Section Hikes of 2016: Great Lakes Road Trip - Ohio

I needed to spend a few months in Baltimore to tend to my rental property there. I didn't do much hiking, other than an out and back trip on the Appalachian Trail, the northern part of Maryland from the I-70 foot bridge to Pen-Mar Park, not quite a 40-mile round trip, three days and two nights. It was late May, and the thru-hiker bubble was just coming through. It was fun to get to know a few of them and trade some stories, and just to relive that great summer of 2014, if only for a couple days.

Summer dragged along, and I followed blogs of adventurers I'd met over the past few years who were out doing more cool things. Maybe I should have gone out to California to give the Pacific Crest Trail a go. Perhaps next year.

Marathon, who I'd met on the Appalachian Trail and hiked with quite a lot in the Pacific Northwest in 2015, was now riding a bicycle from Portland, Oregon to Portland, Maine. Not any bike, but one that he had built himself at a workshop in Oregon. I had told Marathon that if he could get to Baltimore, I would drive him home to Cleveland. He arrived on a bus from Maine, stopping at a couple cities along the way to visit friends.

On September 7th, we were on our way to Ohio. For me, the trip would continue on to Michigan's Upper Peninsula, with no structured plan. My trip would be anywhere from one to four weeks. It would involve hiking, visiting with family and old friends, and attending sporting events.

For old times' sake, Marathon and I opted to pay a quick visit to our old friend, the Appalachian Trail, where she crosses through Maryland. We drove up to Washington Monument State Park, and then hiked a very short ways up to the monument for a few minutes.

That's me at the original Washington Monument
(photo by Marathon)

That's Marathon, back on the A.T. (kind of).

I spent a couple nights in Cleveland, and even went to the Indians vs. Astros baseball game with a childhood friend I hadn't seen in over 30 years. Then it was off to visit some family in the Columbus area. On the way, I stopped to hike for a couple hours in Mohican State Forest. I parked near the dam and had time for a three-mile hike out on the Lyons Falls Trail and back on the Clear Fork Gorge Trail. That evening, I arrived at my brother's house and got to spend some quality family time. My nephew and his wife popped in, and I finally got to meet their twins!

Hanging with my old pal at the Indians game.
Thanks, Mike!

good trail maintenance and a new foot bridge
at Mohican

not even a trickle at the falls

 

impressive boardwalks

 

a sweet covered bridge

and head on up the dam

 

Pizza night with the twins!

Thanks to my big brother and sister-in-law!

Then it was off to the Toledo area. I went to my friend's tailgate party at Bowling Green State University, then visited with my uncle and aunt nearby. Bonus: all three of their kids (my cousins) stopped by for a visit, with several of their offspring!

Thanks to my Aunt and Uncle!

I made a side trip to Detroit because the Orioles were playing the Tigers there in a Sunday afternoon game... Go O's!!! That night, I camped at the Oak Openings Preserve west of Toledo ($20 fee paid online) and then did a day hike, a 15 mile loop all around the park on the Scout Trail.

9/11 ceremonies at Comerica Park in Detroit

Chris Tillman warming up for the Orioles

Oak Openings... can remember coming here once or twice as a kid

pretty wildflowers

nifty handy work

It's the Scout Trail. Get it?

A taste of the 4000 mile NCT
(more of this next week, in Michigan!)

Am I not a fun guy?

Serenity,

 

 and reflections.

I spent a second night with my uncle and aunt on their farm, enjoyed an amazing country breakfast, and planned the next leg of my road trip... Michigan!

Since I'm traveling on a budget, here's a breakdown of the lodging expenses for the first week:

Hosted by family/friends: five nights
Camping at fee sites: one night ($20)

Other expenses: two major league baseball games with parking