A walk with my bestie, Carter Park Loop- Kings Mills, Ohio

I was so happy when Stephanie mentioned going on a hike this weekend. I just started a new full time job and was a bit overwhelmed with the learning curve I was facing. Nature was exactly what I needed to heal my confidence and Stephanie was the perfect friend to accompany me.

I found this trail near her suburban home which I’d never hiked before. She was excited to check it out with me. The world is too big to explore the same place twice.

I was cracking up with the visual of the person picking up the poop of their dog. Who approves this art? 🙂 Hilarious. Reminded me of the signs I used to see in the bathrooms in Asia explaining how not to stand on the toilet.
Very cool that there was archery nearby. We also came across a lot of trail runners.

Picked this trail mainly because of the loop and the fact that it was near the Little Miami River.

When you get to the trail head there is a mansion and this old carriage house. Assuming based on the trail name, that this property formerly belonged to a family named Carter.

A little history on this location:

Ahimaaz King was a local industrialist who founded a gunpowder and cartridge manufacturing plant on the Little Miami River back in the late 1800s. The workers of his factory moved to the area that would soon be called Kings Mills. Nearly the entire village was built at King’s request to house his employees.

After Ahimaaz died in 1909, the King family lived in this mansion home for 3 generations. The famous amusement park, Kings Island, still holds the family name.

Immediately I was loving the trees, especially the ones showing off their own unique personalities.

Remember to look up. Always. Even if your vertigo has kicked in from stress.

The trails were quite easy to follow but occasionally we would find a path less travelled.

This tree was alive and well, simply leaning over to grab a bit of sun, showing that not everyone follows the same path.

I was loving the message on this tree and the way the scars showed up in a textured bark rather than just a slice. I wondered if he was speaking to me or if someone was trying to speak to him.

We hit the trail about 10 am so the sun was not blazing yet. It was a perfect day for a hike.

I was loving this tree and wished I could make myself small to escape into its hallows.

We were getting near the river and there were signs posted to kindly stay on path.

I made Stephanie run ahead so I could capture the perspective of this place. It was a surprise having this great forest preserve in the middle of the suburbs.

Stopped to admire the camouflage of this bark. The leaves have started falling.

As we approached the Little Miami River, we saw remnants of an old bridge.

Seeing the man on the other side was cool. He was telling us to come on through.

A great glimpse of the river through the cement windows.

An interesting manmade structure in the midst of nature.

Then we finally found our way down to the river.

It was gorgeous and just starting to transition to fall.

If I were alone I would have sat for a bit listening to the river as it made its way through the shallow curve.

Loved how I could capture the reflection of myself in Stephanie’s glasses and the water reflections behind her.

There were seashells mixed in with the pebbles. I always equated shells with the ocean, but obviously this is not true.

Stephanie mentioned how it would be so different if we attended college later in life. We have such a different perspective now. I know many people go back to school to reinvent themselves career wise, or follow a different path. But I am stuck making a living on my past experience and not my new found interests. Sad I can’t live off my blog and appreciation of nature 🙂

I was loving how the roots provided a natural staircase but then man decided we needed better and built over top the remainder of the way.

After our hike outlined here in red, we headed down the river a bit to sit outside and enjoy some refreshments, where the blue dot is.

More water views, with a beer, yes please. Weidemans blood orange was the perfect local craft brew for our afternoon.

We ended up a bar called the Monkey Bar which was in between the Little Miami River and the Loveland Bike Trail.

This place comes to life with its indoor/outdoor venue. So many different sections- to sit by a fire, by the bar, on the balcony, or to by the tvs to watch a sports event.

We of course stayed outdoors to not only be Covid safe, but the enjoy the afternoon weather and share much needed friendship advise.

320 Friendship Quotes ideas in 2021 | friendship quotes, quotes, inspirational quotes — Stephanie has been through all my hard times with me. And when I moved to Thailand, she always made a point to put a date on our calendars as if I never left. 💚

Otter Creek Trail- Brandenburg, Kentucky

Monday morning I insisted we get back out in nature. I need to be covered by trees and ground myself again to appreciate what the Universe offers and is whispering. George decided we would hike the Otter Creek Trail and we managed to get there by early afternoon.

On our way there, I was desperately in need of some coffee but it seemed the closer we got to our destination the more remote the area. Then George stopped at Fort Knox.

