Wednesday, August 13, 2014

Road Trip! Leg Eight: Pennsylvania

The last stop on my trip before arriving home was a good one. One of my best friends from Boise, Lindsay, moved back to the East Coast two years ago, and she and I planned to meet up for a few nights of camping in Pennsylvania before I finished up my trip a few states North. I tried to research some campgrounds that would be ideally located for both of us: not too far off-route for me, not too far of a post-work drive for her. I wound up landing on Poe Paddy State Park, a bit more rustic (less campers) than its sister campground, Poe Valley State Park. It was quite a ways into the forest on old dirt roads through Bald Eagle State Forest.
"Nature will renew this wealth if given a chance."

I arrived in the late afternoon and was able to get to the campsite with plenty of time to walk around, get the tent pitched, and make dinner. Poor Lindsay was leaving the city in rush hour traffic on a Friday, and didn't get in until after I had gone to sleep. Still, we had the entire day on Saturday, and we didn't let any of it go to waste. We ate our breakfast and drank our tea in the early morning hours, trying not to be chatty and disturb any sleeping neighbors. After not seeing each other since January, we had lots of catching up to do! Once we had given ourselves ample time to fully awake and think about hitting some trails, we got ourselves back into the car to go explore and find a good place to run. There were several trails nearby to the campground, but I had picked up a detailed map of Bald Eagle State Forest, and we were eager to go explore and possibly find something with a vista.

We wound up pulling over at Gobbler Trail and had a nice trail run/walk into the woods. Unfortunately the trail ended at a gate with a big "private property" sign (no vista), but it was a fun trail nonetheless. The dogs and I were still getting used to running in the humidity, so the nice 4ish mile run was enough to poop them out pretty good. 















Even though we finished our run, we were nowhere near our exploring for the day. We decided to go on a mission to get some vegetables for dinner, which would require us driving through one of the towns that I passed the day before. We DID manage to find some nice vistas on the way through the woods, and it was nice to see some of the East Coast hills. The hills and mountains to which I am accustomed have much more pine trees, where as the East Coast is covered in deciduous trees. The deciduous do a better job at masking the challenging terrain, I think. Those rolling hills look lush and welcoming, but as we found the next day, there can be plenty of scrambling on those trails too.


Lindsay and I were both thrilled to find an awesome farm stand on the side of the road where we were able to choose from a wide variety of veggies for our dinner. We decided on asparagus and tomatoes to mix into some pasta, but the woman who owned the farm stand was kind enough to throw in a bunch more vegetables that were not attractive enough for her to sell- some nice squash and zucchini. We snacked on strawberries and tomatoes on the drive back to the campground and schemed on what a delicious feast we were going to have for our camping dinner. Lindsay and I are both very enthusiastic about vegetables, cooking, and camping, so it was a perfect combination for our reunion. 
Another fun thing that we got to do for our reunion was drink a very special bottle of wine. Lindsay and I became friends shortly after we both moved to Boise, and we spent Thanksgiving together (along with her lovely partner, Sean) since we were away from our families. That Thanksgiving, with the three of us having our orphan Thanksgiving in my first apartment, was by far one of my favorites. Lindsay and I had bought a bottle of wine from Winco for that Thanksgiving celebration that we never wound up drinking. It sat it my apartment for ages, eventually moving with me when I moved into another apartment and Lindsay and Sean moved away. Lindsay has come back to Boise a few times since then, and while the bottle of wine was often mentioned, it was never at a time when we wanted to drink it. Knowing that I was going to see Lindsay on my trip, I packed the cheapo bottle of wine that was now aged three more years so that we could share it together on our camping trip. The wine was quite tasty. We drank some, poured some into a delicious sauce for our pasta, and spilled a bit on the ground. The best part was that we got to share it together after almost three years. 

We didn't stay up too late after our long day of bustling around in the heat and drinking wine at four in the afternoon. We spent some time playing in the river with the dogs before dinner, which mostly comprised of Jake trying to sit on our laps and Gracie standing on a tiny rock so she didn't have to get wet. We prepared and ate our delectable feast- quite a feat with so many vegetables and only a little backpacking stove. We made a fire that lasted for about 10 minutes (neither of our strong suits), which worked out well since we were both pretty pooped. We were off to sleep before too long, but woke up the next morning happy to hit the trail again before we both made our ways home. 
I found a nice trail by the river on the first day of my arrival, and Lindsay and I decided that would be a good run for the morning. The trail did not last for too long before we crossed a bridge and realized that we were on the Pennsylvania Mid-State Trail, and a rather sketchy section, at that. Shortly after crossing the bridge, we came to a place where the trail had been rerouted from its original course through a tunnel, which was quite eerie to see in the early morning hours. We decided to follow the detour for a little ways, even though we were warned by the sign that the trail was deemed "most difficult."

