Fall 2013 Edition: A Series of Remarkable Experiences and Hiking Life Lessons by Blue Blaze Bugsie

Use http://blueblazebugsie.blogspot.com/2011/08/blue-blaze-bugsie.html to jump all the way to "the beginning" to read the journal entry's in order, then select "newer post" at the bottom of each journal entry to continue reading forward.

(Clicking directly on the photos will take you to an enlarged film strip to see more details)

 

Today’s hike is lovingly dedicated to the memory of Cormac Galen Everett Bashaw

 

After spending hours the night before preparing my route and gear for today’s hike, I discovered my bike had a flat.  Talking to my mom about it over breakfast she offered to take me.  Elated we head out to Squaw Rock.  Enroute I talk to her about the blazes and identify them as we near today’s starting point.  I add that sometimes they are right on the road, but that others indicated turns that would take me off-road for long periods of time.  She takes the driver’s seat and I start hiking.  She followed slowly behind me, lights flashing.  I’d turn and smile at her once in a while, or she’d comment on how I walk like my dad (eye roll, “Mom!”) as she’d drive past, but soon the inevitable separation came.  As we waved my throat began to ache as I felt that old familiar “parents just dropped me off at Girl Scout/band camp” feeling.  I didn’t see her again for two hours.  We’d made plans to talk every hour and I couldn’t believe it when I got the first call.  Up on a major road again, I thought I would get to see her, but the blazes peeled off immediately and into the woods I went.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

As I rose up out of the first section of woods I came upon Look About Lodge. 

 

 

 

There were kids doing field trips milling about.  For some reason I was really excited about the BT at that moment and shouted out to a teacher did she know about the Buckeye Trail?  When she shook her head I approached her pointing out the blazes to her.  I was kind of surprised she didn't know about it, being a teacher and all and out here in the woods just feet from it, but over time I realized there are tons of different colored blazes on trees and even more named paths.  I would just have to settle on at least she was out there teaching them something about nature!



 

Look About Lodge

 

 

 

 

 

Beautiful scenery - waterfalls

 

 

Beautiful thing about hiking, I’m realizing how full Ohio is of rivers, streams and waterfalls of all shapes and sizes!  It is just amazing how much nature is hidden, whizzing by us from the road.  Busily processing this in my head, I was stunned when the trail took a dip right into Willey Creek!

 

Trail takes a dip right into Wiley Creek!!

 

 

 


 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Amazed the trail would actually ford what appeared to be a river to me, I started hunting for a way around, which took me up to a bridge on Chagrin River Road. 



Bridge Over Troubled Waters at Chagrin River Road in the distance

Blazes few and far between, I had difficulty locating the trail again, but a chance turn took me through a meadow

 

 

 



Fall berries blooming everywhere

 

 

 

 

to a pond thick with algae and water plants, where, while exploring, I hone in on the lowly reeds, a favorite from my Girl Scout camp days. 

 

 

 

 

An observation deck brought me out over the water to see the fowl frolic and play.  It was very peaceful. 

 

 

 

 

 

I ran into more people on this walk than I’d had to date and was happy to see people using their parks.  I also learned, for me anyway, Lesson #20: If you’re lost and cannot find a single person to help you, all you need to do is duck into the bushes; I get found almost every time!  This time I was found by a dog, who suddenly appeared two inches from my face, startling me so badly that I yelled out in surprise.  The owner, apologizing profusely, rushed into the bushes with another dog.  Seeing my camera she assumes, “Are you photographing birds or something?”  “Oh, yes! Everything, actually!" and then in a rush of words I begin to explain, "Then my belt came undone and my knife fell to the ground.  As I was bending over to pick it up your dog….”  and she cuts me off continuing to apologize about her dog as she retreated one way up the trail and I, embarrassed, the other. 

A blue blaze off in the distance

 

 

There were a lot of deer on this hike.

 

 

 

And plant life, as well

 

 

After exiting the serenity of the South Chagrin Reservation, the long stretch along Chagrin River Road was the hardest for me to do alone, but as I crested a hill at South Woodland Drive, there was my mom and I felt lighthearted again.  She drove with me sometimes leading, sometimes following, as we crawled through places like Hunting Valley and Gates Mills.  At one point a concerned police officer asked me if I was hiking and if that person (he points toward my mother) was bothering me, I laughed, “Not today, sir!” and told him she was my mom and about the BT.

 

 

No ambiguity here, just a different blue blaze altogether.

Fancy Hunting Valley sign

I think we all know what that is

Cute as a button, little pinkish flower

I'm thinking of a page dedicated alone to things hanging in trees

 

 

 

On, what turned out to be the very last mile I called for a position confirmation from my husband and he tells me I only have one mile left.  Excited I motioned to my mom that we only had one mile left as I kept walking.  She rolled down the window and yelled, “Thank heavens!  I’m tired!”  (eye roll)

 

The last mile did prove to be fulfilling, however.  The river makes a pleasant noise over one of the local falls, there.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Four hours and almost 9 miles later we rolled into quaint, historic Gates Mills crossing the footbridge next to the Old Livery Tavern.

 

 

The End

Blue Blaze Bugsie

Use the links at the right side to follow my journey backwards or use http://blueblazebugsie.blogspot.com/2011/08/blue-blaze-bugsie.html to jump all the way to the beginning to read it in order.  Select "newer post" at the bottom of each journal entry to continue reading forward.