Being a terrible historian (I refused to take a college prep level history class in highschool) I had never heard of Fort Knox except for vague references of something being locked up as its name references. I didnt know there was an actual Fort Knox, which is a military base known to hold America’s gold.

Fort Knox Facts: Amount of present gold holdings: 147.3 million ounces. About half of the Treasury’s stored gold (as well as valuables of other federal agencies) is kept at Fort Knox

George went into their visitor center to see if we could cross the security gates to get to the coffee shop. I originally thought he went into the visitor’s center looking to pick up more pamphlets. 😛

After background and ID checks, photos were taken, then we were issued a barcode that got us onto the base, with comments on my pass stating reason for visiting, “Starbucks”. Was hilarious. I wasn’t allowed to take any photos on base as per the signs posted. George is more a rule follower, but God knows if I was by myself I would be snapping some.

The base was desolate and made me feel like we were in the “Twilight Zone. Nobody was out. No cars. All the stores were closed due to Labor Day. My first military base experience and probably my last. But I scored some Dunkin and now I could properly enjoy the trails ahead.

I thought George was joking when he said it was an 8 mile hike.

We ended up cutting across and making it a 5 mile hike which was perfect.

The drive in was like being in a movie with tall tree lined streets.

At our trailhead was a beautiful meadow of yellow wildflowers. A perfect combination of color with the clear blue sky that was out today.

The trails were clearly marked with signs along the way and also dots sprayed onto the trees for guidance.

I was fascinated by these trees that naturally bent and maneuvered their way toward the sun. It wasn’t just one. There were several of these flexible beauties.

I looked up to to capture the color combination of the autumn season starting to sneak in.

As we started hiking we noticed the pine needle pathways.

We later saw a sign that educated us about this area where four different pine trees grow. Some are not native to this region and were planted here 40 years ago.

I listened to a podcast that stated 3/4 of all of our trees in the world have been cut down, and we would have to plant 1000 trees per person to restore the Earth’s coverage. And you wonder why we have a global warming issue. Think of all that shade gone.

Looking up at these great pines. Very different than the traditional pine trees we think of at Christmas time.

All along the trail these trees seem to be dying off. They were very skeletal and I wondered what happened to their species.

George taking the lead to fight off the many ,many, many cobwebs.

A sign about the magic of the mushrooms. I have seen many items at past trade shows made of mushroom fibers. Even read an article about canoes and housing being made of their root systems. Such a cool fungi of the woods.

There were so many different types throughout this forest.

Some were huge! And housing a small pool of water on their heads.

I tried to catch a view from the ground underneath looking up.

You know you are in Kentucky when the horses have their own signage and hitching posts.

Did you know if you rub these leaves together and smell them, they smell like lemon. Now you do 🙂 Nature is so cool.

Nothing but woods for miles. Was a perfect escape.

Headed down some steep steps in search of a cave.

No such luck. Didn’t find it. But found the sign.

I asked George to climb up so I could snap a photo for perspective.

Something about the color and texture of this caught my eye.

This tree had arms reaching up to the sky.

I absolutely loved being surrounded by green and being with a man that also appreciates it.

40 Inspirational Leaf Quotes for nature lovers — Walk My World

Catawba Falls Trail- Pisgah National Forest, North Carolina

George is an early morning person. Up way before me and is actually more productive in the mornings. As he left the hotel at 6 am I fell back to sleep only to be woken up to an urgent need to get myself around for a hike he found for us. I, am NOT a morning person. BUT, I knew this was our last day in Asheville and wanted to squeeze in as much as we could, so I miraculously mustered up the energy to brush my teeth, put on a bra and go on the hike.

I was so happy that we arrived there before anyone else. We were only the second car in the lot at 8 am. By the time we left we were passing so many families and couples just starting their days. The mornings are the perfect time to hit a trail. It was so peaceful and quiet. It ended up being my favorite memory of this road trip.

Ironically when speaking with one of my Turkish students, she had also hiked this same trail. Such a small world.

Heading in looked just like any other tree lined trail.

George was all geared up and ready for anything. I was my typical self with no beverages and just my baseball cap.

As soon as you entered you could hear running water which is pure joy to my senses.

Was so clear and pleasant. I immediately stepped right in.

Sad that they actually have to tell people not to climb on historic structures eh?

