February 22, 2016 My walking mileage always plummets in the gloomy winter months, even though I know how good it is for me. Aarp.org says, “Regular walking can prevent depression, lengthen lifespan, lower stress levels, relieve arthritis and back pain, and strengthen muscles.” Sounds good. It’s just that in the season of short days and long nights, I tend towards hibernation rather than health. I made myself walk some in December. I did better than usual for that month. By Christmas I noticed my mileage was approaching 85. Maybe I could do 100. By New …

December 28, 2015 The Christmas season is, without a doubt, my favorite time of the year. Despite the standard wars and violence always to be found somewhere on the planet, love, joy, and peace flourish during Yuletide as in no other season. Most everyone gets excited. Especially kids, merchants, and no one more so than Christians. No surprise since the birth of Christ is what started it all. Christmas lovers like me flash the Christmas message from our dwellings and anything else we can hang lights on. We go out of our way to spread …

by guest blogger Bonnie Spencer   Part 1, Part 3 October 23, 2015 Day 5: Horseman’s Group Camp to Access Ramp at Spring Valley-Paintersville Road (10.6 trail miles) After two zero days, we were back in Caesar Creek State Park. My ankle was still swollen, but the pain wasn’t bad enough to keep me off of it. We began hiking at 10:15, taking the Moonlight Vista Bridle Trail from Horseman’s Camp to get back to the BT. After a mile on the BT, we reached the second saddle dam and saw another red-blazed trail to …

by guest blogger Bonnie Spencer   Part 2, Part 3 October 13, 2015 I must have been out of my mind when I said I would go with CW on his 150-mile Buckeye Trail circuit hike this year. Last year Jim and George backpacked the Wilderness Loop with him. This year there wasn’t anyone who could spare the time needed to cover such a distance. CW changed his original plan of continuing from the Wilderness Loop and decided to do a segment of the trail closer to home and largely on bike trails. I think …