We scrambled up and over the rocky trail, played around on top of the hill for a little while, and came back down the way we came. It was a fun excursion, and a fun reminder that you don't need to be up in the Idaho mountains to find some technical trail, even if it is hiding out under all those lush leafy trees. 


 We didn't stay for too long after our run- both of us eager to get to our destinations and get settled. We said our goodbyes, which although are a bummer, never feel too final, since it is always like no time has passed when we do see each other. The dogs and I packed ourselves into the car for one final day on the road, and the rest is history. Seven or eight hours later, I was pulling into the driveway at my parents' house, where I would hunker down for five nice weeks. 

Friday, August 1, 2014

Road Trip! Leg Seven: Racine to East Harbor Bay State Park, OH

Leaving Wisconsin was difficult after such a cozy few days, but I was also nearing the end of my trip and getting closer to my own family. I had one more definite stop on my agenda- camping with my friend in Pennsylvania- and after some deliberation, I decided to break up the distance with another night on the road. I found a campground along Lake Erie in Ohio and decided to make that my next destination.

This was my least favorite part of the entire drive. From Racine to East Harbor Bay State Park, I had to drive through part of Wisconsin, Illinois (the worst part- right around Chicago), Indiana, and Ohio. This made for a very expensive day with something that I had completely forgotten about while living in the West- tolls! Yuck! I spent about $15 just for driving on the roads. By the time I arrived at East Harbor Bay, I was long ready to be done with the car and done with Ohio. I checked in, reserved my site, and chuckled at the warning of the woman at the desk. I was warned to watch for raccoons and deer. 
Campsites at East Harbor Bay State Park were much different from those to which I have become accustomed. Idaho campgrounds are pretty calm and quiet, especially if you are seeking calm and quiet. For the nights that I camped on my trip, I was fortunate to not have to battle big crowds. I think with the proximity to bigger cities, greater population density, and ease of camping in huge RVs, this campground attracts a larger, rowdier crowd. Combined with the fact that the 4th of July was around the corner, and I found myself in a cramped, busy campground. Luckily, most of the campers brought RVs or trailers, and the tent spots were in a more secluded area. Still, I was keenly aware of the eyes of the folks camping across the road as I set up my tent, clearly alone. I was so used to being by myself and being in more wild areas, and it was interesting to notice that concern for safety was heightened more with the presence of people. 

I ran with my dogs, ate some delicious dinner courtesy of Grandma and Aunt Maureen, and snuggled happily back into the tent with the dogs. Another pre-5am wake up, another run in the morning light, and a beautiful sunrise over the water. The park covered ground over a peninsula into the bay, and there was a nice network of trails for our morning run, and the mosquitoes certainly kept us moving quickly. We saw a skunk and some of the notorious deer, which caused Gracie to make enough noise to wake up the whole campground. 


I was happy to sit on the edge of the water for a while as the sun made its way into the sky. Things felt nice. Calm. I was happy to be on the road and have the opportunity to spend time with family and friends over the summer. I was happy to have time to enjoy the little moments like the sunrise. Other people started pulling into the lot near the water, and the dogs and I made our way back to the site to pack up. I was ready to go just as the folks around us were starting to awaken and pour out of their RVs.

This park is one where I would perhaps stay again, but mostly for convenience. It was a bit expensive and a bit crowded for my taste, but it fell in a good location to break up my drive. 

Next leg: Ohio to Poe Paddy State Park, PA




Road Trip! Leg Six: Time with Family in Racine

The drive from the edge of Minnesota through Wisconsin was another short, easy, unremarkable day. I was really excited to arrive at my destination in Racine, WI with the knowledge that there would be a few relaxing days filled with family awaiting me. My grandmother and my aunt's family live in Wisconsin and are always kind in opening their home to family members as we trickle in from across the country for visits. I have been very lucky this year and already visited several times, so it just felt comfortable and homey from the time that I arrived.