Was doing a little happy dance for entertainment purposes.

Was hoping to see a black bear drinking along the river, but no luck.

As we hiked further along we kept seeing different small waterfalls.

Admiring the unique trees along the walkways.

I feel like the bark and knots tell such a story of their endurance.

This tree was calling for a fairy garden to be set up! Complete with a front fenced in yard and doorway.

I kept seeing these leaves on the ground and was admiring their colors. When I looked up none of the trees had these leaves on them. Things that make you go hmmm.”

We kept taking the small steep trails down to see all the various falls along the way. Taking our time. Soaking in the adventure.

Was really like being a kid again and exploring in the woods.

A sunbeam perfectly found us making a picturesque view.

I climbed out on a slippery log to try to get a closer look at this one. I had to scoot back on my butt on the way back, to avoid falling in. I ended up with a big hole in my pants and was showing off my undies here on out.

The riverbed rocks varied so much as we kept moving along.

Waterfall chasing could become my new hobby.

When we saw this dam we thought this was the highlight. Little did we know a little further ahead with the master of them.

He looks so natural in this element. I’m happy to have found a man who likes to hike.

When I read this barefoot comment I immediately thought of Alexandra who loves to hike barefoot.

After crossing that last bridge we came across this gorgeous waterfall.

We used the roots to climb our way up even higher to find a perfect resting spot.

Not sure what this sign said, but obviously everyone denied it and covered it up with stickers.

We literally sat right here for about a 1/2 hour not even talking to each other, just breathing it in.

Had to take my classic hiking boot view.

I snapped this cute photo with my portrait view. The background almost looks fake, like a studio setting.

Instagram photo by Pranamar Villas & Yoga Retreat • Jul 1, 2016 at 8:37pm UTC | Waterfall quotes, Yoga quotes nature, Nature quotes

Rentschler Waterfall Loop- Hamilton, Ohio

Baby B, Sedona, agreed to go on a Saturday morning hike with me and I tried to find a new trail that I haven’t visited yet. I love being able to discover new trails within an hour of where I live. Why hike the same trail twice? Unless of course it’s during a different season in which case, I totally get how it can appear completely different. For me, filling my head with newness is the key to keeping me present and seeing the beauty this world has to offer.

I was house sitting, so Sedona came over early and met with my Turkish student, Sercan, via Cambly. He wanted to meet her since they both work at airports -only thousands of miles apart. It was fun to have one of my students, who I have been chatting with for over a year, meet my daughter. My long term students are more like friends to me. They continue to book my reservations not because I am the best teacher, but because they can talk with me about anything!

I found a route on AllTrails called Rentschler Waterfall Loop, and you all know I am a sucker for anything water. We made our way there before the humidity of the day set in.

There were several entry points, but we opted to start at the Pumpkin Vine Trail head.

This is the first tree I encountered that grabbed my attention. I see a face here and I love bark that has all this texture. Such personality.

Then we stumbled across this site! Check out the antique farming equipment left behind. Nature was not letting it stop its growth and purpose.

I was scaring Sedona a bit by climbing up this fallen tree. I love a challenge. I later was doing a few gymnastic balance beam moves on another log just to prove that her old mom still had it 🤣

This beauty caught my attention from a distance.

Always admiring the natural archways over the trails. I don’t know why. It just makes me feel like I’m walking in a fairytale.

Beautiful wildflowers. We occasionally would see white butterflies gathering around them.

I liked how this post was growing hair on top.

After crossing the street along our path, we came across a totally different landscape with these extremely tall trees.

As we were walking we kept seeing huge feathers. It started to smell foul as well and we noticed a ton of bird poop. Obviously some type of bird liked nesting in these tall timbers.

Kudos to the parks and scouts that make the walkways in the woods.

About half way through we found the waterway.

Sedona and I decided to walk in the creek bed.

Sedona’s Chakos have been on our front porch since our last muddy hike and she finally is taking the opportunity to wash them off in nature.

I was cracking up over this tree and Sedona thinks I’m nuts. But I totally see a guy who fell down on his face with his mouth open and arms outstretched.

How many selfies can I take in the creek beds of my hikes? I naturally always pause here.

Does anyone else see the beauty in this?

As we wandered further we came across another waterfall. If we weren’t walking in the creek would we have seen this?

