Geez! How long has it been since I've posted here. TOO long! My apologies for that. Many many outdoor adventures have occurred since the Mt LeConte hike. All you have to do is look at photos posted to my facebook page to realize that.Anyhow, many of you may or may not know...in June of this year I moved back to Northwest Ohio. Most of my friends have had skeptical responses to this...."eh, are you sure you wanna do that?" (referencing my love of the outdoors) But...one sorta needs to be FROM Northwest Ohio to understand that this area does in fact have MUCH to offer in regards to the outdoors.
So in my quest to jump back into exploration...and soaking in the therapeutic qualities that ANY outdoor area has to offer...here comes the next series of blog posts.I'd been joanzin to hike some trails at Oak Openings Preserve Metro Park. (there's a 16 mile trail at this park that I've ESPECIALLY been joanzin to experience...which you will hear more about soon) So on this fallish day I set out to find some nature!
Note here...of all the parks I've visited, Metroparks of Toledo is to be commended on their park maintenance at the Oak Openings Preserve Metropark in Swanton, OH! Which is why I captured the photo shown above by that pristine trail marker. I've NEVER seen trail markers so well kept! Well marked trails are the sign of a park that's well taken care of. (Attention to detail)
I chose to walk the silver marked Ridge Trail (3.11 miles) on this day. Deer abound at this park! First time I've spotted not one, not two, but THREE bucks standing together in the woods. I snapped this photo of myself grinning from ear to ear, just after I crossed over the Swan Creek bridge and spotting those bucks.This trail is gorgeous. Lots of terrain changes along the way. Wooded to open fields, to sandy, to rooty, to pine tree groves and everything in between. For a brief period of time it parallels the 16 mile trail I referenced above...giving me a taste of what's in store when I jump on that trail. YEAH!
Three woops hollars and cheers for the Toledo Metro Parks system! One of many outdoor gems that Northwest Ohio has to offer!! I'm looking forward to exploring more to come!
