My venturesome day hike started out one fine summer day at the ledges picnic area in Virginia Kendall Park, Peninsula Ohio.

I was quite impressed by the picnic area. The tables were spaced out a good distances from each other and each was secluded from the next. As it was a nice sunny day, I was surprised to see only one family picnicking. I meandered past picnic table after picnic table. A small wooden sign pointing out the direction of an overlook caught my eye. It was in the opposite direction I wanted to go, but I couldn't help but check it out. I enjoyed the view at the overlook as I stood on a huge rock that jutted out over the cliff. You could see for miles. It was so peaceful. "Alright, that was nice." I tell myself, squishing the Zen moment, then continued on to the Ledges.

I eventually appeared to be on the top of some ledges. I set up my camera to take a picture of myself while standing precariously at the edge of a dangerous cliff. A sign stood a few feet in front of me warning weary hikers to stay away from the edge of the dangerous cliff. It even had a stick figure depicting someone falling. That was just screaming photo op. At this point the mosquitoes were feasting on me like they were at an all you can eat buffet. Mental note: Don't ever forget mosquito repellent again; ever.

As I made my way to the bottom of the ledges I eyed up the grooves the glacier had dug into them. I marveled at the 'tons' of smooth little pebbles imbedded in the rock from the ocean that used to cover the area. My boots, with each cheery step, dug into the sand from the ocean's beach. That was pretty wild. I don't remember ever walking on a sandy trail in Ohio before.

I walked alongside the ledges and huge boulders on my way to Ice Box Cave. I walked down the slight slope to the cave. I reached it not a moment to soon. It had just started to sprinkle. "Ahhhh." It was quite refreshing standing in the 15 foot high or so opening of the cave. It felt like there was at least a 20 degree drop in temperature. I had worked up a nice sweat on my way there. I took off my backpack and rested it on a rock. I figured I'd give my sweaty back a breather.

So, I checked out the cave a bit. By checking it out I mean that I timidly stepped inside a few feet, and peered, wide-eyed, into the darkness. I listened for any noise that would give me an indication that a creature was in there ready to pounce. All I heard was the soft sound of the light rain against the leaves of the forest. I wished that I had brought my flashlight. But who needs a flashlight when you have a lighter. I stepped back the few feet to my backpack and dug around for my lighter; "Got it". I stepped cautiously back to my spot in the cave and held out my arm and flicked my bic. Flame. Darkness still quite dark. "That was a stupid idea." I turn around disgustedly, hands on hips, and stare up at the cloudy sky through the treetops.

After a few minutes the rain let up and I continued on my merry way.

My plan was to then hike over to the Happy Days Visitors Center. I was disappointed as I neared the entrance to the visitors center trail to see that it was taped off. A posted sign stated that the trail was closed. It must have been closed due to all the rain we've had lately. My initial thought was that I could just walk around the tape barrier and go on the trail anyway. My second thought was that my first thought wasn't a good one. So, I continued along the path I had been on.

After about a half hour the terrain changed. Gone were little hills, the boulder and ledges, oh my. Yikes. There's a deer. I stopped in my tracks and didn't move a muscle, not wanting to scare him. We just stared at each other for a minute. I noticed a baby deer near the one I was having a staring contest with. Mosquitoes landed on my arms. Wanted to brush them off…but...don't... want...to...move...and...scare...deer... I continued to check out the deer. The next thing I know the deer was making these loud wheezing noises and pounding the dirt with his front hoof. I'm like, "Oh my God. He's gonna charge!" I frantically looked around for a tree I could climb. Ughh. They were all spindly. I searched through my mind, at warp speed, for any stories I may have heard of deer maulings. Deciding that I didn't want to be the first I started yelling at the, no longer cute, deer. "Go! Get out of here! I'm not turning around and going back the way I came! Go!" All the while I was making the 'shoo' movement with my arms. After what seemed like an eternity the deer ran off. I was nervous for a while after that. My eyes were darting to and fro keeping an eye out for the killer deer. I periodically turned around to see if he was charging me from behind.

The terrain started getting hilly again. At this point I was pretty sure I was lost. I started walking faster hoping I'd see some signs soon or something...anything. I looked up to see if the sun was setting yet. It was only about 4, but that would be just my luck.

As I stomped down a hill I looked over to my right and about 40 feet away there was about 20 feet of that same 'danger, caution, warning' yellow police tape I saw earlier wrapped around some trees. My first thought was, "Crime scene." My second thought was, "Let's just pick up the pace, shall we?!"

It was obvious the trail hadn't been used in a while. I think my face found every spider web strung between two trees on that trail. After about 5 webs to the face I wised up and found a stick which to wave around in front of me as I hiked. I wondered disgustedly if I had spiders crawling around in my hair. I thought I got them all, but you can never be to sure. "With all the trees in the woods why do spiders only make their webs across a path?!", I yelled in frustration to no one in particular.

I was getting pretty nervous now. The trail was getting even narrower. The little dirt path was now about the width of a shoe. Sweating profusely. What the heck. All of a sudden the path was covered by a large bush. After surveying the situation I realized that the only way to continue on was to forge ahead through the uninviting looking bush. With determination I crouched down and stick first 'duck walked' into and through the prickliness of it all. I had my face staring downwards so I wouldn't get poked in the eyes.

I voluntarily went on this hike?

Luck was about to be on my side. I started to hear the sweet sounds of traffic. An opening in the foliage appeared and what I saw was a thing of beauty. An antique store was across the street! Hooray! I can ask for directions. I actually stood there and wondered if I shouldn't just keep walking. Thank goodness my pride didn't get in the way. That path will take you all around Ohio. Realizing I would, once again, be among people I figured I should 'gussy up'. I tiredly slipped off my backup and dug out my bandana. 'Gussying up' consisted basically of wiping the sweat off of my face, and the remaining spider webs out of my sweaty hair. Ohh. Such poetry.

Beautiful once again, I slipped my backpack back on and headed to the street. Cars whizzed by at dangerous speeds. What's this?! There's a nice looking couple just leaving the store now. Perfect! I eventually got a break in traffic and crossed the road, heading towards their car. I hobbled over to them just as they were about to pull away. Looking at me the probably wished they had.

The couple were very nice and even offered to drive me back to my car. Who was I to refuse such an offer?! We had some chuckles on the way back to my car as I told them some of my day's experiences.

Thankfully I made it back to my car in one piece and wasted no time in cranking up the air conditioning.

Well, it's about time to plan my next hike. :-)

Happy trails.

~Karen aka Half Mile