Grandma's garden.
I got caught up with my grandmother and my cousins about the happenings of the past few months. I got updates about the many activities of my busy cousins, the foster pets that had made their ways through the home, and how everyone had been adjusting since my grandfather passed away in the spring. It was the first time visiting the house since then, and there were little differences around the house that served as reminders. It was very nice to be able to visit with my grandmother, hear stories, tell stories, and just sit together outside.

Jake and Reese playing- Gracie being indifferent, as usual.
Jake and Gracie made fast friends with Reese, my cousins' dog. They played around the yard and settled right into the house. I had been worried at the beginning of my trip about how my dogs would behave in other peoples' homes. They were never left alone and truly tested, but I was still happy with how well they behaved. The first night (of two) that I stayed in Racine, I watched a movie with my cousins, and my grandmother encouraged me to leave the dogs downstairs in her part of the house. I was certain that I heard Gracie whining while we were watching the movie. I went downstairs to check only to find both of my dogs lounging on the couch, barely lifting their heads to acknowledge me when I came down the stairs. 

I would have been happy to stay in Racine for a week, but after I extended my trip by a night more than I had planned, it came time to start thinking about hitting the road. Goodbyes are never easy, but I planned on stopping in again on the way back to Idaho. One thing that I have really come to appreciate even more since I have been on the trip home is making the most of spending time with family. As much as I love solo time in the hills, it is equally good for the soul to sit around in sweats, drinking tea with the people in your life with some shared history. If you have the chance to do it, don't take it for granted. 

Not a bad view from the backyard. 



Next leg: Racine, WI to East Harbor Bay State Park, OH

Road Trip! Leg Five: Through Minnesota to Great River Bluffs State Park

I had a very nice short drive from South Dakota into Minnesota- only a little over four hours. I camped basically right on the border of South Dakota and then right on the border of Minnesota, so I really only drove the length of the state. I was planning on a longer drive, but I had covered more ground than anticipated on the previous day. This made for a very relaxing drive, and nothing was very notable on my drive through Minnesota. 

I had made the decision to camp at Great River Bluffs State Park early in my planning processes. I didn't know anything about the park, but I knew that it sat right beside the Mississippi River, so I thought that would make for some neat down time. I arrived to the park early in the afternoon, paid up my fees, and drove in to find a campsite. All of the sites were nestled nicely into the woods, so I grabbed one that wasn't previously reserved and got my tent unpacked.

There was plenty of time to kill, so I decided to go on a food mission. I had not eaten anything fresh since my night in Missoula, and I was ready for some vegetables. I was not in close proximity to any big town centers, but I picked up a bag of spinach, a tomato, and an avocado from a gas station/grocery store. Along with some pasta that I had packed in my car, I boiled the entire bag of spinach down, cut up the other vegetables and ate my gourmet dinner. Somehow, in the middle of the woods, I was still picking dog hair out of my food. 


I was excited when I arrived to see that the park had a substantial trail network. Most of the trails led to a lookout of some sort, so I took the dogs out to stretch our legs after eating. I understood quickly why the name of the park was Great River Bluffs. We certainly were up on some bluffs with a beautiful vantage point over the Mississippi. I had not envisioned there being such an elevation difference from one side of the river to the other, but in this particular case, there was a very clear difference from the Minnesota side to the Wisconsin side. 












The mosquitos were nearly as bad as they were in the campground in South Dakota. Both of the campgrounds were in wooded areas by water, so that made sense.

I was sitting in the campsite talking to my mom on the phone, when suddenly the sky opened up out of nowhere and raindrops the size of marbles started falling. I was happy for the excuse to run into my tent a little early and listen to the rain. I had doubts about my tent keeping out water in the downpour, but it did pretty well. I read for a while longer and fell asleep to the sound of the rain.

I awoke around 5am, consistent with the previous few days. I was happy to get out for my run before the day warmed and all of the moisture in the ground rose into the air. I was able to catch the first light through the trees and the sunrise over the river at several of the lookouts along the trails. I was able to get in about six miles pretty easily on some very nice trails, and I beat most of the bugs.





This was another day where I was packed up and on the road early with just a short day of driving ahead. Into Wisconsin and across the state, my next stop would have a real bed, a real shower, and best of all, visits with family.

Next leg: Great River Bluffs State Park to Racine, WI!