Sedona discovered that the waterfall was actually creating clay but additionally also a great place for huge spiders to dwell.

We later stumbled across a perfect bluejay feather. If I were a kid I would’ve picked it up and brushed it across my cheeks. Now unfortunately I know better not to touch it.

We resurfaced from the woods to walk a bit along the Miami River nearby.

We decided to take the paved road back to our car. I captured this natural beauty as I was looking up through the fern like tree leaves. A perfect blue sky day.

Cedar Cliff Falls Trail- Cedarville, Ohio

This trail was recommended by my friend Denise that lives in Dayton. I struggled to find it on the AllTrails app because I was looking in Yellow Springs but the actual hike was in Cedarville, Ohio. Was only about 4 miles from the Clifton Mill Restaurant where we enjoyed breakfast. A perfectly planned Sunday.

As our luck would have it, there was an hour and 1/2 window between rain storms! So we conquered this trail confidently knowing we were meant to hike it. I wonder if it was raining, would we still have checked it out? I mean we both drove such a long ways….it may have been worth it regardless. Nonetheless, I was thankful to have the break in the clouds, but not so grateful for the humidity.

You must take the lower gorge route, that black dash line, its worth the climb.

After only a short walk from the parking lot we got a view of the waterfall.

We walked along the boardwalk for a closer look. Discussing how it must have been canoeing down river back in the pre-map days and then just randomly hitting a drop off. Would you hear it beforehand?

Selfie moment pre-sweat timing. Damn we are looking good for our age. Good-ole corn fed roots.

I immediately admired these flowers on top of the prickly weed. It reminded me of the cactus blooms I was so fascinated by out west.

This is a view of the main bridge we crossed to get to the trail head.

I loved these little moss balls along the ground.

We were both saying this entry looked as if we were going into a tunnel of the unknown.

We moseyed down this staircase to the river below. I was admiring the mossy fern rock wall on the right side.

River roots are the best- strongest, creepiest, most resistant.

Debbie posing below the overhang, fully trusting the rocks stable position.

How cute is this coverage? Like a fairyland.

Peeking around the corner before we headed back up. The stacked rocks on the right of this photo must have been created in drier times.

Natural walkway. Makes you wonder about the intricacy of what lies below where we don’t walk. How all the roots are connected and intertwined.

There were many bridges which were slick from the rain. I kept warning Debbie to be careful because she had on sneakers. She kept teasing me that I just didn’t want to have to carry her out of the woods.

She named this ‘Christmas in July’. We reminisced about squeezing these berries between our fingers as kids. Which then triggered our memory of a sunflower that we grew in our yard and we’d pick the seeds and eat them. The simple innocent joys of childhood are the best.

Got to love them trees! The coloration of the bark with the leaves. The coverage and canopy providing shade.

And then you see this beauty that branches out so boldly in multiple directions showing off it’s strength to its skinny neighbors.

The trails were marked beautifully and were easy to follow. We headed first to the log cabin and then circled back to the Indian burial mound route.

The historic log cabin which was the end of the trail.

Never encountered one of these before on our hikes.

More stairs. Certainly made an easy walk to the top.

Showing perspective on the way back down.

We took the lower gorge route on the way back.

It led us directly along the river’s edge.

Even though the sun wasn’t shining we were sweating like crazy. Didn’t ever stop for long or the mosquitos would swarm us.

I decided to climb up this slippery rock to pose for a photo. Debbie captured my accent.

Such a hidden gem this trail was! Felt like the Red River Gorge but closer and in Ohio. I am sure there are endless trails for me to keep trekking here if I’m willing to drive a bit.

Debbie is such a great sport. She later told me she rarely gets out onto any trails unless with me. She never complains and is so fun to hang out with. We need to road trip together someday and explore another terrain.

Check out that tree leaning over the water, hanging on until the bitter end. Nature teaches us death as well as life. How some hold on and gradually fade, others get infected with a virus and decay while some simply get struck by lightening or fall to natural disasters instantly.

Looking back one last time before we climb back up to the higher trails.

Somehow the manmade walkways blend beautifully with nature.

Last glance of the waterfall from the opposite side on our way out.

On my drive home I encountered scattered showers but nothing like the downpour I managed on the way up. My last view before my exit was this heavy cloud coverage and I had to admire the heart.

