hear plenty of wildlife as well. We arrived at about 7 p.m., so getting ourselves situated before dark was priority No. 1. After the tent was up and the fire started, it was time for dinner - hot dogs (and veggie dogs) cooked on sticks over the fire, baked beans and carrot sticks - yum. It also became clear about this time that we had not prepared very well for our trip. We packed just bare essentials, and unfortunately our choice of essentials did not include any sort of hand-cleaning or paper product. I can't remember the last time my hands felt so dirty. Fortunately we found a roll of shop towels in the truck, which made life much easier. Next we wanted to check out the reservoir, but because it was already getting dark, we drove over there. The lake is beautiful - very pristine and unspoiled by development. There's a big dock and a beach, and people were fishing from the banks.
We sat by the fire by awhile later - until we heard some rustling in the woods, that is. Thinking it was a raccoon, we sat in the truck for what felt like forever, hoping that it would wander over and then leave for good. No dice. Eventually we gave up and climbed into the tent. Later on, when I had to use the restroom, we peeked out to find a small cat sitting by the truck. So there was our little buddy. It didn't hang around for very long.
Other than that, the overnight was rather uneventful. The bright sunshine woke us up in the morning, but without a clock in sight, we managed to sleep until almost 10 (hey, all that nonsense with the rustling was tiring). Because we both had to get back for class and other obligations, all we had time to do was pack up and get on the road. If we had been able to stay longer, I would have liked to hike the Lakeside Trail that curves through the words to the lake.
Overall, it was a good experience. The campground was just what we were looking for, and the Burr Oak area is gorgeous. It's only about a 20-minute drive from downtown Athens, so it is a great escape for students or anyone looking to spend some time in the outdoors. Just remember to clean up your site!
5/9/07
get ready...
Let me just say that I understand why people don't get outdoors that much - trying to schedule my adventures has been quite challenging! Between class and work and other obligations, plus the fact that I rely on my boyfriend for transportation, I haven't been getting out there like I want to. That said, this weekend is going to be big for me - we're going camping! I haven't been camping in years, and while I enjoy nature, I generally prefer not to sleep in it. But I'm pretty motivated to do this; the weather's been beautiful; and my bf is an outdoor expert, so I know it'll be OK. So the plan is to head out Sunday afternoon/evening (as long as I get someone to cover my shift) and be back in time for class Monday morning (we'll see about that one). But it's our last quarter, and I'm all about taking advantage of my opportunities while I'm here. If a class or two has to be skipped, then so be it : ) Look for pictures and a post early next week.
5/7/07
Linking policy
On this blog (and all my other blogs), my policy for linking will be to include links to verifiable, trustworthy sites. I also will check back on my links periodically to ensure that they are still active. A list of links relevant to my overall blog theme appear on the sidebar, and links related to individual blog posts will appear in the text of the post. Only links that provide further information useful to the reader will be linked to, and I will use my best judgment to determine which links to provide.
5/4/07
First up - the bikepath
So it's not hidden or unknown to most people, but the bikepath is one of the best places to be outside in Athens. It's beautiful and convenient, and if anyone else is like me and needs motivation to exercise, the bikepath delivers.
Officially called the HockHocking Adena Bikeway, the path winds along the Hocking River and the old Columbus and Hocking Valley Railroad tracks for 19 miles. The path is asphalt, which makes it perfect for bikers, walkers, rollerbladers and so on.
I set out for a walk on a gorgeous spring afternoon. I started out at the bottom of Currier Street and headed toward The Plains. I'm a fan of this section of the path because it's so secluded and more natural than the part closer to campus, which feels very exposed.
Officially called the HockHocking Adena Bikeway, the path winds along the Hocking River and the old Columbus and Hocking Valley Railroad tracks for 19 miles. The path is asphalt, which makes it perfect for bikers, walkers, rollerbladers and so on.
I set out for a walk on a gorgeous spring afternoon. I started out at the bottom of Currier Street and headed toward The Plains. I'm a fan of this section of the path because it's so secluded and more natural than the part closer to campus, which feels very exposed.
Normally I take my headphones when I walk or run on the path, but I wanted to get take in as much as I could. One of the first things I noticed was the lively bunch of creatures that hang out around the path. Frogs making their signature "boing" noises, birds chirping and darting among the trees, rustles in the brush made by squirrels. Being able to hear all the sounds of nature definitely adds to the experience.
One of the first landmarks that I reached was the bridge over the Hocking River. Not the most scenic of river views but nice just the same.
Like I said before, the peaceful, secluded nature of the path makes it a great escape from the bustle of everyday life. In the nearly hour and a half that I spent on the bikepath, I passed perhaps 10 other people. And usually the other bikers, runners and walkers will smile or say hello, which always brightens my day. Every time I head down to the path, I marvel at the fact that I live just a few minutes' walk from all this beauty. It feels like a whole different world.
Here's the link to the bikepath site for further information: http://www.seorf.ohiou.edu/~xx088/index.html
4/18/07
Welcome!
For starters, my name is Molly, and I'm a senior at Ohio University. For the next few weeks, I'm going to be exploring some of the best spots around Athens County for having some outdoor fun. Some of them will be quite well-known, while others might be familiar to only locals and "outdoors types." I'm trying to create a list that includes spots for all different types of activities - hiking, biking, swimming, camping, even off-roading. Athens is a beautiful place with so many opportunities to get out and enjoy it, so let my accounts and photos motivate you to do some exploring on your own!
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