A Walk in the Woods....

have you ever heard of Highland Sanctuary?... if you have not, you need to check it out. it is one of the largest private land conservencies in ohio... so, as many of you know, z turned the big 4-0 last year... so instead of having a party... she wanted a quiet get away, just the 2 of us... no kids. she wanted to go and be in the woods, do a little hiking and just be...(so who's present was this anyway...LOL) so we made reservations to go to the sanctuary... we booked a small cabin... 1 bedroom... adults only... took a ton a of food, some journals, some music, lots of crap for hiking ... well, you get the picture... it was september and he weather was perfect... it rained a little, but all was good... after all, we were going to a gorge... miht as well be water in it, right?... so, day one, we went and hiked the 7 caves area... very beautiful there were 2 trails that we did... on the one we felt very uneasy.. almost like we were intruding..., but once we got about 1/2 way done, the feelings of intrusion went away and we were left in awe of the trees that were 2500 years old!!! so being late in the day... we opted for a nice quiet night at the cabin... we hunkered in and talked for hours... it was one of the quietest places i have ever been... so our plan for the next day was to walk the trail called the Kamelands... everyone kept telling us this was their favorite... ok... so we did our research... talked to one of the rangers, asked about the terrain... we love to hike... but we also know our limits... so we got up the next morning... and set out for the Kamelands... we were supposed to check out at 1, but since no one else was coming, they told us just to take our time... so we arrive at our trailhead... the pamplet said it was a 2 mile loop... so being sore from the day before, we took our time... it was beautiful... rolling grasslands, heading into an old growth forest of oaks that would wind along the opposite edge of the gorge we walked the day before... what could possibly go wrong... so we walked... and we walked... and we walked some more... and we were still in the woods... it wasn't a difficult hike... but hike we did... so I looked at the map... we had been walking for a solid 2 hours... z was getting uneasy... i was ok, but very tired... so we stopped and had a snack... i looked at the map... and if it was right... we were just over half way there... oh... this is not good... i was already exhausted... i had not packed for a half day hike... i had packed for a 2 mile hike... we had gone WAY past 2 miles... and there was more to go... so after another 1/2 hour or so... we finally came back to the grasslands... ok, certainly we were almost back at the car... I could sit, all would be well... but wait... we had not joined back with the main trail yet... we were still in the loop... and now we were in the sun (not a good thing for me...) so we walked... and we walked... at this point I just wanted to sit down... but if I got down, i was not sure i could get back up... so i kept on going... i knew z was in panic mode... i knew she was worried about me... i knew she was already making a plan in case i collapsed... and i wasn't too sure i wouldn't... so i took 40 steps... and rested... and took 40 more and rested... we would be going up one of the gently rolling hills... and kept thinking... certainly... this had to be the last hill... yeah... not that lucky... at one point, i stopped and leaned on my walking stick...and fell asleep standing up... wow... exhaustion was not even the word for it... at another point i kept thinking... i am so going to hurl... just like on The Biggest Loser... but i kept that in check too... about the time i was going to say... just go get the jeep and find a way to come get me... there it was... the main trail!!! what a site for sore eyes, and legs and arms and feet.... it had been over 3 hours at this point... i knew where we were... but i also knew we had another 0.8 miles to go... and strangely... there were hills we didn't even remember walking... but walk them we did... and finally... the site i was waiting for... the barn where our car was... after 3 hours and 45 minutes of almost non stop walking... we were at the car... we had survived... i had made it through the single hardest physical challenge i have ever done... but i made it!! i was so proud that i did not give up... that i took the time to read my body and found the strength to push forward and complete the hike... this is one for my history book!!
So what did i learn... first... always pack a sports drink! even for a "little" hike... second... never trust anyone who says it's an easy hike... and last but not least... stay calm. if i would have allowed myself to panic, i would never have made it. oh yeah... ummm... my final message is... GET IN SHAPE!!!! hiking is a passion of mine... but what was supposed to be a 2 mile hike turned into a 4+ mile hike... i should be able to do that... after all... i am only 41... so i have made a vow... i am going to get in shape and i am dragging z back out on that trail and we are going to conquer it... we are going to take our time, we are going to pack a lunch... and we are going to make it the beautiful hike that it is...
so here is to challenges!!!
What are you going to accomplish this year?