Can you see the heart shape formed? Signs of love are everywhere if you open your eyes.

TOP 25 GOD AND NATURE QUOTES (of 76) | A-Z Quotes

Mammoth Cave National Park-Kentucky

I decided to spend the weekend in Louisville and wanted an adventure to keep me out of trouble on Sunday while George was working. In typical Tonya style, I took a look at the AllTrails app to see what hiking was near the area. I discovered that Mammoth Cave National Park was only an hour drive away and offered many different trails.

I feel like my parents took me to this place possibly when I was younger, but I don’t remember much about it. I wondered if seeing it would trigger any memories.

Just a little info about this park- Mammoth Cave National Park preserves the world’s longest known cave system. Mammoth Cave is a limestone labyrinthine and you with more than 400 miles of it explored, and the park estimates a potential for another 600 miles in its system. Can you imagine? Discovering this back in the 1800s.

I knew I wasn’t going to be able to explore the cave, since reservations are required due to Covid and general summer tourism. Maybe I will come back again with a friend to take a look, but for now, I was just day tripping to get some sunshine and exercise.

On my drive there I stopped at a rest area and there was this poppy meadow in front of where I parked. I couldn’t resist.

I literally covered all the trail routes. Not knowing if I’d be back. Wanting to see all the sites. Was out walking the trails for 3 hours.

Map location in Kentucky. I was curious what city it was closest to. There was a time change which literally made me feel like I was in a time warp as I was hiking for over an hour and then it said I was only out 15 minutes.

Heading down the historic trail. This led you to the opening of the Mammoth Cave. You could literally feel the temps drop when you walked by.

Oh Virlane- wtf is up with this tree bark? It was the only one like it.

Heavily covered but it did nothing to help with the humidity.

Check out the tree roots adaptability. Talk about will to live.

Occasionally there would be paved or wooden walkways.

Looking down into the opening of a cave. I decided to find my way down to it for an up close personal look.

I spotted a fallen tree in the distance and hiked along the slanted muddy/sandy/slick edge to reach it. Knowing it may be the only secluded part of the woods. Most paths had many hikers and families. Off the paths was poison ivy galore.

And planted myself for a much needed silence check-in. Listening to the birds and water. Asking God what’s next for me.

This ironically was sent to me from Kang Kang which was perfectly appropriate for the days end.

How in the world does nature so easily embrace and conform when as a human I always kick and scream against change.

These shrooms looked like ruffles on a dress in their warm coloration.

And these cuties were so small and sprouting up as a new layer on a fallen log pronouncing their existence.

Rocks or boulders are always along Kentucky trails.

Nothing to see here. Very disappointing.

Ferns showing off in a spiral form. New to me. Always seeking new shapes.

The sinkhole was more like a dried up river bed.

Surrounded by ferns not seen elsewhere in the park.

My love of roots and their strength. Supportive. Surviving. Enduring whatever elements come their way.

The mud path ended that I was following along the sinkhole sight.

Leading to a place to watch the sunset. It led to an opening overlooking the tree covered mountains. I was about 4 hours early.

Cemetery for the slaves that gave tours in the caves for generations.

The Dixon trail cave. Nothing much to see.

One last look as I made my way back out of the forest and back to the parking lot.

I stopped in Elizabeth Town, Ky for dinner and had to capture this thoughtful mural.

As I was making my way back to the apartment I saw this little guy in a parking spot. Like he’d fallen out of a car and was left behind. My heart broke. So I set him up in this position as if calling out “ I’m here!!”

Keehner Park Trail- Westchester, Ohio

Sedona agreed to go on a hike with me this weekend so I googled a few trails that were within a 30 minute radius. This park pulled up so off we went to explore.

I’ve never heard of this place but being that it was Saturday, families were out in the picnic areas celebrating recent graduations.

We started down this steep pathway that immediately led to the creek.

You know I love the water. This creek was shallow enough to easily walk through.

We were surrounded by a fresh green glow. The color seemed vibrant probably due to the week of rain we endured.

And the paths were muddy as hell. There was no escaping it.

This vine was wrapped as if in attack mode trying to take down the tree.

Half and half. Made me want one of those twisty soft served ice cream cones with chocolate and vanilla.

Was tough to capture a photo but this tree literally had two large long branches that I felt were reaching out to me! Sedona was certain that it was not wanting me, but possibly another tree.

One of the neighbors must have built this cute fort. After getting a few cobwebs off, Sedona climbed up.

Teeny petals. Not many flowers along these paths.

I nearly fell thinking the wood would be more stable than the mud.

We ended up at one point trekking across this open field. It was so strange emerging from the coverage suddenly.

Sedona in a peaceful moment under the natural archway.

I thought this little sprout needed some attention. Looked like art to me.

We heard kids in the distance probably enjoying the break from the sun and the coolness coming off the water. It was another humid 90 degree day.

Great overhead coverage providing shade.

Hmmmm not very helpful in our decision making.

Moving water always fascinated me. I mean how does it never stop?

Hiking with my daughters always makes me happy.

We decided to take the stairs up hoping they’d lead us back to the main park level. Wasn’t sure if we could get a grip in the mud on an incline.

French Park- Cincinnati, Ohio

I received a sweet text message from Alexandra Leurck who had just returned after spending a semester abroad. I haven’t seen her since her grandfather’s funeral and we decided to check out French Park and catch up. I wanted to hear all about her European adventures and find out what her plans are for the summer.

She was determined to hike barefoot, grounding herself with nature. I love this girl’s heart! She is a genuinely kind, passionate protector of the earth that encompasses the wisdom of a recycled soul. I absolutely adore her and could talk with her on my level for hours without feeling the age difference. I can’t wait to see where she ends up in the world. A free spirit for sure with empathy and a grip on what makes a human happy. Admirable to be at that place mentally in your 20s.

We came across a water spigot which was still functioning.

As we were walking at the beginning of the trail, the aroma was overwhelming. Lilacs. But not the big oversized flowers I was used to seeing, it was coming from these tiny little guys. (which I was just informed is called honeysuckle. So much I could be learning!) We were both just breathing it in. It was like walking in a fairyland with the sweet scent surrounding us.

The paths were so quiet. It was morning and the sun was not yet hot. I love when trees naturally create archways over the trails. This one with its shape in particular was unique.

As Alexandra was walking, she snagged this clover between her toes. Instead of my heavy shoes crushing nature, she was becoming part of it.

I am constantly amazed at how I notice different plants and flowers every time I hike. Are the species are endless? And as Alexandra pointed out, there are so many more seasons than we are educated on. Anytime you get out there is always change. Lesson there in life.

This cicada did not stray far from its shell which is right below it. These ugly bugs live a simple life. The noise yesterday was at its peak with them singing. Today seems a bit quieter.

The white bark of this tree stood out with its enormous height.

Check out these flowers. The buds are so tiny, like baby’s breath and then they bloom into a cross shape of adorable miniscule petals with tonal spiked edges. My new favorite. And honestly, I have never seen before. (was told by a blog reader, aka Jane, that these are poisonous-yikes!)

Another archway making the other side seem even more mysterious. We walked along many different paths, randomly selecting as we went.

I made her stand under this guy to capture it’s scale. Maybe another day I’ll come back and scale the branch leaning up and perch myself up there for a bit for a different perspective.

The bark of this tree had such interesting markings on it. And up higher, unfortunately, was the victim to many lover’s initials. It was a survivor for sure. More than likely outlasting the love of teenagers who falsely promised forever.

We got to the creek and Alexandra rinsed off her muddy soles.

Can’t tell you how happy I was to be out again, and with the energy and company of this beautiful gal!

A memorial to some childhood friends in the early 1920s – I’ll have to google the story.

The roots of the riverbed trees. Always intriguing.

As we continued we passed a venue where it looked like they may be hosting a wedding tonight. June. The wedding month. So happy to see things in the USA opening back up thanks to all us who believe in science and risked the vaccine for the greater good.

Color and texture combinations always make me ponder the creativity of the creator.

So delicate. Reminded me of Kathy’s newly renovated home with touches of blush and pink. (Kathy is Alexandra’s mom and wonder woman!)

When I got home I wasn’t sure what I wanted to do with the remainder of my day, but knew I it was a rare moment in the sun, so I got my hammock out and listed to the Dreams & Detours podcast on my ear pods while relaxing and enjoying life. As I was heading back up to the house for lunch, I spotted this perfectly placed heart flower.

Open your eyes out there. It is a fascinatingly communicative world.